Iron Blue Dun Nymph

[gingerdun]

GingerDun, Howdy;

I have a question ...
In the picture of the iron Blue, in front of the red head there appears to be
something else wound on the hook. Is there some way you could tell us what
it is ? Wax, some other thread, ?????

Thanks for your time.

hank

Looks like a tarnished tinsel tag.

Ginger

[Ruard]

Mark, I did not know that. I was using Pearsall's! I ordered claret, but don't have it yet. So I am using a red color. I love Pearsall's, but hate the fact I cannot tell what some of these colors are. I thought I had white, and I sent off for grey. I got the grey in, and it looks identical to what I thought white was. They do not mark the color at all. Even if they did their stickers are prone to coming off when you stick them in the bobbin. I wish they would somehow mark the spool. Back to splitting thread...I think my hands just shake too bad for splitting thread. I will try to flatten it the other way, and see if that makes a difference. Thanks Mark!

I mark my pearsals spools with a waterresistent marker. Write the number on it. To split the thread I use a needle of a sewingmachine with some kind of a handle on it.

Here is a picture:



As you can see the handle is of a piece splitcane, but evry handle will do.


Greeting

[gingerdun]

Kelly,

These may interest you. The man seldom tied a fly the same twice, evidently. Anybody want a closer look, I can post any one individually. How about the little nymph at the end?

Ginger

[Kelly L.]

Thanks Ruard. I tried to use a needle, but I kept hitting beside it, never right on it. I do have a bodkin, with a small needle, (home made) it didn't work either for me. I will try it again today. As far as marking the Pearsall's, I like that idea. Guess I will have to do that from now on.

Ginger...thank you for the gorgeous flies! They were magnificent. Loved all of them!!

[DNicolson]

I dubbed it on the standard way, waxed the thread and twist dubbed into a fairly loose
'noodle'. It is 'Awesome 'Possum' which I like, longish in the fibre and blended well with the
Conranch Hen Hackle. It does show a few turns of thread at the butt, although due to the
hairyness of the fly, it is not obvious in this picture. Note there is no rib.

[William Anderson]

Kelly, the images of the Hidy flies all unique in character takes what we often see a step further. Give 10 tiers a specific pattern and the results will vary widely. Giving the same person the pattern and seeing this type of variation probably speaks to our constant need to experiment.

I think your interpretation will work out very well, especially for the nymphal stage. These patterns originated in the UK represent a different species than the same patterns tied to represent the species in the Eastern US called Iron Duns. So there will be variations.

When I approached the pattern using claret and mole, this was what seemed appropriate to me, at the time. Personally, I find mole to be the easiest dubbing material to work with. Any material can become your favorite if it's the one you pick up most often, it's just the practice, but it is so easy to touch dub or noodle, or use in a split thread or loop. I kind of feel like I'm cheating when I reach for it, like the degree of difficulty is decreased. Either with or without wax.



Here's one that Hans photographed a couple years ago using the tied through the thorax.

[hankaye]

gingerdun, Howdy;

Now you have me really courious.....
I've looked at several different recipes for an Iron Blue Dun ...
none mentioned the use of tinsel ? Did Pete use it for weight ?
To give a larger profile ?
Your thoughts and anyone else that would like to chime in ...
please do.

hank

[Kelly L.]

Thank you Donald, and William. Donald my flies from yesterday were dubbed as you described. Today, you will see a difference in these two. They are on a heavier hook, but you will see the dubbing looks a bit different. I used a dubbing loop for today's dubbing. (I found my dubbing twister in the pile of clutter on my tying stand) William I appreciated the photos very much. Funny how you say, so many people can take the same recipe, and come out with something really different from another!





I thought these were pretty close to what I was striving for. Magnification can sure show you things you didn't see though, when you were tying it!

[Mataura mayfly]

Nice Kelly!

I like the idea of making my own dubbing brush bodies, have not tried it yet though. Nice work on these two. Really liking the old hooks and you have a nice "kick" on your tails.

[gingerdun]

Kelly,

Perfection!

Ginger