Green-Butted Skunk wingless

[Old Hat]

P1100906.jpg (50.52 KiB) Viewed 3825 times

Hook: Ken Sawada Old Limerick Wet
Thread: black Pearsall's silk thread in black
Hackle: black hen
Tag: fluoro green floss
Rib: x-small silver braid
Abdomen: natural dark skunk underfur in dubbing loop
Thorax: natural white skunk underfur in dubbing loop

[Donald Nicolson]

A lot of Sedge (Caddis) patterns in the 19th century had green butts,
the female had a green cluster of eggs at the tail end.
By the way, what size of hook did you use. A very nice fly.

[Old Hat]

Thanks Donald. This is a size 12 which I think may be the smallest these hooks come in. At least the smallest I have been able to get them in.

[Roadkill]

Carl

I think Dan Callaghan would have really liked this variation!!

[Donald Nicolson]

This is from 'The Flyfisher's Entomology' by Alfred Ronalds (1839)
http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page553.html
as you can see the greentail goes back a good wee while.
A 'Buzz' or spider version is mentioned at the end of the text.

[Old Hat]

Thanks for that link Donald, a very nice comparison. I had always thought of this pattern as only an attractor, based on the classic steelhead hairwing, but you have shown there may be more to it. It has been a very productive fly in this size and on #14 for me.

[Old Hat]

Roadkill, did you ever see that skunk plate auctioned off a year or two ago in Albany. Just amazing all the variations on it.

[Donald Nicolson]

We have quite a lot of Grannom or Greentail patterns. as you can see they go back into the past.
I am not sure, but I think I have seen the Grannom mentioned on US web sites.

[Mataura mayfly]

Really nice looking fly, great colours and shape on a neat looking hook.

[chase creek]

Beautiful fly, beautiful tie. Like the tag/body/hackle color combination. Just a sharp looking fly.