Sulphur Emerger Soft Hackles

[William Anderson]

A couple more from the old soft-hackle box. These are likely circa 2007.

Sulphur Emerger Soft-Hackle One

Hook: #16 straight eye dry fly hook (model to be determined)
Thread: Yellow Unithread 8/0
Hackle: Medium Dun Hen
Tail: Partridge
Rib: fine silver wire
Body: Grouse tail herl
Thorax: Dyed Turkey Flat fibers as herl



Sulphur Emerger Soft-Hackle Two

Hook: #16 Daiichi 1270
Thread: Yellow Unithread 8/0
Hackle: Medium/Light Dun Hen
Tail: Pheasant Tail Herl
Body: Pheasant Tail Herl
Thorax: Dyed Hare dubbing



w

[tie2fish]

I especially like the use of the turkey flat barbs as thorax herl on the first one, w, but I'm guessing both of these would catch fish. You had the formula right even five years ago.

[letumgo]

William - I am fascinated by this post, and seeing these flies. When I look at these flies, I see differences when compared with with your current flies. The proportions of thorax seem to have changed over time. To my eye, these older flies seem to have a shorter thorax, when compared with your current tying. I also see changes in the heads of the flies (your current flies have smaller heads). I would be very interested to hear what you see when you look at your older flies.

Wonderful flies, by the way...

[redietz]

I can't speak for William on this, because he probably has a different view, but on an emerger, the front part really isn't a thorax per se; it's the insect struggling to emerge from the shuck. The length is not particularly critical, since it's constantly changing with time on the natural, whereas the length of the thorax on a fully emerged fly is constant. I've seen examples where the tyer has put all of the "emergent " portion forward of the hackle, by essentially making a longer head.

The head he shows in the second fly make sense to me, in an entomological way.

[William Anderson]

[quote="letumgo"] I would be very interested to hear what you see when you look at your older flies.quote]

Thanks Ray, I am actually pretty happy with what I was tying back then. Especially after looking at the second fly here I realized I had taken a length of yellow silk and twisted it, rather randomly with the herl. I thought I had only been doing that in the past couple years, but there it is. There are defects and things I would pick up on now, but I've avoided ever getting too fussy so I see only minor differences (improvements). What I really see is that some things change, but some things never do. It looks like I focussed on a few materials and a balance between entomology and experimentation. Seems to be a pretty steady course. Either I'm in a rut or I'm just damned consistent.

Thanks for the kind comments.

Regarding the emerger in particular, I have seen that combo in every conceivable combination myself, longer/shorter thorax and different stages of emergence. What's it called when you consider components of entomology to be included, without the precise representation requirement? If there is an accurate term for that...that's the camp I'm in.

w

[JohnP]

"What's it called when you consider components of entomology to be included, without the precise representation requirement? If there is an accurate term for that...that's the camp I'm in."

Impressionism?

Nice flies, by the way.

[hankaye]

Dub-ya, Howdy;

Interesting tyes...
I'm courious, don't roll your eyes, you should be used to this from me by now,
In #1 you say you used "Body: Grouse tail hurl". Does it come
with the 2 tone effect. I notice the darker band under the first wrap of rib and
again where it becomes covered by the thorax of dyed Turkey Flat fibers "as hurl".

hank

[JohnP]

I hope you get an answer, Hank.

[William Anderson]

Thanks, John. I think you're right about the impressionism, although I usually associate the term with approximating the vitality or liveliness of an insect, rather than ento parts and pieces...but I think you're right.

Hank, the grouse tail is naturally marked and makes great abdomens for sulphurs and hendricksons. I have a couple other pics that show it better, but can't post them from my phone. I'll be at a computer later tonight. Thanks. (not much of an eye roller, I hope )

[JohnP]

Thanks. Like Hank, I was wondering how you achieved the cool effect on the bodies of those flies. Great stuff.