Partridge and Hares Ear Flymphs

[Soft-hackle]

William,
Very nice line-up. These are what I'd call Leisenring Spiders. The pattern first came to my attention years ago when I first borrowed a copy of The Sports Illustrated Book of Wet Fly Fishing from my local library. Pete Hidy wrote it and in it was his Hare's Ear, Partridge hackle combo ribbed with gold wire using Primrose Yellow Gossamer. This fly has probably taken the most fish for me, by far. The only fly that comes close is Leisenring's Black Gnat. In the Leisenring/Hidy book, the wingless Hare's Ear was not included if I'm thinking straight (just finished chemo, yesterday). Therefore I attribute the fly dressing to Pete, who, as you know by now, was just as good at the game as Leisenring, himself.

I have been thinking of tying variations to try, perhaps in olive, rust, and bleached Hare's Ear along with the Partridge hackle, perhaps tinted to go in combination with the body color variations. These flies you've tied are great! I know they'll work!

Mark

[Ruard]

Don't let 'em beat ya up, w . Blends are just approximations anyhow, even if you cite percentages. Does anyone actually count the number of fibers of each component ?

I tried but at 102 or 103 I loose counting,


Greeting

[William Anderson]

William,
Very nice line-up. These are what I'd call Leisenring Spiders. The pattern first came to my attention years ago when I first borrowed a copy of The Sports Illustrated Book of Wet Fly Fishing from my local library. Pete Hidy wrote it and in it was his Hare's Ear, Partridge hackle combo ribbed with gold wire using Primrose Yellow Gossamer. This fly has probably taken the most fish for me, by far. The only fly that comes close is Leisenring's Black Gnat. In the Leisenring/Hidy book, the wingless Hare's Ear was not included if I'm thinking straight (just finished chemo, yesterday). Therefore I attribute the fly dressing to Pete, who, as you know by now, was just as good at the game as Leisenring, himself.

I have been thinking of tying variations to try, perhaps in olive, rust, and bleached Hare's Ear along with the Partridge hackle, perhaps tinted to go in combination with the body color variations. These flies you've tied are great! I know they'll work!

Mark

Mark, I would have to look, but I'm certain the Hare Lug and Partridge combo predates anyone we could assign a name to. Reading it isn't the same as seeing it however and I can remember one of the first versions I saw was your Leisenring Spider. I've been tying them ever since. In all shapes and sizes and on various hooks. True enough regarding the Black Gnat as well. I was just telling a friend last week that the Black Gnat is in my top three and I wouldn't go anywhere without a few of each. Thanks for the kind words and I'm looking forward to seeing the set you described. Post them as soon as you can.

Ruard, don't let Bill fool you, he's counting too. You don't tie flies like his without counting fibers.

w

[mkmury]

What is it about the Daiichi 1550 and 1530 that makes it look curved but apparently isn't? Is it a straight shank or not? HELP!!!! And how come no fly shops in NJ sell them?

[William Anderson]

mkmury, the 1530 is a short shank and a sproat bend, which might contribute to the perceived arc, or it could just be my hump back body style. I usually get mine from Jim at jimsflyco. The 1530 and 1550 are the two of my favorites.

w

[mkmury]

Thank you William, I just mixed some Hareline Dubbin Olive hare's ear(hd34) and some Wapsi natural fur #224(dark hares mask) about 2 parts Wapsi and 1 part hareline, found a nice brownish/ gray partridge feather and tied it on a Mustad 3906 and came up with a pretty nice imitation, let's not forget the COPPER wire! I can't wait for the temps to calm down so I can try this. I love this fly. Thanks again.

[William Anderson]

mkmury, sounds like a great combination. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've come up with and some fish porn would be great too. Good luck.