Blue Badger

[Donald Nicolson]

Another fly from Woolley's Grayling list.
Blue Badger
Hook: #12 Capt. Hamilton wet.
Body: Blue Pearsall
Tip and Rib: Silver wire.
Hackle: Badger cock, full length.
I used Pearsall Primrose for the thread as changeing the silk in the bobbin-holder can be quite tedious for me.
There is a Red Badger, only difference is Red body.
This could be fished wet/dry a la West Country Spider.

[hankaye]

Donald, Howdy;

Beauty Donald...
Not to worry, I hate it when I have to re-string the bobbin when
I break off the thread ... those bobbin threaders are almost as difficult
to stuff in the hole. Like tryin to shove a limp pasta noodle up
a wildcats arse ...

hank

[letumgo]

Hank - You have such a way with words. Vivid description.

Donald - Beautiful fly. I'd be VERY tempted to fish this one as a dry fly.

[tie2fish]

Hank - You have such a way with words. Vivid description.

Donald - Beautiful fly. I'd be VERY tempted to fish this one as a dry fly.

I thought the same thing, Ray ... sort of an albino Griffith's gnat. Very nice, Donald.

[Roadkill]

Great fishing fly tied Buzz!

[gingerdun]

Donald,
Thanks for this superb addition to the discussion about palmer flies.
This is fertile territory for experiment.

Lance

[William Anderson]

Donald, you're putting together some great patterns. I'm loving all the recent palmer flies. It's funny you mentioned the Red Badger as I just saw a reference for it in an old (1960's) steelhead book.

[Mataura mayfly]

This one does lend itself to be fished dry..... almost Cackleback like. Nice tie Donald.

Hank and anyone else having problems with threaders and small openings of cats or bobbin holders, you can try dispensing with the threader and if you can get the silk barely started in the bottom end of the tube, place your lips over the top open end of the tube and take a sharp intake of breath.
If you have a bit of slack in the silk you should find the end of it in your mouth and the bobbin holder rethreaded..... too much slack and the silk just tickled the back of your throat and you threw up over your bench!

Doesn't work as well with holders having the ceramic bead in the end of the tube, or with broken end silks, better to cut it neat before trying.