Four Variations

[gingerdun]

Wow, the other fly dressing posts today are amazing.
These four don't begin to compare, but I know the forum is not a competition.

Tying today was a lovely afternoon's relaxation, with my four-year-old granddaughter next to me drawing with felt markers.





A—#12—Jim Bashline Wet Fly, Gaelic Supreme
Silk: java brown
Hackle: grizzly hen
Rib: gold wire
Body: 50/50 black silk and merino wool
Thorax: rusty alpaca & unknown fibers (rabbit?)

B—#12—Jim Bashline Wet Fly, Gaelic Supreme
Thread: Black Benicchi
Hackle: grizzly hen
Rib: silver wire
Body: 50/50 black silk and merino wool
Thorax: hare's ear & natural seal on black

C—#8—Daiichi 1530 nymph
Silk: black Benecchi
Hackle: Hungarian partridge gray
Rib: gold wire
Body: red brown wool
Thorax: hare's ear & natural seal on black


D—#12—Jim Bashline Wet Fly, Gaelic Supreme
Silk: java brown
Hackle: Hungarian partridge dyed burnt orange
Rib: gold wire
Body: brown wool
Thorax: beaver + unknown reddish fur

[Mataura mayfly]

Exceptional (made with) string quartet, Lance.
Great mix of colours and materials, choice of hackles and finish. You should sit with your granddaughter more often if it has this effect on you.

[hankaye]

gingerdun, Howdy;

Lance, you hold your own very well.
Excellent flies. I have a hard time just doing on pattern
whereas you appear to be able to do 'one-offs' very well.

hank

[cicvara]

-Really nice. If you mixed silk and wool or such thread.

[William Anderson]

Wow, Lance, there is a lot to comment on with this beautiful set. When I get to a machine, I've got some questions. These really came out nice.

[tie2fish]

An outstanding group, Lance -- your use of color blends is most pleasing to my eye. What technique did you use for forming the bodies?

[chase creek]

Always look forward to your creations. Excellent material combinations, fine looking flies.
(I think I have more of my granddaughter's pictures on the fridge and hanging on my tying room walls than the
Toledo Museum of Art has with all their paintings combined )

[Roadkill]

Beautiful flies , you've come a long way Pilgrim.

[gingerdun]

Everyone, thanks again for your encouragement.
Bill, my technique for the bodies? It hardly qualifies as a "technique." I just wrapped a strand of wool around the hook, (pulled from 3 or 4-ply embroidery yarn).
Those first two flies used my favorite, a silk and merino wool blend. I only have it in black, but want to get more. There are several companies that make this blend in a gorgeous array of colors, including Gumnut in Australia, and Brown Paper Packages in Cold Spring, Kentucky. This latter company is wholesale, but list their dealers.
The best website I've found for small skeins of silk and wool embroidery thread or yarn is this in New York:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl.

My father recommended using colored yarn, but usually added to fur mixes in spun bodies. I'm not finding many of his flies using the single strand body in tandem with a spun-fur thorax as I've done here.

Lance

[DUBBN]

While you may be employing a "simple " tecnique for your wool bodies you make it look elegant Lance. I am enjoying your work.


http://www.purlsoho.com/purl

Your link wasnt working..Hope this one does.