Gambel's Quail & Black Midge Spider

[redietz]

Quail can be a pain to work with, I have a valley quail skin and you really have to treat it with respect while wrapping.

I find that to be true even in the larger sizes. The different quail have some nice looking feathers, but they do tend to break much more easily than the same sized partridge feather. I usually get frustrated with them after two or three flies (and six or seven feathers) and switch to something easier to tie with.

It makes Bill's #22 (and the others) even that much more impressive.

[DUBBN]

Quail can be a pain to work with, I have a valley quail skin and you really have to treat it with respect while wrapping.

I have tied a bunch of flies in the size 18 to 10 size with quail. No problem. It's these miniscule 22's that are giving me fits. What size is that in the picture Smuggler?

I want to use a hen hackle so bad right now. Just to feel good again!

All I have is a Gambels wing. I doubt that makes a difference.

[Smuggler]

That's a 16, Daiichi 1550.
I rarely tie anything smaller than an 18, I can't stand it lol.

[Old Hat]

I love tying small, but have to admit that I rarely do for any purpose than to just do it. I almost never tie on anything smaller than an #18 for fishing purposes. We have quite a lot of water to fish that people will tell you that you need to be tiny (#20-#24). It is true. That size is what the fish are taking. I found it better for me to just tie small on a little larger hook. So I will tie a #22 size fly but tie it on a #18 hook. I think I miss too many fish on the very small hooks.

[DUBBN]

I love tieing small and fishing small. Size 22 is about as little as I need to go. I can't really say that I miss any more on an 18 than I do on a 22. That being said, I have not really written down any concrete notes on what fish were lost on what size hook. I have had days where I have lost quite afew fish while using size 12 to 16's. I have also had days where I landed almost every fish on a size 22. Like I said, I have no evidence one way or another.

[letumgo]

Mighty fine looking flies, fellas.

[DOUGSDEN]

Guys,
Big compliments for wonderfully small patterns! You folks are incredible! You know we are talking at least 8x tippets and dreamy, long leaders! I just cannot believe how beautiful all of them are!
In awe,
D-den