Better Shot of the PMD Flymph

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Eric,

Having never seen Jim's Madison Mauler I find your comments interesting. I showed this pattern to Jim at the Idaho Falls Expo a couple of years ago and he commented that it was a nice fly. He didn't let me know it was close to his fly. I gave a few to Al and Gretchen Beatty to try out and they had good results as well. I have since changed the rib from very fine copper to the finest grey wire I could find.

I'm hoping I get some time to fish, but first priority is getting the work done for Jim, then fun.

[JohnP]

Great photos Eric and Ron. Now Ron, how about a pattern recipe? The Lochsa, Selway and North Fork are in my back yard.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

John,

I use a couple of different hooks for the PMD. Either a Mustad 94842 or a TMC 206BL in sizes 12 and 14. Thread is Gordon Griffiths 14/0 in Grey. Hackle is Honey Dun hen with an almost white center or list. The thorax is ostrich herl. Very hard to see it when the fly is dry, but it shows up well when wet. The current rib is fine grey wire or 6.0 grey thread. Tails are Lemon Wood Duck fibers. The abdomen is whatever dry fly dubbing you have in a PMD color. I tend to add a bit of olive and a bit of grey to the store bought dubbing and just finger blend it.

Hope that helps.

I'm usually in Lowell, ID the last full week in September staying at the Three Rivers Resort. Which river I fish depends on how my knees feel. If they feel good I fish the Lochsa or Clearwater. If I'm not feeling so great I fish the Selway for the easier access, though a favorite spot requires the use of rope and some rappelling skills to reach.

[Eric Peper]

Jim's Mauler uses the same hackle as you do, Ron. His abdomen IIRC is the Catskill Hendrickson "urine burned vixen fox fur" with a touch of pink added. He spins it using the Leisenring method on Pearsall's Primrose Gossamer. Tail is three fibers from the hackle feather. He wraps the hackle over the thorax.

Eric

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Thanks, Eric. Appreciate the info.

[JohnP]

Thanks for the details, Ron. I forgot to add earlier that your pattern is beautifully tied! And I know what you mean about the Lochsa - fishing that river is definitely a workout.

[Mataura mayfly]

Just to side track a little (sorry Eric), the very fine wire you mention Ron. I have some very fine copper wires that almost seem non-existent on some patterns, they are like a strand of human hair, but I have found these are the fist materials (if used as a rib) to give up the fight against trout teeth. To the point of me not using much of it any more. If still wanting a rib but not the weight of wire I tend to lean more toward thread or synthetic now for fine ribs, as after one trout dental work interlude the fine wire breaks and either trails the fly or disappears all together- begging the question of "was it really required"?
You may have a better wire than I do and your experiences may differ, but this is what I have found when using very fine wire and are just observations of my own findings.

[Eric Peper]

I've found counter-wrapped mono tippet material works well where you want a rib for strength but not for appearance. Even 7X holds up quite well.

Eric

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Jeff, My definition of fine wire must be different than yours. I've never (knocking on wood) had a trout break my fine ribbing wire. I use tying thread as a rib every once in a while if I want a specific color and don't have wire that color.

[Mataura mayfly]

I've found counter-wrapped mono tippet material works well where you want a rib for strength but not for appearance. Even 7X holds up quite well.

Eric

Very good idea. We get one here, in craft stores, that is intended as a bead thread. It has not had one of the processes applied that would make it suitable as fishing line and can be stretched quite a bit. Unstretched it is around 4X and you can stretch it out to around 7-8X. Stretched it will all but disappear into the abdomen material and become invisible, but still do the job without much in the way of weight. It is very good for use with peacock herl bodies.

Ron, the wire I have is some kind of very fine copper recovered from some kind of electrical application and not a tying wire as such. Very fine- but not very strong.