Willow Grouse Snowshoe

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Hans Weilenmann
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Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:06 pm

Image

Willow Grouse Snowshoe
Hook: Grip 14723BL #14
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Hackle: Willow grouse breast feather barbs
Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, inserted into split thread

Same fly, 'soaked'.

Image

Cheers,
Hans W
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by GlassJet » Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:51 am

Hans Weilenmann wrote: Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, inserted into split thread
That looks a very useful body, not seen it used like that before. :) I can imagine it without the hackle but with an elk hair wing, fished in the surface as a simple sedge pattern. I usually use a bit of cream seal's fur for dubbing on that fly, but I'll be trying the hare's foot as an alternative.

Andrew
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." ~ Pablo Picasso 8)
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William Anderson
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by William Anderson » Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:11 am

Hans, the wet shots are usually my favorite. They don't illustrate the life and movement, but the characteristics of the material are always more dramatic than I picture in my mind. Pulling the snowshoe hair dubbing beyond the hook bend is a nice touch. Looks like a very lively pattern.

Where did you find Willow Grouse? I haven't heard of that one. It looks very similar to Woodcock, but a bit more tan.

w
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Hans Weilenmann
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:22 am

William,

The barring is a bit more distinct here, but you are correct, not dissimilar to Woodcock.

Where? I ordered some feathers (capercaillie, black grouse, etc) from a source in Norway, and the package I received had some willow grouse feathers included. I was rummaging though my materials yesterday, and came across the packet. One of the feathers cried out to me to be used, so I did 8-)

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Hans W
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:14 am

Andrew,

You mean something like this?

Image

Medusa
Hook: Tiemco 102Y #15
Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, brown
Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, cream, inserted into split thread
Wing/head: Deer hair

Cheers,
Hans W
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by GlassJet » Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:31 am

That is absolutely beautiful Hans 8-)

A very successful pattern for me, last year, that. Tied with brown thread and a light dubbing of cream seal's fur, with a couple of strands of yellow blended in, to make me feel like I was doing something. ;)

I was surprised recently to read that this pattern was devised by Malcolm Greenhalgh in the late 1980s. But I don't see how he could have done, because as far as I am concerned, I devised it in the summer of 2009... ;) :lol:

It works a treat though, brings up the little wild brownies from nowhere. I'll definitely be trying it this year with the Snowshoe hare's foot.

cheers,
Andrew.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." ~ Pablo Picasso 8)
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cicvara
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by cicvara » Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:07 pm

-Hi,It looks beautiful.
-Whether to swim or be slightly below the surface.
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Ruard
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by Ruard » Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:45 am

GlassJet wrote:That is absolutely beautiful Hans 8-)



I was surprised recently to read that this pattern was devised by Malcolm Greenhalgh in the late 1980s. But I don't see how he could have done, because as far as I am concerned, I devised it in the summer of 2009... ;) :lol:


cheers,
Andrew.

Malcolm Greenhalgh gives all the honour to Al Troth who invented this fly but with a body hackle in his book:fishing flies see page: 140 and 195. See also:

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/patte ... ir-caddis/

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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by GlassJet » Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:02 am

Ruard wrote:
Malcolm Greenhalgh gives all the honour to Al Troth who invented this fly but with a body hackle in his book:fishing flies see page: 140 and 195. See also:

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/patte ... ir-caddis/

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Hi Ruard,
Yes, I used to tie the elk hair caddis like that - with the body hackle. But I left that off last summer in a surge of minimalism and it was deadly! :shock: :lol: It fishes in the surface I guess... apparently Mr Greenhalgh found the same... ;) And it is much easier to tie, which is always a plus! :)

Andrew.
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Re: Willow Grouse Snowshoe

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:07 am

*chuckle*

Andrew, may I suggest you give the CDC&Elk a try...

Cheers,
Hans W
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