Willow Grouse Snowshoe

[Hans Weilenmann]

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'.



Cheers,
Hans W

[GlassJet]

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

[William Anderson]

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

[Hans Weilenmann]

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

Cheers,
Hans W

[Hans Weilenmann]

Andrew,

You mean something like this?



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

[GlassJet]

That is absolutely beautiful Hans

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...

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.

[cicvara]

-Hi,It looks beautiful.
-Whether to swim or be slightly below the surface.

[Ruard]

That is absolutely beautiful Hans



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...


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/

Greeting

[GlassJet]

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/

Greeting

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! 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.

[Hans Weilenmann]

*chuckle*

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

Cheers,
Hans W