Two Tone Flymphs

Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo

DUBBN

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by DUBBN » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:15 am

I suppose that even a PT Soft Hackle would be considered Two Toned. The technique which tie2fish gave us using Midge Tubing inserted with krystal Flash or a wire certainly would be considered "Two Toned". By the way, the Midge Tubing is quickly becoming my favorite way to present flys to the fish. They seem to enjoy the technique. That being said, a dubbed body is still my favorite way to tie a Soft Hackle, and probably always will be.

I know what I am doing is not new at all. Simply adding a second color to the body of the fly is far from ground breaking. I am simply stocking my fly boxes with flys that are easy to tie, yet a tad different than what I have used in the past. The Two Tone affect has been a great producer for me with emergers for the past 10 years, and I am trying to make that success transition to my Soft Hackles. I have dubbed so many bodys in my tying life that it is easy for me to simply add a second color and make two small dubbing noodles instead of one large noodle. I will say it adds about 5 to 8 seconds of time per fly.

I will split a hair here. I maintain that the flys in this post, especially the pattern I posted should be considered a Tri-color fly. Often I read that the feathers we use on our patterns add a wonderful movement to the fly, and that is what triggers a fish to strike. While I agree with that thought, I maintain that as heavy as I hackle my flys , the color of the feather that I use becomes the primary color of the entire pattern. The body color of the fly itself become an accent.

As usual, I have no proof or documentation to support my opinion on this subject. It is just an idea that has been rolling around in my head. ;)

I was not going to post this "Two Tone" as it is the first I of this color combo I have tyed. It is a bit rough around the edges but more than appropriate for the fish I pursue. I plan on tying a half dozen of these and a half dozen of the first pattern I posted to this thread. If the weather holds out just a bit, I plan on giving both patterns a workout on a float of the lower Gunnison this Saturday.

Gray and Olive
Hook - Mustad 9671 size 14
Thread Olive 8/0 Uni
Tail - Lt Dun Hen
Abdomen - Muskrat
Thorax - 50% Olive Rabbit Fur 50% Smokey Olive Scud dubbing (Wapsi)
Collar- Light Dun Hen hackle

Image
User avatar
DNicolson
Posts: 669
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by DNicolson » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:57 am

Your flies look great Dubbn, Two-tone is much neglected. You've made me look at
the flies I tie with new eyes. :)
User avatar
tie2fish
Posts: 5072
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:11 am
Location: Harford County, MD

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by tie2fish » Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:27 am

I'll echo others' sentiments ... this a great topic. As always, DUBBN, your flies just look amazingly "fishy" to me; I can easily see how you can keep posting those "to die for" photos of the Colorado trout you fool on a regular basis.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
michaelgmcgraw
Posts: 690
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:44 pm
Location: Liverpool N.Y

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by michaelgmcgraw » Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:33 am

Nice fly Dubbn! I just finished reading W.H. Lawrie's Scottish Trout Flies last nite. He gives a few two toned dubbed body patterns.
DUBBN

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by DUBBN » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:12 pm

Thanks for all the kind words. I really appreciate them. The weather is turning a little nasty, and if i was a betting man, I would say my float for Saturday will be cancelled. If so, it's back to the vise. Oh well, atleast it still needs cleaned. ;)
User avatar
Soft-hackle
Site Admin
Posts: 1874
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:23 am
Location: Wellsville, NY

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by Soft-hackle » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:32 pm

Hi Dubbin,
Sorry, I didn't mean to steal your thread. Your flies are wonderful and well worth tying for a try. I think two-tone flies have a great place in the wingless wet fly array. Many natural insects are two-toned. Nice work.

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty.” Edward R. Hewitt

http://www.libstudio.com/FS&S
DUBBN

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by DUBBN » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:19 pm

Gosh Soft-Hackle I wasnt worried about it. The reason for the post was to see Two Tones. I knew they were here. Just had to start a thread to start getting them out of the wood work. Your patterns really do reveal the artist in you, and it is always a pleasure and treat to see them. I hope you can put them back.
It's a privlege to be able to post on this forum and discuss pattern and techniques.
Thank you Mark.
User avatar
willowhead
Posts: 4465
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:35 pm
Location: Roscoe, N.Y./Lakeview, Arkansas
Contact:

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by willowhead » Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:13 pm

This is such a GREAT thread/topic. Wonderful stuff, and no surprise to me at all, that DUBBN brought it forth. i love all your flies Wayne.........every single one just exudes "i'm for fishin'".....in ALL the best possible ways, AND you tye them very well, with heart, spirit & love. It's no wonder the fish simply can't resist them. ;)
Question.........i was watching a video i have again yesterday and today..........Mike Lawson tyin' Spring Creek flies.............and i just wonder how many of you agree, about something he said, which is. That he preferes using game bird feathers (partridge/grouse, etc.), over domestic hen virtually all the time, because the hen has a tendancy to just collasp and glob around the hook once wet...........whereas the game bird feathers do a much better job of holding their shape in the water. Opinions? ;)
Learn to see with your ears and hear with your eyes
CAUSE, it don't mean a thing, if it aint got that swing.....

http://www.pureartflytying.ning.com
Mataura mayfly
Posts: 3648
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:28 am
Location: Southland, South Island, New Zealand.

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by Mataura mayfly » Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:29 am

willowhead wrote: Question.........i was watching a video i have again yesterday and today..........Mike Lawson tyin' Spring Creek flies.............and i just wonder how many of you agree, about something he said, which is. That he preferes using game bird feathers (partridge/grouse, etc.), over domestic hen virtually all the time, because the hen has a tendancy to just collasp and glob around the hook once wet...........whereas the game bird feathers do a much better job of holding their shape in the water. Opinions? ;)

I feel it to be a very true statement, but any hen hackle I have is probably of a very low grade and most of the gamebird feathers I have are gathered as a by-product of hunting....... can't get any fresher than that!
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
User avatar
Soft-hackle
Site Admin
Posts: 1874
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:23 am
Location: Wellsville, NY

Re: Two Tone Flymphs

Post by Soft-hackle » Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:51 am

I often find that game bird feathers are much softer than hen, It seems to me they'd be the feather that collapses much more easily. I prefer game bird feathers because of their thickness and fiber-y appearance, and I think they undulate more. I also like the mottled appearance of various game bird feathers. Genetic hen feathers, on the other hand, are often stiffer and finer than game bird, which may help when used in faster water. Also the employment of a fur or feather thorax on a soft hackled fly is suppose to help keep feathers from collapsing. We must also remember that traditional North Country patterns were tied so the feather, whatever was used, were butted against the thorax or fly body so they stood out, almost perpendicular to the hook shank, like this Woodcock and Orange I tied.

Image

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty.” Edward R. Hewitt

http://www.libstudio.com/FS&S
Post Reply