Pretty Penny

[Roadkill]

Great fly and the whole idea of a little visible weight is worth noting in the book and can be valuable out on the stream .

[William Anderson]

Lance, there's a lot to be said about this little beauty. I've waited until I could get on a computer to respond but it's not happening.

The wire dubbed bodies I've found to fish very well but haven't fished them enough too comment on their effectiveness. If my wire only bodied soft hackles produce very often (they do) No reason to think it would not produce very well. I love it. This combo with the shades of body and hackle are beautiful and lively.

I have mentioned to several people that using wire, even small wire will loosen the slots on my dubbing blocks. I suspect the same for others, but Ruard made the obvious suggestion, just designate one block for wire and one for silk. Of course.

Beautiful taper and a cool fly. This must be tested as soon a possible.

W

[gingerdun]

Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Jeff, I too have been using lead wire, but what bothered me more than the toxicity was the extra time involved winding thread transitions (ramps) before and after the weighted wire. Too much work.

Roadkill, I'm glad you think this innovation (if it really is one) may be worth passing on to others in the book. I'll think about that. I know that Ruard and many others have been dubbing bodies on wire, so their techniques might be more advanced than mine.

William, the danger of widening the thread slits in my Clark block by using wire also occurred to me, so I am using one of the pine blocks that I made last summer for wire only. I'll use your maple block only for silk.

I have a suspicion that the slight added weight won't really make any difference in the effectiveness of the fly. If so, there may yet be some merit for efficiency to combining the the shiny rib and dubbed body into one unit. I really like how the silk underbody peeks through the gaps between the copper wraps, helping the effect of translucency. I'm also experimenting with other color contrasts, including dark silk underwraps instead of primrose.

Lance

[JohnP]

I sometimes use an underbody of fine copper wire to add weight. Another option for building the ramps around the wire is a bit of fur dubbed on the thread.

[DUBBN]

Very good looking pattern Lance. I would use it in a pinch. You are a very good tier sir.

[gingerdun]

I sometimes use an underbody of fine copper wire to add weight. Another option for building the ramps around the wire is a bit of fur dubbed on the thread.

JohnP, very practical suggestions. Thanks.

And Wayne, thanks for the vote of confidence.
L

[DUBBN]

I would use it in a pinch.

That should be edited to read, "I would use that in a second!

[JohnP]

I would use it in a pinch.

That should be edited to read, "I would use that in a second!

I figured that was what you meant. The more I look at that fly, the better I like it and the more I think the apple does not fall far from the tree.