Peacock Softie.

[Smuggler]

A great little pattern. Three materials, all of which are easy to find! A big plus in my book. Here we go..

Materials:

Hook: Favorite size 14 wet fly hook, I like a short shank for this guy.
Thread: 8/0 Camel, Uni.
Body: Two strands of peacock herl, wound forward and swept back after every wrap.
Antennae: Natural Mallard tied in before the hackle. (The top one is with antennae)
Hackle: A dark almost badger'ish hen back.

Ta-da! Great caddis pattern. Tie some up .

[letumgo]

SWEET! That, sir, is a fishing fly (sincere compliment). Great photos too.

[Kelly L.]

Loved the materials, photos, and most importantly...the flies!

[gingerdun]

Smuggler,
Thanks for posting these. Classic fly, because fish love them, as you demonstrated. Have you tried it with the reddish-bronze herl? That is what Leisenring preferred. I bought some that is dyed. On one of the forums someone said (Mike Connor?) that when exposed to light over time, the green herl turn bronze. I haven't tried that. We are always warned not to expose materials to sunlight because it weakens them.
Still waiting to see that snazzy hat now.

Lance

[Smuggler]

Lol Lance, I'll get a pic up soon. I'm going back upstate this weekend again.

Honestly, I've never tied with any dyed herls, except ostrich. I have however noticed that some of the herls I've purchased from Cabelas turn bronze when wet though.

[gingerdun]

Smuggler,
The choice of fishing hats takes priority over reels, and maybe even rods, judging by the photos I've seen of famous and not-so-famous fly fishers. I'm thinking someday we may need a hat string on the forum. I'm already starting to have anxiety attacks about the hat choices for the Rendevous.

I am skeptical about strategies to turn green herl to bronze. There are some peacocks that are naturally bronze-colored, which is what Leisenring and Hidy preferred, and used most of the time.

Lance

[chase creek]

Great pattern, great flies.
Like that you included photo of the materials, too.

Lance - maybe those natural bronze birds just stayed out in the sun too long without the proper SPF ????

[Smuggler]

Thanks Chase.

Lance, I'm all for a hat topic! That would be interesting I think. I completely agree with hat choices over reels and rods. I know I do it haha.

[gingerdun]

Smuggler, I started a hat string under Member Photos.

Lance