North Fly

Fencerider Bass Bug

Hook: Mustad Limerick  #4

Thread: Flat waxed Nylon

Tail: Four black saddle hackles, a tuft of green marabou

Skirt: Deer hair

Body: Orange, Green and black deer hair, stacked and clipped

It needs some work, but I think the bass will like it.

March Brown (V.)

Thread: Yellow 8/0 (UNI)

Tail: Teal Flank

Abdomen: Hair’s Dubbing

Rib: Yellow thread

Wingcase: Partridge

I actually tied this a while ago, but I just thought I’d put the pattern out here.

Husk Dun

Hook: Mustad 94840 #14

Thread: UNI 8/0 Olive

PUPA HUSK DRESSING:

Extended body: Velour yarn

Tail: Pheasant fibers

Hackle: Partridge

Head: brown hairs dubbing

DUN DRESSING:

Extended Body: Furled yarn

Dubbing: Monster Dry (Blue Dun)

Para Post: sparkle yarn

Hackle: Blue Dun

I have been working on this pattern for several days. I’ve tried all manner of body styles, materials, colors, and hooks, and finally boiled it all down to this fly, which I call the Husk Dun. It imitates a Mayfly Dun just after hatching.  When a mayfly hatches, it rests on the surface for a moment, drying its wings, while the discarded husk hangs just below. That is what this fly imitates.

It is somewhat of a ‘novelty’ pattern I suppose, unnecessarily detailed but a fun one to tie, and I expect it will be enjoyable to fish with as well.  After concluding the Husk dressing, I experimented with various extended body materials for the dun. At first I tried a dubbing extended body. It was very beautiful, but it was extremely time consuming and delicate. I then tried a elk hair one. It was quick, tough, and floated well…..but I just didn’t like the look of it. I then tried a furled yarn body. That clicked, and so the Husk Dun came to be.

You can tie it in any colors you wish, transforming it from a Blue Dun to any other mayfly species. The pupa husk you can color with markers (gasp!) to imitate various nymph types…but I prefer to leave it as it is from the package.

While testing in a aquarium, I found that the little bugger floats just as intended, husk dipping below the surface and the Dun bobbing cheerily above. When fishing, I think it would be good idea to anoint the dun with dry fly dressing, and rub the husk with saliva or creek water.  Here are some photographs from testing. I apologise for the over-exposed pictures.

The pupa husk

Dun

I can’t wait to try this guy out on Rocky Ford, those spooky Rainbows won’t know what hit them.

Bunny Strip Muddler:

Thread: Danville Flymaster + Orange

Tail: White bunny strip

Skirt: Deer hair

Weight: Plated dumbell eyes

Head: spun deer hair

Forgive me for the total absense of new posts. I have been extremely busy the last couple weeks and so have had no time to post scruffy flies or blurry photography.

Hopefully I will get some new posts up in the near future.

But I will present this bit of symphony:

Mottled LA Nymph:

Hook: Nymph #12

Thread: UNI-8/0 Brown

Tail: Lady Amherst fibers

Body: Lady Amherst Fibers

Rib: Gold or silver wire

Wingcase: pheasant

Thorax: Peacock herl

Legs: Tips of wingcasing

One Christmas eve in a  busy shopping mall a middle aged woman squeezed into an already full elevator, arms heavily laden with items. She sighed tiredly as the elevator clicked through the levels. “Who ever started Christmas aught to be strung up and shot!” She suddenly declared. The other occupants of the elevator mumbled agreement.

Then suddenly from the back of the elevator a quite voice said, “They already did.”

The  tired shoppers craned their necks to see where the voice came from.

“He was strung up on a tree, and murdered. His name is Jesus Christ.”

–Unknown

Jesus Christ is the reason for Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all, have a fantastic Holiday season!!

Tom Nixon’s Black Gnat Bass                                        

Hook: Mustad Limerick #4
Thread: Danville 6/0 Black
Body: Large black chennile (or red)
Hackle: Black saddle hackle

Enjoy

Got this guy a couple days ago. I believe it is a large Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus).