I have been doing really well the last week or so, with pink UV dub thoraxes on PT, and Hare's Ear Nymphs. The fishing here in CT has been very slow due to lower than normal temps. We had 70 deg yesterday and Friday, now it's hard-pressed to get to 45 and will be like that for the rest of the week. I got a grey squirrel pelt, so I am going to tie this one up on # 14 ane 16 hooks, and my guess the local trout will take it no problem!
Its funny, you are outside of the U.S. and are tying U.S. patterns and I live in the U.S. and prefer to tie and fish patterns not developed here… Where are you located?
The ratios are the $64,000 question. I have researched the topic and there is nothing. Given that the mix is a combination of natural and synthetic, I would guess equal parts of each. As for people selling prepackaged mixes, there is no way to know if they are indeed correct. I’m sure the fish pay no mind to all of the variations of the pattern. Each pattern is similar in design and likely just as effective as the next. The only reason I chimed in was I wanted to pass along what I knew about the pattern and it’s actual beginnings. I fish the same area where the originator lives and developed the pattern. I don’t well with it, but I’ve used other patterns that are more effective. Remember that when the fish see the same thing all the time, they will likely turn their noses down at it. I like to show them something different.
The Lureflash color is Rainbow to match the color of the tailing, which is the minority color in this pattern. Very finely chopped so it is more of an additive than a factor in the “bugginess” of the fly. All of the dubbing was mixed thoroughly. There is really no need for a dubbing loop with this pattern. The original pattern was dressed so heavily it almost appeared round (or overweight). The original color of the collar is Shell Pink. This color is very effective because it is muted enough not to spook and still visible at depth. It also acts as a trigger. I would make one recommendation concerning your technique. Try using a single piece of KF and doubling it around the thread and tying it off instead of two pieces that you wrap the entire length of the shank, as you showed in your video. There are a whole bunch of shortcuts that can be used to make your tying more efficient and speed things up. For example, unless you are tying with GSP or a really heavy denier thread, there is no need to cut the thread after wrapping the base, just snap it off by pulling toward the eye. It does nothing to weaken the base, in fact it packs the wraps together more tightly. I’m a pro tyer and on a number of Pro Teams and Pro Staffs and most everybody snaps. You could use the extra time to put head cement on the base, which I always do to keep everything from spinning around the shank. This is especially important when using very slick thread like the Danville that you seem to prefer. Danville is unbonded, and unwaxed, multi-strand and lays very flat and is excellent for thread bodies.
Chimo, well you squeezd out another before you got called for icing, lol. How bad was it? Did you ice skate in the street? Things here were glazing all morning. Didn't get past 32° till about 3pm. It's 35° now at 9pm. Now wind and rain advisory. Your tutorials are awesome though. You should give private lessons besides on the "tube". Seriously, I think your among the best tutors here. No "grease" intended. That's a nicely tied pattern, nice taper, spikey too. Those hooks look nasty! Nice forge all the way to the point. You seem to like tying on them, probably haven't fish with them yet? Did you use the heavier 140 thread because of the color or to facilitate the taper? Besides being an excellent tutor, you do a awesome job of putting a video together. I sometimes jump to the suggested videos or the "up next" ones (nice eye candy) to compare techniques or how you form the taper, spike out the thorax, etc. I seem to be in the "zone" when I watch then spend and hour or so researching, watching, taking notes, like I'm in fly tying college preparing a thesis. Thanks Professor Darren 👍😎🍻
I have been doing really well the last week or so, with pink UV dub thoraxes on PT, and Hare's Ear Nymphs. The fishing here in CT has been very slow due to lower than normal temps. We had 70 deg yesterday and Friday, now it's hard-pressed to get to 45 and will be like that for the rest of the week. I got a grey squirrel pelt, so I am going to tie this one up on # 14 ane 16 hooks, and my guess the local trout will take it no problem!
Its funny, you are outside of the U.S. and are tying U.S. patterns and I live in the U.S. and prefer to tie and fish patterns not developed here… Where are you located?
The ratios are the $64,000 question. I have researched the topic and there is nothing.
Given that the mix is a combination of natural and synthetic, I would guess equal parts of each. As for people selling prepackaged mixes, there is no way to know if they are indeed correct. I’m sure the fish pay no mind to all of the variations of the pattern. Each pattern is similar in design and likely just as effective as the next. The only reason I chimed in was I wanted to pass along what I knew about the pattern and it’s actual beginnings. I fish the same area where the originator lives and developed the pattern. I don’t well with it, but I’ve used other patterns that are more effective. Remember that when the fish see the same thing all the time, they will likely turn their noses down at it. I like to show them something different.
The Lureflash color is Rainbow to match the color of the tailing, which is the minority color in this pattern. Very finely chopped so it is more of an additive than a factor in the “bugginess” of the fly. All of the dubbing was mixed thoroughly. There is really no need for a dubbing loop with this pattern. The original pattern was dressed so heavily it almost appeared round (or overweight). The original color of the collar is Shell Pink. This color is very effective because it is muted enough not to spook and still visible at depth. It also acts as a trigger. I would make one recommendation concerning your technique. Try using a single piece of KF and doubling it around the thread and tying it off instead of two pieces that you wrap the entire length of the shank, as you showed in your video. There are a whole bunch of shortcuts that can be used to make your tying more efficient and speed things up. For example, unless you are tying with GSP or a really heavy denier thread, there is no need to cut the thread after wrapping the base, just snap it off by pulling toward the eye. It does nothing to weaken the base, in fact it packs the wraps together more tightly. I’m a pro tyer and on a number of Pro Teams and Pro Staffs and most everybody snaps. You could use the extra time to put head cement on the base, which I always do to keep everything from spinning around the shank. This is especially important when using very slick thread like the Danville that you seem to prefer. Danville is unbonded, and unwaxed, multi-strand and lays very flat and is excellent for thread bodies.
Bethke’s original pattern calls for a Fox Squirrel, Amber Antron, Olive Ice Dub and Lureflash mix for the Abdomen.
Tie this with a black body. It's better than the original IMO
kudos nice fly
Looks great I'll tie a few tomorrow
Hey Darren, nice tie. Thanks for sharing, all the best, Sean
Chimo, well you squeezd out another before you got called for icing, lol. How bad was it? Did you ice skate in the street? Things here were glazing all morning. Didn't get past 32° till about 3pm. It's 35° now at 9pm. Now wind and rain advisory.
Your tutorials are awesome though. You should give private lessons besides on the "tube". Seriously, I think your among the best tutors here. No "grease" intended. That's a nicely tied pattern, nice taper, spikey too. Those hooks look nasty! Nice forge all the way to the point. You seem to like tying on them, probably haven't fish with them yet? Did you use the heavier 140 thread because of the color or to facilitate the taper?
Besides being an excellent tutor, you do a awesome job of putting a video together. I sometimes jump to the suggested videos or the "up next" ones (nice eye candy) to compare techniques or how you form the taper, spike out the thorax, etc. I seem to be in the "zone" when I watch then spend and hour or so researching, watching, taking notes, like I'm in fly tying college preparing a thesis.
Thanks Professor Darren 👍😎🍻
Awesome fly pal and you make putting the dubbing look so easy, do you think this fly would work in a river in Scotland, all the best Peter.
👍🏻👍🏻
Nice patter, I really like working with squirrel dubbing.
Darren, I like the variety of flies you tie and you're very descriptive with what you're doing. Makes it easy to follow along and learn quickly.
Going to give this a try. Remind me of a waltz worm with a chenille hot spot. Happy tying!
Thanks for the video. I have a lot of luck on pink.