Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: Sandy Nelson on 17/10/2012 at 17:56
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From talking to many people of late, it occured to me that many moons ago and for many years, i have tied flies for people to their own requirements. Until this year i've never really thought seriously about Salmon and Sea-trout, so a lot of the advice kinda passed me by (but it was squirreled away :wink)
However with having the Ythan literally at my back door and most of the trips i have managed this year in between everything else, i've been actively pursuing Salmon and Sea-trout, with some success :z18
So my winter projects for this year are to use lots of the advice and ideas i've picked up and then tweek the to suit me, hence the requests for small silver and gold doubles the other week (i'm still waiting for delivery so we have yet to see about those :z6)
The first of my own patterns for the winter, just left the vice :z16 Its basically a sparse Invicta style,spidery,low watery, unusual bird kind of thing. I've done the Teal/blue and silver and a dunkeld in a similar vein, but not in the right proportions quite yet to justify a few piccies (hooks are too big :z10). This one however is about right :z16 although it needs to be shrunk 2-3 sizes for the water out back. I'm sure its all been done before, but a wee series of similar patterns are my plans for the winter.
For those interested, this is the Black Grouse.
(http://i46.tinypic.com/34770pk.jpg)
Hook is a size 11 Salar gold double (could do with being a proper 14)
Beard hackle is Black arctic fox,
underwing/tail is Yellow arctic fox
Wing is Black Grouse hen tail in a paired slip
Cheeks are Jungle cock.
No-body, just the colour of the hook and a sparse wing and hackle.
Hopefully just enough flash with lots of movement.
Simple but rather effective, i think most traditional sea-trout flies can be adapted to the style, just pick your favourite and vary the size of the hook :z16
Sandy
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Very nice Sandy,
I'm not a big fan of salar hooks, mainly the price but they do make for a very bonnie flee!
Funnily enough with the start of Strictly Come Dancing again I'm spending much more time at the vice, pictures later!
Matt
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Nice one Sandy :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Finally got a selection of the VMC doubles today.
Not had too much time to play, but they are rather nice fine wire hooks and should be ideal for the Sea-trout.
The 12 is just small enough to be worth having, the 14 is better, i'd say slightly longer than a size 12 "wee double" hook but not enough to matter. Just a pity they don't make them in a 16 and 18, they would be awesome.
Here is a foxy Teal blue and silver, i did this evening, lighting will be better next time, but it illustrates the hook nicely
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2lasdp3.jpg)
I got them in gold as well, so i have loads of wee ideas :wink
So here is a Black Grouse in a 14
(http://i47.tinypic.com/350qmp2.jpg)
Sandy
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A Size 14 Stoats Tail, tied with arctic fox, so i suppose its a foxtail :z4 :z4
(http://i48.tinypic.com/5mir5u.jpg)
Having fun with this :z3.
Sandy
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That'll work :z16
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what kind of fox sandy? I struggle with wee hair wings like that to get a wing that's sparse enough yet with short enough fibres that sit nicely.
Cheers
Matt
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Sandy,
There may be some good news on the coloured doubles front in the near future....maybe.
Glad you got hold of the VMC's, have a word with the chappy in Kate Flemming if you need smaller ones, he may be able to help.
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Thanks for that Rob
If you want some don't go to mchardys they are useless when it comes to service.
Took them 3 weeks to tell me they don't have stock :z10
And then they sent bigger ones thinking that was a suitable alternative. :z8
Flymakers in Aberdeen however had loads in all sizes, and they arrived next day.
Douglas is a Nice guy to speak to as well :z18
Based in Torry.
Sandy
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Excellent news..will look him up.
Cheers
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I'll give a second vote for Flymakers for hooks. Great value and quick delivery.
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lovin' the Black Grouse Sandy ! :z16
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Partridge do salmon doubles down to size 20 now. I've tied on a few and they really are tiny. Only available in black though. This is one of mine on a black size 14 double. If I remember correctly its a Talon hook.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/AlanBithell/TBS_zpsf5f375db.jpg)
Cheers,
C.
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Very nice! :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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Nice flee Crackaig :z16
:z18
Jim
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Thanks gents.
C.
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Nice fly "C"
Must investigate these tiny doubles :z5 Thanks for the heads up, still want gold and silver ones though :roll
Sandy
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The only Gold and silver ones that approach small that I know of are the VMC ones. I've seen them down to a similar size to the ones I used (14) but no smaller. Though that doesn't mean they don't make them.
Cheers,
C.
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A Teal and Ginger in the same style, i've a fancy in clear water this might be rather effective :z16
(http://i50.tinypic.com/dr5uom.jpg)
I've done a Black Medicene as well, reckon this will be rather good as well
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2vj2xlj.jpg)
Good fun seeing what comes next (a cinnamon and gold variant perhaps)
Sandy
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We'll call this one the Red Grouse, for obvious reasons
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2uj38fq.jpg)
:z18
Sandy
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:z16 :z16 :z16
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I was trying to improvise some sort of Cinnamon and gold today in a similar style.
But i could only find Oak Turkey in my stock.
The finished product came out rather nice though, but i doubt if i could call it a cinnamon and gold :z7
(http://i49.tinypic.com/e0k5kk.jpg)
:z18
Sandy
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how 'bout 'Golden Oak' ? :z16
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Stop it Sandy, these look the absolute biz for the evening grilse chase on the Spey. Trouble is i'm a troot fisher and you're just tempting me to the 'Dark Side' :z4 :z4
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Hopefully they will do the same job on the Ythan :z16
The dark side beckons this year :z5 although i will find it hard to leave my little stick at home :cry
Thanks for the comments though Alan
I have a handful more to tie up and then the box is full.
I'm thinking Alexandria, Butcher, Dunkeld variants and couple of different coloured stoats
:z18
Sandy
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Unfortunately I have been inspired to replace my mite devistated salmon fly boxes by this thread.
I have 200 gold and silver doubles on the way and have around 450 "dead" salmon flies to remove whats left of the dressings and re tie using the Wilson hooks I tied them on. Some job!
I will NEVER store boxes of flies again without adding Napthalene and placing them in an air tight bag :(