Tuesday 12 January 2010

Fly tying






After plucking those pheasants the other day, I decided to put the tail feathers to good use. Before we know it, it'll be time for fishing again - and I just about used up my stock of goldhead nymphs last year.

So I dug my fly-tying kit out of the cupboard and got started. The tube of superglue had dried up, and I'd forgotten the patterns. This one took me most of the evening, and I'm not really happy with it.

With a bit of luck, now I've got all the gear together and reminded myself how it works, I'll speed up a bit. I hope so, or I'll still be tying when the season starts!

6 comments:

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

What's wrong with it?
Looks just like the ones in Farlows to me
SBW

James Marchington said...

SBW, I'm hoping the fish agree with you!

CORK GRAHAM said...

James --

I love reading about hunters who use everything available from the hunt. Pheasant is one of the prime examples. Have you tied PTs or Jim Teeny nymphs and wetflies with the the tail fibers, either natural or bleached and dyed?

The natural bluish butt top feathers of a rooster make phenomenal Spey flies, that I use successfully for a down and across swing on my double-handed flyrod for Pacific steelhead, whose take and fight most resembles the Atlantic salmon on your side of the pond.

With the pheasants that I'm getting this year, starting with the hunt with Hunter Angler Gardner Cook Hank Shaw in Nov.(http://corksoutdoors.com/blog/pheasants-hang-em-high/) I'm sure to be tying like crazy for the summer and fall steelhead run!

Cheers,
Cork
http://corksoutdoors.com/blog/about/

Meconopsis said...

If I could only have one fly in my box it would ne a Pheasant tail goldhead. 20 will do me James in size 10s and 12s

Peregrine's Bird Blog said...

Whereas i would like a Crazy Charlie Special for Bonefishing or a Donegal pearly bibio which i have found the most effective for brown trout in Donegal.

James Marchington said...

I'm going to have to look those up - they don't have them in my beginner's guide to flytying!