Soft Hackle Flies

[Stuart DeWolfe]

I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
suggestions. Thanks in advance.

--
Tight Lines & Great Memories
Stuart DeWolfe

[Mike Connor]

"Stuart DeWolfe" > wrote in message
. ..
> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already
have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tight Lines & Great Memories
> Stuart DeWolfe
>
>

Leslie Magee "Fly Fishing - The North Country Tradition" and Roger Fogg "The
Handbook of North Country Flies". ...

TL
MC

[Mike Connor]

"Stuart DeWolfe" > wrote in message
. ..
> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already
have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tight Lines & Great Memories
> Stuart DeWolfe
>
>

Leslie Magee "Fly Fishing - The North Country Tradition" and Roger Fogg "The
Handbook of North Country Flies". ...

TL
MC

[Willi & Sue]

Stuart DeWolfe wrote:

> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>

Although soft hackles are great (and fun to fish) searching patterns, I
find myself using soft hackles more and more often on surface feeding
fish when I can't get them to take a dry or feel they are feeding on
emergers. For these match the hatch type soft hackles, I usually modify
a nymph pattern that is usually good for the given hatch.

I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
patterns
around developed to imitate American hatches.

Willi

[Willi & Sue]

Stuart DeWolfe wrote:

> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>

Although soft hackles are great (and fun to fish) searching patterns, I
find myself using soft hackles more and more often on surface feeding
fish when I can't get them to take a dry or feel they are feeding on
emergers. For these match the hatch type soft hackles, I usually modify
a nymph pattern that is usually good for the given hatch.

I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
patterns
around developed to imitate American hatches.

Willi

[Willi & Sue]

Stuart DeWolfe wrote:

> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>

Although soft hackles are great (and fun to fish) searching patterns, I
find myself using soft hackles more and more often on surface feeding
fish when I can't get them to take a dry or feel they are feeding on
emergers. For these match the hatch type soft hackles, I usually modify
a nymph pattern that is usually good for the given hatch.

I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
patterns
around developed to imitate American hatches.

Willi

[Big Dale]

Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies.
I already have
>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>like yet another

This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies that
was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying and
fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called the
red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge with
a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find attractive.
Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into thinking
that this sometimes makes a difference.

Big Dale

[Big Dale]

Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies.
I already have
>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>like yet another

This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies that
was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying and
fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called the
red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge with
a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find attractive.
Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into thinking
that this sometimes makes a difference.

Big Dale

[Big Dale]

Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies.
I already have
>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>like yet another

This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies that
was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying and
fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called the
red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge with
a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find attractive.
Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into thinking
that this sometimes makes a difference.

Big Dale

[Dustin Rocksvold]

Big Dale,

If I recall correctly, you are from California correct?

Dustin


"Big Dale" > wrote in message
...
> Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled
> Flies.
> I already have
>>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>>like yet another
>
> This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies
> that
> was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying
> and
> fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called
> the
> red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge
> with
> a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find
> attractive.
> Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
> fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into
> thinking
> that this sometimes makes a difference.
>
> Big Dale
>
>

[Dustin Rocksvold]

Big Dale,

If I recall correctly, you are from California correct?

Dustin


"Big Dale" > wrote in message
...
> Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled
> Flies.
> I already have
>>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>>like yet another
>
> This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies
> that
> was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying
> and
> fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called
> the
> red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge
> with
> a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find
> attractive.
> Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
> fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into
> thinking
> that this sometimes makes a difference.
>
> Big Dale
>
>

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

> I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
> the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
> hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
> patterns
> around developed to imitate American hatches.
>


Nemes has a book, "Soft Hackle Imitations" ( I think is the title ) that
does some work along these lines. Borger and Hughes also mention soft
hackles fished for specific hatches

This is something with great potential, imho, and I, too, spend a lot of
time fishing soft hackle flies to rising fish. Indeed, I'd say that 90% of
the time a riser will take a soft hackle, IN the film, that comes close to
the size of the natural even if nothing else seems close to the naturals.
SHs
that were closely matched to the hatch would be damn deadly, indeed

Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably will
never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish we lived
close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from bug to bug.

This summer I walked down the hill from my trailer to the HFork nearly every
night to try slight variations of a "muskrat and partridge" size 18 on the
evening rise ... basically EVERY fish I could cover with a good drift and a
good "float" took ... but getting a float that lasted more than a single
fish or even a few casts without one is something I never achieved ....
exactly the kind of challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise,
over and over

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

> I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
> the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
> hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
> patterns
> around developed to imitate American hatches.
>


Nemes has a book, "Soft Hackle Imitations" ( I think is the title ) that
does some work along these lines. Borger and Hughes also mention soft
hackles fished for specific hatches

This is something with great potential, imho, and I, too, spend a lot of
time fishing soft hackle flies to rising fish. Indeed, I'd say that 90% of
the time a riser will take a soft hackle, IN the film, that comes close to
the size of the natural even if nothing else seems close to the naturals.
SHs
that were closely matched to the hatch would be damn deadly, indeed

Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably will
never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish we lived
close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from bug to bug.

This summer I walked down the hill from my trailer to the HFork nearly every
night to try slight variations of a "muskrat and partridge" size 18 on the
evening rise ... basically EVERY fish I could cover with a good drift and a
good "float" took ... but getting a float that lasted more than a single
fish or even a few casts without one is something I never achieved ....
exactly the kind of challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise,
over and over

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

> I think there's lot of room for experimentation with soft hackles. Many of
> the established patterns are old and were developed in England for the
> hatches there. Not that that's bad, it's just that there aren't many
> patterns
> around developed to imitate American hatches.
>


Nemes has a book, "Soft Hackle Imitations" ( I think is the title ) that
does some work along these lines. Borger and Hughes also mention soft
hackles fished for specific hatches

This is something with great potential, imho, and I, too, spend a lot of
time fishing soft hackle flies to rising fish. Indeed, I'd say that 90% of
the time a riser will take a soft hackle, IN the film, that comes close to
the size of the natural even if nothing else seems close to the naturals.
SHs
that were closely matched to the hatch would be damn deadly, indeed

Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably will
never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish we lived
close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from bug to bug.

This summer I walked down the hill from my trailer to the HFork nearly every
night to try slight variations of a "muskrat and partridge" size 18 on the
evening rise ... basically EVERY fish I could cover with a good drift and a
good "float" took ... but getting a float that lasted more than a single
fish or even a few casts without one is something I never achieved ....
exactly the kind of challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise,
over and over

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:

> Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably will
> never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish we lived
> close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from bug to bug.

If you've given up on Claves, then the chances of us getting together is
slim (unless you come to CO) because virtually all the fishing I do out of
State is at Claves or informal get togethers with people I've met at
Claves.
There are people from time to time who attend Claves from a distance.
They don't stay in the same places as the other people and they only
drop by
occasionally either to fish or to talk or .... Think they generally
feel welcome.
There are no rules or requirements but it's best if you don't act like TOO
much of an asshole.

>
> This summer I walked down the hill from my trailer to the HFork nearly every
> night to try slight variations of a "muskrat and partridge" size 18 on the
> evening rise ... basically EVERY fish I could cover with a good drift and a
> good "float" took ... but getting a float that lasted more than a single
> fish or even a few casts without one is something I never achieved ....
> exactly the kind of challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise,
> over and over

I don't understand, if every fish took, why are you looking for a better
fly?

Willi

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:

> Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably will
> never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish we lived
> close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from bug to bug.

If you've given up on Claves, then the chances of us getting together is
slim (unless you come to CO) because virtually all the fishing I do out of
State is at Claves or informal get togethers with people I've met at
Claves.
There are people from time to time who attend Claves from a distance.
They don't stay in the same places as the other people and they only
drop by
occasionally either to fish or to talk or .... Think they generally
feel welcome.
There are no rules or requirements but it's best if you don't act like TOO
much of an asshole.

>
> This summer I walked down the hill from my trailer to the HFork nearly every
> night to try slight variations of a "muskrat and partridge" size 18 on the
> evening rise ... basically EVERY fish I could cover with a good drift and a
> good "float" took ... but getting a float that lasted more than a single
> fish or even a few casts without one is something I never achieved ....
> exactly the kind of challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise,
> over and over

I don't understand, if every fish took, why are you looking for a better
fly?

Willi

[Stephen Welsh]

Willi & Sue > wrote in
:

> Larry L wrote:
>
>> Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably
>> will never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish
>> we lived close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from
>> bug to bug.
>
> If you've given up on Claves, then the chances of us getting together
> is slim (unless you come to CO) because virtually all the fishing I do
> out of State is at Claves or informal get togethers with people I've
> met at Claves.
> There are people from time to time who attend Claves from a distance.
> ... basically EVERY fish I
>> could cover with a good drift and a good "float" took ... but getting
>> a float that lasted more than a single fish or even a few casts
>> without one is something I never achieved .... exactly the kind of
>> challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise, over and over
>
> I don't understand, if every fish took, why are you looking for a
> better fly?
>

I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
sliming or several drifts. It doesn't parse well though ... but otoh
at least it on topic

Steve (carefully checking group ...)

[Stephen Welsh]

Willi & Sue > wrote in
:

> Larry L wrote:
>
>> Willi, I've given up on the idea of "claves" and such and probably
>> will never meet you, ... I'm too much of a loner ... but I sure wish
>> we lived close enough to compare notes on this, as a season went from
>> bug to bug.
>
> If you've given up on Claves, then the chances of us getting together
> is slim (unless you come to CO) because virtually all the fishing I do
> out of State is at Claves or informal get togethers with people I've
> met at Claves.
> There are people from time to time who attend Claves from a distance.
> ... basically EVERY fish I
>> could cover with a good drift and a good "float" took ... but getting
>> a float that lasted more than a single fish or even a few casts
>> without one is something I never achieved .... exactly the kind of
>> challenge that drives one both nuts and back the vise, over and over
>
> I don't understand, if every fish took, why are you looking for a
> better fly?
>

I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
sliming or several drifts. It doesn't parse well though ... but otoh
at least it on topic

Steve (carefully checking group ...)

[Larry L]

"Stephen Welsh" > wrote

>
> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
> sliming or several drifts.

yeah, what he said ...

[Larry L]

"Stephen Welsh" > wrote

>
> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
> sliming or several drifts.

yeah, what he said ...

[Big Dale]

Dustin wrote:>Big Dale,
>
>If I recall correctly, you are from California correct?
>
>Dustin
>

Nope. I am still living in the Dallas area.

Big Dale

[Big Dale]

Dustin wrote:>Big Dale,
>
>If I recall correctly, you are from California correct?
>
>Dustin
>

Nope. I am still living in the Dallas area.

Big Dale

[Scott Seidman]

"Larry L" > wrote in news:ItZdd.733871
:

>
> "Stephen Welsh" > wrote
>
>>
>> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
>> sliming or several drifts.
>
> yeah, what he said ...
>
>

Have you tried Frog's Fanny?

Scott

[Scott Seidman]

"Larry L" > wrote in news:ItZdd.733871
:

>
> "Stephen Welsh" > wrote
>
>>
>> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
>> sliming or several drifts.
>
> yeah, what he said ...
>
>

Have you tried Frog's Fanny?

Scott

[Larry L]

"Stephen Welsh" > wrote

>
> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
> sliming or several drifts.

yeah, what he said ...

[Larry L]

"Stephen Welsh" > wrote

>
> I think they tend to be one fish flys i.e. don't sit in the film after
> sliming or several drifts.

yeah, what he said ...

[Larry L]

"Scott Seidman" > wrote

>>
>
> Have you tried Frog's Fanny?
>
yep, love it, the last time I bought some I got three bottles because the
time before that when I went looking all the stores were out .... don't
leave home without it


I also tried tying a bit of foam as a wing, and using a CDC underwing and
WaterShed and duck preen oil and .....

the plain old muskrat and partridge caught fish ... for a fish or two ...
all modifications were less appealing to the fish ...if the fly floats TOO
well, fish wouldn't take it ... has to be IN the film with just a barb or
two of partridge showing

the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala M&P,
but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey

[Larry L]

"Scott Seidman" > wrote

>>
>
> Have you tried Frog's Fanny?
>
yep, love it, the last time I bought some I got three bottles because the
time before that when I went looking all the stores were out .... don't
leave home without it


I also tried tying a bit of foam as a wing, and using a CDC underwing and
WaterShed and duck preen oil and .....

the plain old muskrat and partridge caught fish ... for a fish or two ...
all modifications were less appealing to the fish ...if the fly floats TOO
well, fish wouldn't take it ... has to be IN the film with just a barb or
two of partridge showing

the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala M&P,
but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey

[Mike Connor]

"Larry L" > wrote in message
...
>SNIP>
> the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala
M&P,
> but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
> fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
> getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
> than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey
>
>
>

Mix deer hair with the muskrat. This will float in the film without any
maintenance at all. One may also simply use deer hair alone. Spin it and
trim it. Such a fly is basically unsinkable, and also floats very low.

TL
MC

[Mike Connor]

"Larry L" > wrote in message
...
>SNIP>
> the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala
M&P,
> but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
> fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
> getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
> than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey
>
>
>

Mix deer hair with the muskrat. This will float in the film without any
maintenance at all. One may also simply use deer hair alone. Spin it and
trim it. Such a fly is basically unsinkable, and also floats very low.

TL
MC

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:

> the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala M&P,
> but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
> fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
> getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
> than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey


Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?

Willi

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:

> the goal became to find a pattern/ floatant that worked very well, ala M&P,
> but didn't require much maintanence Using more time maintaining than
> fishing was obviously a problem at last light, surrounded by rising fish,
> getting dark quick .... the elegant solution would fish with less hassle
> than the M&P but be just as tasty looking to the prey


Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?

Willi

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

>
> Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?
>
it didn't seem so ... but ... there may have been takes I didn't see, last
light, old eyes, etc. ... kinda surprised me too ... I tried swinging the
pattern but got very few takes, and real dinks, that way

In all honesty, when the pattern sank, I tried to re-float it more than I
tried to test it sunk .... I was more interested in tackling the problem of
half floating than in catching fish ....

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

>
> Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?
>
it didn't seem so ... but ... there may have been takes I didn't see, last
light, old eyes, etc. ... kinda surprised me too ... I tried swinging the
pattern but got very few takes, and real dinks, that way

In all honesty, when the pattern sank, I tried to re-float it more than I
tried to test it sunk .... I was more interested in tackling the problem of
half floating than in catching fish ....

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:
> "Willi & Sue" > wrote
>
>
>>Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?
>>
>
> it didn't seem so ... but ... there may have been takes I didn't see, last
> light, old eyes, etc. ... kinda surprised me too ... I tried swinging the
> pattern but got very few takes, and real dinks, that way
>
> In all honesty, when the pattern sank, I tried to re-float it more than I
> tried to test it sunk .... I was more interested in tackling the problem of
> half floating than in catching fish ....
>
>

IMO, a soft hackle isn't very well suited to either floating or half
floating unless you tie it
with a body that will provide flotation. That would result in a fairly
fat body. When fishing to rising fish I usually fish them on a greased
tippet so they float just under the surface.

You could try using a CDC hackle tied soft hackle style. Not quite the
same as partridge but would give you much better flotation. It makes an
effective BWO imitation but I haven't tried it on any other hatches.

Willi

[Willi & Sue]

Larry L wrote:
> "Willi & Sue" > wrote
>
>
>>Wouldn't they take the fly just under the surface?
>>
>
> it didn't seem so ... but ... there may have been takes I didn't see, last
> light, old eyes, etc. ... kinda surprised me too ... I tried swinging the
> pattern but got very few takes, and real dinks, that way
>
> In all honesty, when the pattern sank, I tried to re-float it more than I
> tried to test it sunk .... I was more interested in tackling the problem of
> half floating than in catching fish ....
>
>

IMO, a soft hackle isn't very well suited to either floating or half
floating unless you tie it
with a body that will provide flotation. That would result in a fairly
fat body. When fishing to rising fish I usually fish them on a greased
tippet so they float just under the surface.

You could try using a CDC hackle tied soft hackle style. Not quite the
same as partridge but would give you much better flotation. It makes an
effective BWO imitation but I haven't tried it on any other hatches.

Willi

[J. Turner]

The Art of Tying the Wet Fly & Fishing the Flymph
by James E. Leisenring


"Stuart DeWolfe" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
>suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tight Lines & Great Memories
> Stuart DeWolfe
>

[J. Turner]

The Art of Tying the Wet Fly & Fishing the Flymph
by James E. Leisenring


"Stuart DeWolfe" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already have
>the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
>like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
>suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tight Lines & Great Memories
> Stuart DeWolfe
>

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

>
> IMO, a soft hackle isn't very well suited to either floating or half
> floating unless you tie it


You are correct, and as I look back on the situation I see I allowed myself
to get suckered into very bad design tactics. I stumbled onto the M&P,
fished floated, as a real fish taker and then make a key error of defining
the design goal as "float a M&P" All design efforts follow from the
defined goal, and thus that definition is the most important step. Had I
looked a little deeper and defined the problem as "find out why these fish
love a M&P and then design a floating fly that will have similar qualities
to please them" I'm sure I would have had more success. I "think" they
were taking it for a little dark caddis that was around, but I didn't take
the time to seine and study, ..... there were also a WIDE variety of other
bugs on the water ( I love the HFork :-) and the fish may have been eating
something else ... the rises, for one thing, were sips, not at all splashy
.... I was too busy casting to look much .... fishing SO often gets in the
way of learning more about fishing <G>

[Larry L]

"Willi & Sue" > wrote

>
> IMO, a soft hackle isn't very well suited to either floating or half
> floating unless you tie it


You are correct, and as I look back on the situation I see I allowed myself
to get suckered into very bad design tactics. I stumbled onto the M&P,
fished floated, as a real fish taker and then make a key error of defining
the design goal as "float a M&P" All design efforts follow from the
defined goal, and thus that definition is the most important step. Had I
looked a little deeper and defined the problem as "find out why these fish
love a M&P and then design a floating fly that will have similar qualities
to please them" I'm sure I would have had more success. I "think" they
were taking it for a little dark caddis that was around, but I didn't take
the time to seine and study, ..... there were also a WIDE variety of other
bugs on the water ( I love the HFork :-) and the fish may have been eating
something else ... the rises, for one thing, were sips, not at all splashy
.... I was too busy casting to look much .... fishing SO often gets in the
way of learning more about fishing <G>

[Larry L]

""Hooked"" > wrote

> That's ok by me so long as the fish are co-operating. :-)
>

I'm sure most would agree. Personally, I usually get bored "catching lots
of fish."

Now, of course, I get bored when I'm not catching too <G>, but in the
situations when I "have the problem solved" and can catch routinely I
usually quit, or look for tougher fish.. I now find a few fish that were
hard to catch far more rewarding than a lot that were easy.

[Tim J.]

Larry L wrote:
> ""Hooked"" > wrote
>
>> That's ok by me so long as the fish are co-operating. :-)
>
> I'm sure most would agree. Personally, I usually get bored
> "catching lots of fish."

My favorite days on the water have been catching that one good fish just before
heading home.
--
TL,
Tim
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

[Tim J.]

Larry L wrote:
> ""Hooked"" > wrote
>
>> That's ok by me so long as the fish are co-operating. :-)
>
> I'm sure most would agree. Personally, I usually get bored
> "catching lots of fish."

My favorite days on the water have been catching that one good fish just before
heading home.
--
TL,
Tim
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

[Stuart DeWolfe]

Yes catching one after another tires the old arms but just remember a bad
day on the river is better than a good day at work

"Larry L" > wrote in message
...
>
> ""Hooked"" > wrote
>
>> That's ok by me so long as the fish are co-operating. :-)
>>
>
> I'm sure most would agree. Personally, I usually get bored "catching
> lots of fish."
>
> Now, of course, I get bored when I'm not catching too <G>, but in the
> situations when I "have the problem solved" and can catch routinely I
> usually quit, or look for tougher fish.. I now find a few fish that
> were hard to catch far more rewarding than a lot that were easy.
>

[Sierra fisher]

Check out the swap led by Larry Median at this link

http://home.planet.nl/~westb001/index.html

--


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"Stuart DeWolfe" > wrote in message
. ..
> I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled Flies. I already
have
> the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> like yet another. If you know of any better I would appreciate your
> suggestions. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tight Lines & Great Memories
> Stuart DeWolfe
>
>

[Lawrence Ressler]

My father has tied flies for decades. He told me that he uses chicken
hen feathers for soft hackle flies in order for the lure to sink into
the water. For floating soft hackle flies, he recommends using a
chicken rooster tail, but only from roosters that are three years old or
older. Somehow, I guess that they float better.
May you have a good time fishing,
The Ressler Home.

[jim smith]

In article >,
(Big Dale) wrote:

> Stuart wrote:snip>I am looking for a good Pattern book for Soft-Hackled
> Flies.
> I already have
> >the book Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies by Sylvester Nemes but would
> >like yet another
>
> This is not a pattern book, But Dave Hughes wrote a book called Wet Flies
> that
> was copyrighted back in 1995. It was responsible for my addiction to tying
> and
> fishing soft hackle flies. Don't forget to tie a few of the pattern called
> the
> red ass. There is something about the combination of peacock and partridge
> with
> a little of the color red thrown in that a lot of fish seem to find
> attractive.
> Even with the old style of soft hackle flies I sometimes have about three
> fibers of z-lon as a mini trailing shuck. I have conned myself into thinking
> that this sometimes makes a difference.
>
> Big Dale
>
>

The art of the wetfly by ws Roger Fogg and his later handbook of north
country flies
http://www.wetfly.co.uk