Mike Connor wrote:
On the other hand, an Adams requires two hackles, otherwise it is not
an Adams, just a general hamfisted ****up, of which there are far too
many nowadays.

( No offence Stan!)

Why would I take offence? My point (which you probably know) is that an
Adams is an OK fly, but too fussy. I'll go heretic for a moment and say I
rarely ever follow a named pattern exactly. I *could*, and I *have*, but
don't *want*. That's the freedom of rolling your own, isn't it? Mixing the
hackle fibers for the tail and then winding a double hackle on a fly that's
just a 'near nuff' kind of fly in the first place is, well, too much work.
(I'm not really lazy, just frugal with my time, yeah, that's the ticket)
Given the quality of modern hackle, I see little reason ever to use two
hackles. First off the new hackles are so long you can get plenty of winds
from a single feather (and often multiple flies from a single feather) and
the barb density is such that overwinding is hardly ever needed. 4 or 5
turns of a beautiful grade a feather (Whiting silver or better for example)
is plenty. So, to repeat myself, although it not really an 'Adams', I think
a nice grayish bodied dun (or even better, an olive/gray mix) with golden or
brown dyed grizzly is near nuff to an Adams if you catch my (not quite
dragless) drift. Likewise, I don't even bother with grizzly hackle tip
wings. I use a nice medium dun hen neck or brown dyed mallark flank. ****,
I don't think I've tied a 'real Adams' in 15 years.

TL
MC ( Still only on his third whisky, but seriously contemplating the
fifth)

I wish I could join you.
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps