reinventing the Wheel

Willi notes:
at least out
West, I can't remember ever seeing a Variant in any bin in any fly shop.

Not even House and Lots? Baileys had them in several sizes when I was in there
a few years back. I know Pat Barnes used to carry them years ago at his place.
I know times have changed, but variants were used out west. Further, AK was
from Michigan before moving to Colorado, so he has definitely seen variants.
Tom

Tom Littleton wrote:

Willi notes:

at least out
West, I can't remember ever seeing a Variant in any bin in any fly shop.


Not even House and Lots? Baileys had them in several sizes when I was in there
a few years back. I know Pat Barnes used to carry them years ago at his place.
I know times have changed, but variants were used out west. Further, AK was
from Michigan before moving to Colorado, so he has definitely seen variants.
Tom



I'm sure AK knows what Variants are, I was just commenting that they are
pretty much a "forgotten" pattern/style, at least out here. There are
definitely regional differences in popular patterns.

Willi

Tom Littleton wrote:

Willi notes:

at least out
West, I can't remember ever seeing a Variant in any bin in any fly shop.


Not even House and Lots?

All the H&L Variants I've ever seen (mostly tied by Jim Lafley and Jim
Turcotte my mentors) were standard fly dimensions, not using oversized
hackles. Did the House and Lot original use Catskill Variant dimensions?

Stan asks:
Did the House and Lot original use Catskill Variant dimensions?

a little less pronounced, but the ones I remember seeing had oversized hackle.
Tom

Tom Littleton wrote:
Stan asks:

Did the House and Lot original use Catskill Variant dimensions?


a little less pronounced, but the ones I remember seeing had oversized hackle.
Tom

I have a few favorite local patterns that I tie with various amounts and
size of hackles. As well as standard ties, I often tie them with both
undersized and oversized hackles as well as overly dense and sparse.
Depending on the type and amount of hackle used, the same fly will
provide a different profile and attitude as well as behave differently
on the water.

Willi

I have a few favorite local patterns that I tie with various amounts and
size of hackles. As well as standard ties, I often tie them with both
undersized and oversized hackles as well as overly dense and sparse.
Depending on the type and amount of hackle used, the same fly will
provide a different profile and attitude as well as behave differently
on the water.

Willi

I think this is true of almost all of us who tie... if you ask a
flyfisherman who is also a flytyer for a peek in his flybox, you'll
typically see patterns you NEVER see in books, and you'll see variations
on standard patterns using a bit of a different color, or more spare or
more dense hackles, depending on the water.

I fish primarily in the Sierras and mostly on tumble and plunge pool
streams where the water is pretty fast between the pockets. You need a
fly that can float a bit longer in this type of water when you're
fishing a dry, so you make accommodations in the patterns, like heavier
hackling, use of different body materials that are similar in color, and
sometimes tying smaller flies on larger hooks, a bit farther back on the
shank.

Larry

"Stan Gula" wrote in message .. .

All the H&L Variants I've ever seen (mostly tied by Jim Lafley and Jim
Turcotte my mentors) were standard fly dimensions, not using oversized
hackles. Did the House and Lot original use Catskill Variant dimensions?

The following is an H&L variant tied by Pat Barnes, who died in
1997, at the age of 88 or so. I'm not sure when he first offered
these in his West Yellowstone store (now Bob Jacklin's place)
but it was a long time ago.


http://montana-riverboats.com/static...e_and_lot.html