Split Case PMD Emerger
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:13 pm
Recently saw an interesting way to mimic the split wing case on a PMD nymph using yellow thread, or in this case yellow yarn. I'm still working out how I want to tie this in... First attempt as shown is adding the yarn after tying down the PT wing case. Next time, I'm going to add the yarn, fold it over the wing case and tie down... Don't think the fish will care or know the difference.
Additionally, have been reading Gary LaFontaine's book "The Dry Fly" and he makes an interesting observation about the tags on many historical flies. He believes those tags have an entomological reason for being at the butt end of a fly. He contends that as mayflies emerge, the skin at the end of the abdomen stretches from the accumulation of air and gets so thin that it tends to glow softly, looking silver on light colored bugs, and gold on dark colored bugs. Thus, many of those old salmon fly patterns come equipped with a tag.
I recently watched a demonstration of an emerger pattern where the tyer used white antron to create the tag as described above. So, being the copy cat that I am... I tied a version of a split case PMD emerger with the antron tag and the yarn split case. Who knows, it might work.
Does anyone else use the antron tag on any of your emergers or soft hackles?
Additionally, have been reading Gary LaFontaine's book "The Dry Fly" and he makes an interesting observation about the tags on many historical flies. He believes those tags have an entomological reason for being at the butt end of a fly. He contends that as mayflies emerge, the skin at the end of the abdomen stretches from the accumulation of air and gets so thin that it tends to glow softly, looking silver on light colored bugs, and gold on dark colored bugs. Thus, many of those old salmon fly patterns come equipped with a tag.
I recently watched a demonstration of an emerger pattern where the tyer used white antron to create the tag as described above. So, being the copy cat that I am... I tied a version of a split case PMD emerger with the antron tag and the yarn split case. Who knows, it might work.
Does anyone else use the antron tag on any of your emergers or soft hackles?