FLYMPH FORUM

Cool fly; didn't know he fished anything besides a Grey Fox Variant. A few different methods to attach the shellback, although none of the ones I've seen seem very durable; I'm lazy and chose the path of least resistance.


hook - Mustad 9671 #12
underbody - non-tox wire .025
thread - UTC 70 woodduck
shellback/wing pad - woodduck flank
tail - pheasant tail
abdomen - stripped hackle quill ginger
thorax - rabbit dirty gold
legs - partridge


mash barb, wrap front of shank with non-tox




start thread, wrap underbody, taper front and back




tie in a clump of woodduck fibers (hook gap width) by tips, wrap back to point above barb




measure 2 pheasant tail fibers for length (hook shank) and tie in on either side of shellback








strip a ginger neck quill, moisten (microwave 30 seconds in a damp napkin) and tie in; smooth underbody with thread






brush underbody with Sally (or Super Glue); wrap quill forward and tie off








dub thread, dub thorax






prep partridge, tie in by tip and wrap








squeeze front of fly from top and bottom (no pic, sorry) and take a few wraps back, pushing hackle fibers to the sides






pull shellback forward; tie down, trim, smooth head, half hitch x 2, SHHAN










Regards,
Scott

Good looking pattern, Scott, and the usual excellent SBS.

Art was a master of the craft, this pattern is a great example of that. Thanks Scott.

That mallard flank shellback looks pretty flimsy; don't think it would hold up to very much abuse. One alternative would be to take a whole flank feather, size it, coat with Sally and pull it to shape; the center stem + glue should make it a lot more durable. Here's a few steps from a Hotwire variation:








start the fly like the Flick version, but substitute wire for the quill body; I used ginger (Brassie) and copper (x-fine) wrapped side-by-side




after a few wraps, pull the shellback forward and secure with the copper wire




repeat up the body to the thorax






helicopter the wire and then finish the fly, same as the Flick




Regards,
Scott

Scott, my first thought was that it would be a shame that such a fine looking fly would become a different fly after a fish, maybe two. Your points on how to reinforce that wood duck feather sounds like a good idea. On the other hand, this pattern looks like it would fish very well with a shredded wingcase and if it shreds...so be it. This is a superb SBS and a killer looking pattern.