Hamill's Heron

[ScottP]

...

[Johnno]

Nice Scott. If I may be so bold to suggest squirrel for the tail rather than Aussie possum tail which tends to be slightly Bouyant (I use it a lot on possum emerger patterns)

[ScottP]

If I may be so bold to suggest squirrel for the tail rather than Aussie possum tail which tends to be slightly Bouyant (I use it a lot on possum emerger patterns)

Johnno,

Will do; heating up the dye pot right now. Thanks for the suggestion.

Regards,
Scott

[zen leecher]

Scott, what benefit do you find from selecting woodduck for dying over mallard? It seems a waste of good woodduck if you are dying it? Might be I feel that way as I don't see any woodies during hunting season and tend to hoard what feathers I have.

[ScottP]

Scott, what benefit do you find from selecting woodduck for dying over mallard? It seems a waste of good woodduck if you are dying it? Might be I feel that way as I don't see any woodies during hunting season and tend to hoard what feathers I have.

I was the victim of a random act of senseless kindness - a guy on another forum sent me a quart-size bag of woodie flank feathers so my hoarding instincts have abated, not that I go crazy with the stuff. I also found that the woodduck has produced better cloaking wings on theses Heron flies than mallard flank; quills seem to be a bit thinner, making it easier to fold/wrap and retain the curvature I want. Not sure if that's a function of the mallard I have - I've only tried the bagged feathers; need to pluck some off a drake skin I have to see if it's any better.

Regards,
Scott

[zen leecher]

Scott, what benefit do you find from selecting woodduck for dying over mallard? It seems a waste of good woodduck if you are dying it? Might be I feel that way as I don't see any woodies during hunting season and tend to hoard what feathers I have.

I was the victim of a random act of senseless kindness - a guy on another forum sent me a quart-size bag of woodie flank feathers so my hoarding instincts have abated, not that I go crazy with the stuff. I also found that the woodduck has produced better cloaking wings on theses Heron flies than mallard flank; quills seem to be a bit thinner, making it easier to fold/wrap and retain the curvature I want. Not sure if that's a function of the mallard I have - I've only tried the bagged feathers; need to pluck some off a drake skin I have to see if it's any better.

Regards,
Scott

Good points about the wing shape and the thinner quill.

[Bazzer69]

Love the pattern it looks like a excellent streamer of Steelhead fly. But for me I would not use chenille for the body but seals fur or a seals fur substitute.
Well done