FLYMPH FORUM

I recently purchased a Whiting Hen Saddle (Black Laced/Dyed Orange) that I'm planning to use as a soft fiber version of Golden Pheasant Tippet. I love the look of these fibers in flies, but they tend to be very stiff and lifeless in flies. I'm hoping this hen saddle feathers will give more movement & life to my flies, with the similar appearance.

The fibers on these feathers are buttery soft, and the center stem is very fine and supple. I can already tell, this saddle is going to be very functional.




I pulled off a feather and tyed up a quick GPT & Peacock Soft Hackle.





Looks like wild brook trout candy! (or a crazy panfish pattern)

Spectacular tying and pattern, Ray. I can see a run on that particular color hen saddle.

I started playing around with the hen feathers and some new mink zonker strips. Tyed a little brook trout zonker pattern. The mink fur and seal sub makes for a nice translucent body once the pattern is wet. Can't wait to fish some of these.





Brook Trout Zonker
Hook - Gamakatsu SL45/Size 4
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Red)
Tail - Black Laced Hen Saddle Feather Fibers (Dyed Orange)
Wing - Mink Zonker Strip (Olive/Micro)
Body - Jay Fair's Seal Sub Dubbing (White)
Collar - Black Laced Hen Saddle Feather Fibers (Dyed Orange)

Oh that's terrific
Great use of that new dyed hen, too

2 fine flies for the Brookies, I really love the wet Zonker!

really like the mink and seal body... and the orange and black feather is amazing...

Ray,

My name is Ken and I'm jealous; please forgive me!

It's 1 thing to take 1 of those orange and black feathers and tie an existing pattern. You're operating at a totally different level when you take 1 of those feathers and develop a new pattern. Love that zonker! Reminds me of Landon Mayer's micro leech.

Did you tie in that seal sub just up at the front and brush it back? It doesn't appear to be wound around the hook like dubbing?

Tight Lines- Ken

Wow Ray!
The new Whiting Hen Saddle and the patterns you have posted above are simply fantastic! I can see a killer pan fish pattern in the beautiful wet fly you have created and the others are screaming Small mouth, come and get me!
Exquisite tying as usual Ray!
Doug

Ken - The dubbing fibers are first aligned by repeatedly pinching and pulling the fibers apart. Then I formed a thread loop and placed the dubbing into it, so the fibers are roughly perpendicular (90 degrees) from the thread. Twist it up tight and then wrapped forward, forming the body. I then pick out any trapped fibers with a bodkin needle. Wetting the fibers helps “train” them to lay back along the body.

I used a Wasatch Mitch’s Bobbin Whirler, which uses three strands of thread for the loop (hard to explain, but very handy technique for open dubbing bodies). The dubbing fibers are captured by three strands of thread (durable and adds an inner color to the body - in this case red).

Beautiful flies. I have those feathers in several colors. Some I bought for Bass bugs, and some natural white and natural bronze lacewings from my own Wyandotte hens. Possibilities are forming In my head.