Waterhen and Turkey.

[Smuggler]

In my other post William brought up a pattern that cracked the code for him on a fishing outing earlier in the year. The Waterhen and Turkey. I never heard of the pattern, well, I probably have read a brief recipe at some point but, you know how that is.

I'm partial to waterhen when it comes to hackle, the long wispy fibers with that dark dun and slight olive sheen when it hits the light at the right angle.. awesome stuff.

[tie2fish]

Yeah, he's got me convinced too. I'll have some ready by the time we hit Roscoe n October. Yours is excellent ... very Victorian/Shanerish profile IMO.

[Smuggler]

Thank you good sir!

[William Anderson]

Eric, this is what I had in mind when I sat to tie a bunch for a fall trip. I tied longer hackles (than I used to, and similar to hackle lengths in recent ties after seeing those originals spiders in Shaner's collection) but not quite as whispy as yours. I like this a lot. I'm going to scrap mine but seeing yours makes that a possibility. Nice tie.

I have high hopes for this one.


w

[Smuggler]

Well I remember the hackle on those flies you picked up from Joe were pretty wispy, those were nicely tied. And yea I'm in the same train of thought as you since seeing those long hackles from Johns collection. Left an imprint on me for sure.

[William Anderson]

With Eric's permission, I'll add a couple pics I took of the sets I was tying of this pattern. I've tied it with turkey and it should keep it's name, but these are tied with a secondary tail feather from a golden pheasant. The mottling and herl are essentially the same but the lighter brown marks are bit more rich. No difference, but I changed the material so I thought it worth noting. Anyway, a few Waterhen and Turkey Soft Hackles. (waterhen curtesy of Ruard, years ago.)









and a few stashed on my hat for my next outing. (phone pic)

[Mataura mayfly]

Great looking pattern.
I agree, Eric's original has a very classic look. Williams first couple of shots look more modern, but the final photograph in his post has a Hidy look about them.
Well that is the way they look to me.

[tie2fish]

The ones I'm tying don't reach the aesthetic bar you two have set, so they'll just stay in their little container until Roscoe.

[swellcat]

Look at the color contrast and the gleaming copper in the blurred, back-left one. In focus, the forward fly is deceptively sedate; with acuity challenged, the back-left fly lights up like a beacon.

[letumgo]

Deceptively simple flies, but oh so elegant. Really REALLY NICE, Gentlemen.