FLYMPH FORUM

Lemon Sally Flymph
Hook: Mustad 94863 #16 (barbless loop up eye hook)
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, tan
Hackle: Hen, pale ginger
Body: Fine acrylic yarn, bright yellow - into split thread

Cheers,
Hans W

I enjoy seeing the use of un-natural material (acrylic yarn) in these flies. A non-traditional take on a traditionally classic flymph. Gorgeous fly.

un-natural material

You know, that's the first Sally pattern that's ever looked right to me--the naturals in this part of the world are a hallucinatory yellow (or green) so the "waxed silk" look that works so well for mayflies was never quite vibrant enough in my estimation. (And of course, that looks to be a ginger skin to die for as well. )

Wow Hans, this is sheer beauty. I did not know there was a hook just like this. I knew about the 94862. This one is longer I think. I could be wrong. Regardless, the whole fly works for me. Beautiful!!!

Hans, this one is just very nicely conceived. The body and hackle of this are just irresistible. I like the acrylic as well. I've been playing with some nymph body materials that give a similar effect. There's a lot to be said for this construction.

w

Hans, Very handsome fly, impeccably tied, as usual.

A question: how does the acrylic behave under water compared to natural hydrofuge fur fibers? Can it hold bubbles? I'm not saying that it must, but it would be good to know if the acrylic functions differently from traditional, natural dubbings.

Lance

DNicolson wrote:Sorry to butt in like this Lance, but what does hydrofuge mean? Can't find it in the OED.

Donald, Pete Hidy used this term, hydrofuge, in his 1973 OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF FLYMPH FISHERMEN:

Flymphs dressed deliberately to create mimicry appear far more sensuous, if not voluptuous, in simulating the natural hydrofuge (water resistance) of trout stream insects during metamorphosis at the flymph stage of maturity.

Here are some definitions that I found:

HYDROFUGE : shedding water —used of the pubescent coating of many aquatic insects

And from another source:

PLASTRON: 2. In some insects, a physical gill made up of hydrofuge hairs. Insects which use a plastron when diving under water are covered with a thick felt of hairs which are bent over at the tips. The hairs trap a layer of air which is continuous with the tracheal system, and surrounds the animal.

(From Encyclopedia.com)

So, certain furs such as hare's mask, mole, muskrat, and seal, have an enhanced hydrofuge quality, giving them the ability to trap the famous, controversial air bubbles.

Lance