FLYMPH FORUM

Last year at a show I had a guy come by, bend over, look my display flies and comment, "those are too big". Then walk off without saying anything else. I just chuckled, most of my flies are #14-#18. I found some hooks this weekend, #24 Daiichi 1330's. I thought of this guy and had to buy some for fun. I tied this as a traditional flymph. Premade dubbing strand and all. Just to see if I could.

The Wee Flymph

Hook: #24 Daiichi 1330
Thread: Griffith's 14/0 ginger
Tail: light ginger dry fly hackle barbs
Body: light hare's ear
Hackle: Whiting genetic hen cape, rusty dun

Amazing.

Carl, I was just saying to a friend asking about the advantages of the prespun bodies, and the best uses, that anything smaller than a #16 or #18 would be best created using a touch dub or split thread technique, because the two layers of gossamer plus dubbing would be too much, in my (now reversed) opinion. You blew that comment out of the water. this is just killer. I don't think I could manage it, but I'm excited to see you have. What a useful little pattern. Nicely done. Bravo.

w

Carl, my hat is off to you Sir.
I would not have even tried split thread on one of those wee hooks, let alone be able to pick the damn things up in my Neanderthal like digits.
Beautiful wee flymph that should be just the business for picky trout.

That is a wee flymph and a beauty at that. I can't tie those small flies, my eyes aren't what they used to be. I tie down to an 18 and thats it for me

Well William you are partly right. I don't think you could do it very well with Gossamer. I used the Griffith's 14/0 thread and had to be very intentful with each wrap. To make the dubbing strand I waxed the thread with a sticky wax, touch dubbed the hare, extremely sparse, took me a few tries, then twisted the strand. It was pretty matted when I tied it in so I had to pick the hare out around the body.

gig wrote:That is a wee flymph and a beauty at that. I can't tie those small flies, my eyes aren't what they used to be. I tie down to an 18 and thats it for me

Same here gig, I don't usually tie anything smaller than #18 either. This was for fun, and I did have to wear a pair of well powered reading glasses. My eyes have really gone down in the last couple years.

Here's a shot taken of a size 52 Muddler Minnow, taken just after I sneezed. I'm like most other folks my age (65). The eyes are just another thing to go.
I haven't tied anything smaller than an 18 for a long time. Thank goodness for reading glasses!
My old hat is off to you, Carl.

Rodger - You crack me up! Funny!

Carl - Bravo! I can't get over how perfect the proportions are on such a tiny iron. VERY impressive.

To be honest Ray, I think I just got lucky. I didn't dare try to tie another one.