FLYMPH FORUM

Hosting a mental image of the wonderfully wonky hackle on the flies the Ray is posting from John Shaner's collection, I came up with this take on a Waterhen Bloa spider tied on a Daiichi 1640 hook ...

Very nice tie Bill. Couple questions if you don't mind. I'm wondering if you cut through the hackle with the thread prior to the whip finish? Lastly would you give us a material list?
Regards, Jerry

WooHoo, the olives are coming! in several weeks.

This is a beaut and I love the wonky hackle. Looks just right. Did you do something in particular to achieve this level of wonkiness, or did you get it from a wonkish bird?

Wow Bill! Very impressive work! If you recall some time back, I was having some trouble making the bodies of my waterhens look acceptable! Your workings on this one are the best and this is what I was shooting for but never made it! Your patterns are simply awe inspiring for sure!
My jaw just fell off,
Doug

Nice fly Bill and I really like the wonky hackle too. It looks like an old fly.

Jerry G wrote:Very nice tie Bill. Couple questions if you don't mind. I'm wondering if you cut through the hackle with the thread prior to the whip finish? Lastly would you give us a material list?
Regards, Jerry

Thanks, Jerry. Here's the recipe with annotations:
Hook: Daiichi 1640, Size #14 (2x short, 1x heavy)
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer silk #3, primrose
Hackle: Waterhen upper covert, tied in by tip; thread brought forward prior to wrapping hackle/whip finish. I believe that what appears to be a thread wrap through the hackle is actually part of the hackle stem.
Body: Tying thread very lightly touch dubbed with natural mole fur

Nice Bill. Something special about that pattern, and Waterhen hackle.

Try spinning the hackle around the thread before tying and you will reach wonkiness nirvana, and have a more robust fly as well.

And post picture of protype below

Really cool pattern Bill!