FLYMPH FORUM

My take on a Blue Partridge from Pritt in Nemes book TWO CENTURIES OF SOFT-HACKLED FLIES

Hook- Mustad 94840 #16
Body-Blue Silk with a little Gray Wool
Hackle- a feather taken from a Partridge's back
IMGP0012 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

I’m tempted to tye this on an eyeless hook and gut. It looks like such a classic pattern. Nice job.

What silk did you use here?

Ray,

I don't have any blue tying silk(yet ), so I opted for the ages old traditional Ghillie method and used silk thread saved from my late mother in law's sewing basket.
IMGP0015 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

I cut off a short section and separated the 3 strands of twist into one thread in hand. Not the neatest tie but I can't wait to try this old pattern.

Thanks Bill. I’m glad I asked. I was guessing you found a source of blue silk floss. Had not occurred to me to use button hole twist this way.

You’ve opened a new tying door, to explore.

https://www.aaronmostojfeathers.com/sto ... Floss.html

This is about as close to that blue in silk that I have. Thought I would give it a go. Thanks Bill for sharing yours.

Great tie and I love the rib!

I used the only blue silk I had and don't know if the original was lighter or darker.

Thanks to a trip to ronr's silk supplier yesterday and his local fly shop for a new Partridge skin, here is a Blue Partridge tied with YLI silk thread...
IMGP0030 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Also a shout out to Bill Anderson for the vintage Darning yarn dubbing I am using!!
Now to tie about a dozen to fish this year!

glad the trip was fruitful... the ladies in that quilt shop can't figure us ole coots interest in that silk thread. nice fly by the way.... enjoyed our little session. PS.. my surgery has been scheduled for 3/16 so it looks like I can tie in Albany after all...

Wow Guys,
This is such a good thread with the blue button hole twist as body materials! Our friend Bill Shuck sent me a few patterns very similar to what you guys have done! Talk about a killer pattern! There is something about blue and purple that is so attractive to our finey friends!
Dougsden