Gray Hackle Peacock

[redietz]

This was one of the rejects from a recent swap that I recently participated in:

2022-01-12 19.09.23.jpg (83.08 KiB) Viewed 4559 times

It's one of the flies that Bergman recommended in the text of Trout (it's also in the plates.) He recommended it in sizes 10 and 12 for trout (larger for for steelhead) so this is a size 12.

Another one of the rejects took my first four trout of the year the day after New Years. That sort of surprised me, as I was only using it a top dropper attractor above a more realistic size 18 imitation of a little black stone, of which there was a substantial hatch of the naturals in progress. (I did catch some on the point eventually.)

[Roadkill]

I have loved both the Brown Hackle and Gray Hackle since the mid 50's, even before I got my first fly rod.

[redietz]

I have loved both the Brown Hackle and Gray Hackle since the mid 50's, even before I got my first fly rod.

I've tied and fished the brown hackle for most of my life, but I'd never tied or fished the gray hackle before.

[DUBBN]

I tie and fish both. I give the nod to the Brown Hackle in large rivers, and the nod to the Gray Hackle on streams and beaver ponds.

[redietz]

I give the nod to the Brown Hackle in large rivers, and the nod to the Gray Hackle on streams and beaver ponds.

That's an interesting observation. I've long considered Brown Hackles limited by season -- they work well for in March and a week either way, but are not big producers the rest of the year. I hadn't noticed any real difference in water size.

[DUBBN]

I give the nod to the Brown Hackle in large rivers, and the nod to the Gray Hackle on streams and beaver ponds.

That's an interesting observation. I've long considered Brown Hackles limited by season -- they work well for in March and a week either way, but are not big producers the rest of the year. I hadn't noticed any real difference in water size.

It is probably more about my habits after too many years fishing too many patterns.

[redietz]

It is probably more about my habits after too many years fishing too many patterns.

Nevertheless, it's something I'm going to look out for.

[Fishnkilts]

Hey Bob, I have a stupid question. Why do you consider that fly to be a reject? It looks good enough to me, and apparently to the trout too.

[redietz]

I can see thread between the tag and rear of the body, and space between the tail and rear of the body at the top.

A perfectly good fly for fishing; not so much for a swap.

I always tie at least half again to twice as many flies I need for a swap. I send the proper number of the most consistently tied flies, and fish the rest. Not that everything I send is necessarily good, but at least they're bad in the same way.

[DUBBN]

Not that everything I send is necessarily good, but at least they're bad in the same way.

The story of my fly tying career.