flies for wales

[Ruard]

Nice flies Ruard,

I do have some owl feathers (roadkill) in the barn. I'll send you some if you like.
Marc

I would like that very much.


Greeting

[Ruard]

My next fly is the Williams Favourite. As Andrew Ryan of the Clonanav said: All colours are good when it is black:



Williams Favourite

Hook: Kamasan B175 no 12
Thread: black sheer 14/0
Body: black antron floss
Rib: fine silver tinsel
Hackle: Black hen


Greeting

[William Anderson]

Ruard, I especially like this last pic. It's a great pattern to have around.

[hankaye]

Dub-ya, Howdy;

Respective of personal feelings ????


hank

[Ruard]

I can't believe that on a forum devoted to wingless flies a discussion about flies for Wales has gone on this long without at least someone mentioning the Coch-y-Bondhu.

Just sayin'.

Here it is: Coch-a-bon-ddu:



Coch-a-bon-ddu

Hook: Drennan super specialist # 12
Thread: orange Danvilles 6/0
Hackle: furnace hen
Tag: goldtinsel
Body: peacock (make a rope with a loop of tying thread)

Greeting

[redietz]

You nailed it, Ruard. Lovely tie of a favorite fly. And that hook is perfect for the pattern.

I can't say that I've ever seen a winged version. Why improve on perfection?

[Mataura mayfly]

You nailed it, Ruard. Lovely tie of a favorite fly. And that hook is perfect for the pattern.

I can't say that I've ever seen a winged version. Why improve on perfection?

When I mentioned most of us were taught to tie them with wings I meant most of us were taught to tie the Governor pattern, basically the same fly with the addition of hen pheasant wing quill..... and sometimes a red tag.

But you are correct, well "nailed" Ruard, very nice Coch-y.

[redietz]

When I mentioned most of us were taught to tie them with wings I meant most of us were taught to tie the Governor pattern, basically the same fly with the addition of hen pheasant wing quill..... and sometimes a red tag.

I'm nearing the end of teaching a six session fly tying class for my local chapter of Trout Unlimited; I spent two of the evenings on the theme of "Fun with peacock herl and brown hackle." In the notes I distributed to the class I included "the fly with many names" with the comment:

This fly in various guises has been around for hundreds of years. Depending on which option you use for a tag, and which particular shade of brown hackle it might be called a Brown Hackle Peacock, a Red Hackle (slightly lighter brown hackle, a Red Tag, a Red Rutt, a Red A** (the latter three with the red wool tail), or a Coch-y-Bondhu (with furnace hackle) . If the brown hackle is English red grouse, it’s known as a Grouse and Herl , Smoke Fly, or a Little Chap. Add a white wing, and it’s a Coachman. Add a gray wing, and it’s a Lead-Wing Coachman.

I plain forgot about the Governor, which I also tie.

And that just scratches the surface of peacock herl and brown hackle (think about the Prince nymph, and the Zug Bug, for example.)

And yes, I know Pritt tied the Smoke Fly as a palmer.

[Kelly L.]

Coch-a-bon-ddu, Ruard, I love that one. Gonna have to tye that one before long.

[Ruard]

This is a variation of the Tracle Parkin ( should have a red tail and a brown hen hackle):



Treacle Parkin (var)

Hook: Drennan super specialist #10
Thread: black sheer 14/0
Tail: fluo green floss
Body: peacock reinforced with a loop of tying thread
Hackle: hen saddle brown speckled

Greeting