Wet silk

[Roadkill]

Here is a Dark Watchett tied with some variation. Mustad 3906 #16 hook, body is twisted Orange and Purple Pearsalls Gossimer silk, Orange silk tying thread, Mole thorax, Starling hackle and an Orange silk head.


This is the same fly when wet.

I think one important thing to note is the effect of the translucence of wet silk. To me it allows a color shift toward a more wine colored fly much the same as an iron blue wingless. The Orange is prominent when dry but as soon as the fly hits the water it changes considerably. This effect is not as great when using nylon tying threads. Most of the time this doesn't matter but when fish are being selective this can make a considerable difference.

[letumgo]

It's dramatic how much the color changes when the silk is wet. Great post.