Cedar Lake Calibaetis

[UC Steve]

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Waiting for the turkey biot to arrive, & thought to post a calibaetis I'm currently using at the pond.

Hook: #14 TMC 200R

Thread: Dark olive

Tail: Three dark gadwall flank fibers

Rib: Fine wire

Abdomen: Five pheasant tail swords & a piece of olive floss: tied in, twisted together, & wound

Thorax: Peacock herl

Hackle: One turn of brown partridge or speckled hen, stripped on one side (this one is tied with Welsumer hen)

[zen leecher]

I'd be curious to see what these look like wet and how they match up to actual nymph coloration.

One thing I'm guilty of is not checking my nymphal patterns against live nymphs. Mine work but in my mind they could do better. The benchmark I use them against is my first trip to Chopaka in 1977 and how many nymphs were popping to the surface and how my patterns fared (or didn't).

[letumgo]

What kind of floss are you using? Is it the fine single-strand stuff? Very adaptable pattern, and very useful. Thanks for sharing. I'm really happy you joined the forum.

[UC Steve]

Thanks. Having fun learning to use the camera, while my eyes fail. Problem is: I can never tell if I get a fair pic or not because I can't see them.

Old fashion multi-strand silk floss. Cut a length slightly longer than the pheasant swords, line the end up with the tips & tie in together. I grasp the body rope with an EZ Mini-Hook plier & twist six times counterclockwise before winding. The blotchy effect achieved is deadly realistic obfuscation. Try a Pheasant Tail Nymph with a half inch of yellow floss twisted into the tip of the abdomen for a killer PMD.

[UC Steve]

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Better foto of the body.

[letumgo]

Thanks for the new photo Steve. I think this would be a great Stillwater pattern too.

[William Anderson]

Thanks. Having fun learning to use the camera, while my eyes fail. Problem is: I can never tell if I get a fair pic or not because I can't see them.

Old fashion multi-strand silk floss. Cut a length slightly longer than the pheasant swords, line the end up with the tips & tie in together. I grasp the body rope with an EZ Mini-Hook plier & twist six times counterclockwise before winding. The blotchy effect achieved is deadly realistic obfuscation. Try a Pheasant Tail Nymph with a half inch of yellow floss twisted into the tip of the abdomen for a killer PMD.

Steve, I tie several patterns using just this technique, looking for an enhanced texture and modeling. The silks blend well and I can testify to the effectiveness of these flies. This has all the mottling and contrast I like to see. Nice combo.

w