Honey Bear Flymph

[letumgo]

Honey Bear Flymph
Hook - Daiichi Model 1150 Curved Caddis Hook (Size 12)
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Amber/No. 6) - well waxed
Hackle - Collin's Hen Hackle (Natural Honeydun)
Rib - Fine Metal Wire (Gold)
Abdomen - Orange Wool Yarn Lightly Dubbed with Black Bear Underfur
Thorax - Black Bear Under Fur (all guard hairs removed)

The head on this fly is intentionally large. I was going for the more traditional Leisenring/Hidy style tapered head. It's not quite right, but it will fish just fine.

The materials for this fly came from many forum members. I have to thank Bill for the fine gold wire used in the rib and a piece of black bear hide, which yielded the lovely under fur for the dubbing. Chris provided the tying wax, used to wax the Pearsall's tying silk and the dubbing brush tool used to frizz the fly when it was finished. Jeff provided the orange wool yarn, which was dubbed with bear fur to form the abdomen/thorax of this fly.

This is really a lovely little fly. I sat down this afternoon, to try to come up with a way to use bear fur. My mind immediately went to the phrase "honey-bear", which resulted in the obvious choice for the hackle (honeydun hen). Jeff's famous orange wool yarn seemed to be a nice fit with the color scheme, which sealed the deal.

Hope you guys like it...

Thanks for the materials guys. They are being put to good use!

[DUBBN]

Funny you picked Orange as your color scheme. I just finished a bunch of October Caddis with an assortment of different hooks. Orange being my theme. None of which could hold a candle to your fine pattern. Very well done Ray!

[Smuggler]

On point Ray. As usual, you tie a mean fly. I bet this would pass nicely for a Stonefly too.

Great use of the Black Bear that Bill so kindly shared with us.

[Mataura mayfly]

Great looking grub Ray. I bet the Bear fur lends a neat aurora to the fly once wet and collapsed around the abdomen a little.
Great use of many gifted materials- fantastic to see all those things come together in such a functional way.

[Old Hat]

Looks like Pooh.

Couldn't resist.

[letumgo]

Thanks Carl.

That would have been a good name for the fly.

[fly_fischa]

Neat tie buddy, looks pretty buggy

[tie2fish]

The first thing that popped into my head when I saw the photo was "October caddis". This is a remarkable pattern, Ray ... one that a vendor such as Orvis or Cabela might well want to include in their offerings. I can almost feel the jolting takes this would elicit when swung through the tail end of that big Madison riff coming around the bend above Campfire Lodge. Kudos!

[Old Hat]

Seriously though, this is a really nice tie Ray. Very suggestive. I would like to try it out as a golden stonefly pattern. Carries more of a stonefly proportion to me.

[letumgo]

Carl - Now that you mention stoneflies, I see what you mean. I am reminded of one of Wayne's lovely fly patterns. I need to find that link. Wayne posted a beautiful stonefly imitation that I remember having a similar curved profile.

Wayne - Can you post photos of the new October Caddis flies you tyed? I love to see how the various hooks change the appearance of the flies.

Bill - I was holding the bear fur in the sunlight yesterday afternoon and was surprised by the reddish/orange highlights in the under fur. The color of the underfur seemed like it would harmonize nicely with the orange wool yarn. I need to look at this fly when it is wet, to see if the pattern looks much different.