There are plenty of patterns out there but none I'm happy with. The ones that look great and in theory should swim well are a big let down in the water. I wanted a almost neutrally buoyant fly that would swim or sink in a very slow yet even/parallel fashion. This is my first go at the pattern so any input would be great and if you have some thoughts or better yet a pattern of your own jump in and post it here. I didn't get a touch last evening but plan to give it a few more swims before I give up...
The fly looks amazing in the water, sinks a little quicker than I like once waterlogged, maybe if pad out the underbody with more wool? When squeezed outside of the water it dries the fly and makes it sink more slowly, with a few false casts the seals fur is dry and it almost sits in the surface film. With the current hook and size of the wool underbody this isn't quite right yet. Btw please don't suggest foam, I'd like to keep this one as natural as poss and draw the line at using mono for eyes.
Hook Hanak streamer #10 barbless
Thread uni wine 6/0
Underbody of looped swede chenille tied in at the 3/4 mark with the loop extending a gap length beyond the hook bend.
Rest of underbody, olive wool dubbing to get the pronounced abdomen coffin shape.
Dubbing my own blend of seals fur in a dubbing loop
Legs Scottish grouse
Eyes blue mono burnt with a lighter
Head a dubbed head of the same seals fur
I can't tell you exactly how I came up with the dubbing but it's made up of predominantly fiery brown some olive, yellow, red, orange and black.
Sorry for the grainy bad quality pics of the fleas, used my iphone
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
Untitled by fly_fischa, on Flickr
