Welsummer Hen and #32 Classic Chestnut

[tie2fish]

Two years ago this month Forum member Steve Bird (UC Steve) sent me some beautiful feathers from a Welsummer hen chicken, some of which got used to tie a couple of flymphs. In going through them again today I noticed some smaller ones mixed in and wondered what they would look like on a spider hook with a silk thread body. Pearsall's Gossamer #32 Classic Chestnut looked to be a good match, and here's what resulted:

Hook: Daiichi 1640, Size #12
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #32, Classic Chestnut
Hackle: Welsummer hen chicken saddle
Body: Thread wraps

[Theroe]

Two years ago this month Forum member Steve Bird (UC Steve) sent me some beautiful feathers from a Welsummer hen chicken, some of which got used to tie a couple of flymphs. In going through them again today I noticed some smaller ones mixed in and wondered what they would look like on a spider hook with a silk thread body. Pearsall's Gossamer #32 Classic Chestnut looked to be a good match, and here's what resulted:

Hook: Daiichi 1640, Size #12
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #32, Classic Chestnut
Hackle: Welsummer hen chicken saddle
Body: Thread wraps

Bill - you NEVER cease to amaze me! What a lovely fly - I really like that shade of brown. Back in the mid 1980's, I was on a kick to raise my own hackle since Darbee's had closed. Among my Bantams & blue Andalusians were a pair of Welsummer chickens from an Amish friend down in Lancaster....they have the most translucent "bug brown" of any chicken IMHO.
Nice Work!!

Dana

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Bill, that is just a lovely dressing. I'd love to fish that over some local cutthroat.

[swellcat]

Appealing colour, absolutely.

#32

My first thought was, "We're going to need a bigger microscope."

[UC Steve]

O my. Zen simple perfection.

Bought a dozen welsumer chicks last spring & a neighbor is raising them for me. Don't know how they are faring, the chicken situation at her remote homestead is iffy at best, with lots of chicken-killing critters in the area. Will be back home next week to start the guiding season & will go check on the welsumers (should have skinned them last fall, they looked ready). If there are more than two left, I'll sell the remainder to pay for feed. If that happens I'll post any extras here should anybody want a complete cape.

[William Anderson]

Welsummer hen is a new one on me but I can see the appeal. that is a fantastic looking combo.

[William Anderson]

O my. Zen simple perfection.

Bought a dozen welsumer chicks last spring & a neighbor is raising them for me. Don't know how they are faring, the chicken situation at her remote homestead is iffy at best, with lots of chicken-killing critters in the area. Will be back home next week to start the guiding season & will go check on the welsumers (should have skinned them last fall, they looked ready). If there are more than two left, I'll sell the remainder to pay for feed. If that happens I'll post any extras here should anybody want a complete cape.

Well done. I'll be looking for these.

[tie2fish]

Welsummer hen is a new one on me but I can see the appeal. that is a fantastic looking combo.

See ... https://www.google.com/search?q=welsumm ... 77&bih=735

[UC Steve]

Welsumers are mainly speckled brahma, some colored & patterned very similar to red grouse. On a single cape you'll find the predominant brahma, but also duns, gingers, furnace, some black, & the nice chestnut Bill used for his fly. Surprised nobody is raising these for the tying trade.

[daringduffer]

Pretty beautiful spider, Bill. Pretty pretty.

Steve, I was floored when you first posted on Welsumers on this forum. They look the business!

dd