Birdnest from Doug

[Roadkill]

Don't forget to use Opossum!!
https://singlebarbed.com/2007/08/25/birds-nest/

Thanks for the reminder of this fly Doug. I haven't tied any in years. I plan to tie a simple variant at the NW Expo next week along with ronr's Martini Soft Hackle.

[ronr]

Bill... sorry I won't be making the ride to Albany this week... not going to cross the pass given the weather, etc...but thanks for the article on the bird's nest history.. I've been playing with it a bit and learning the background on the possum, hare, and seal mix changes things...
Hope the show is a good one, I'll miss watching you tie. If you happen to come across any soft hackle feathers that you'd buy but don't need. give me a shout... I could use a nice brown hen hackle

[paparex]

Old Hat,

I tie the original, the spectral, a pale yellow version and a dark (almost black) version...)

Do you mix your own or is there a commercial product for the spectral dubbing???

[Roadkill]

Ray,

Here is this mornings blend for the Expo.

I used rug yarn, Australian Possum (L) and Hare's Mask (R)...
IMGP5829 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

This is the spectral blend after cutting and mixing in my dedicated dubbing/coffee grinder...
IMGP5830 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

My final Dubbing blend...
IMGP5832 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

This photo from my little point and shoot camera of the finished dubbing doesn't do the spectral coloration justice.
But there are a myriad points of color glinting subtly but dramatically in the fur.

Happy Nest building everyone!!

[paparex]

I would think the birdnest imitates a caddis larvae, possibly a scud is small enough. I tie a hares ear without wing-case for small river caddis....size 20 in olive. I have tied and fished the "plain" birdnest for a caddis. In Stillwater that have few caddis it still works great....opportunistic feeders I suppose.

It is the spectral that interests me today. I tie a few spectral nymphs/streams/ leeches and they are my go to fish catcher.

[Old Hat]

Old Hat,

I tie the original, the spectral, a pale yellow version and a dark (almost black) version...)

Do you mix your own or is there a commercial product for the spectral dubbing???

I mix my own. 50% Australian opposum, 40% hare and a 10% mix of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple seal.

I’ve always fished them as mayfly nymphs or emergers.

[ronr]

Bill (Roadkill)... thanks for sharing your blend... I've mixed up a batch using the "shrimp dub" blend the UCSteve talks about in other flies.... it may not be authentic.. but it looks close to what you have done...
now if they only sold small batches of all those yarn colors at JoAnn's I'd be doing what you have done.

[letumgo]

Bill - Thank you for posting the photos of your spectral blend. I have a bag of yarn scraps, which have now found a purpose. I am excited to give this dubbing blend a try.

[Roadkill]

Here is my Bird's Nest tied on a 9672 #10...

IMGP5839 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

I tied it to use when the tan caddis are emerging.

[letumgo]

It’s flies like this, that keep me interested in fishing wet flies. Such a versatile pattern.

Beautiful job Bill.