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> Baetis softhackle

Shawnny3	July 1st, 2012, 12:14 pm
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PA Posts: 1197	Size 22. This fly was made at Louis's suggestion to catch those fish feeding on small baetids in the film. Rather than mimicking the colors of the nymphs, I thought that I would try to mimic the color of the underside of the dun on the theory that fish often feed in shallow riffles on drowned duns (the underside of the nymphs are about this same color as well, which I'm sure doesn't hurt as a fish looks up at it). The abdomen is first tied and shaped using gray thread, then is overwound with a thin layer of light olive thread. When wet, it perfectly matches the deep greyish olive of the naturals. (Thread bodies are also clean and durable, which is why I use them for a lot of small nymphs and dries. Some really deep colors and really cool ribbing effects can be achieved by combining different thread colors.) The thorax is light olive dubbing, and the hackle is a single barb of marabou, tied in at the fluffy butt and wrapped around the shank 3 times. I was worried that such a delicate feather would not stand up to fish, so I intentionally wrapped the marabou into the head section of the fly, then put a few turns of thread over the marabou to slick it back and give it more durability. The fly was fished on its maiden voyage for a few hours and caught a half dozen fish with no signs of wear. The fish could see it even after dark, something that never ceases to amaze me. -Shawn
	Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com
Flatstick96	July 1st, 2012, 12:46 pm
Posts: 127	Can't wait to fish this, and the other variations you've been playing around with recently. :)
Shawnny3	July 1st, 2012, 1:17 pm
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PA Posts: 1197	Bring your tying stuff and I'll show you how they're done. I have a sinking feeling, though, and I'm not sure why, that you'll outfish me with your old standbys anyway... -Shawn
	Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com
Lastchance	July 1st, 2012, 2:22 pm
Portage, PA Posts: 437	Shawnny, great idea for a pattern. Bruce
Flatstick96	July 1st, 2012, 3:07 pm
Posts: 127	Oh, I'll be bringing my tying stuff. One advantage to driving up there (instead of flying) is that I can bring pretty much whatever I want. :) The reason I fish "old standbys" is because I don't possess your creativity, or your patience at the vice. Simple ties like legless PT's and wet black ants push the limits of my tying abilities, and my patience. :)
Martinlf	July 1st, 2012, 4:22 pm
Moderator Palmyra PA Posts: 3233	Cool Shawn. You may recall, I've gone over to the dark side and am fishing a lot of tungsten beaded flies, with no split shot. It's worked much better for me than the other way so far this season. My current favorite fly comes from Lance Egan via George Daniel's book. It's called the Iron Lotus and it utilizes a thread body and thread rib. Google it and take a look at the olive versions. I've fished very skinny water with these flies and no split shot and had good results. Hope I can give it a try with you soon.
	"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell
Shawnny3	July 1st, 2012, 10:43 pm
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PA Posts: 1197	That's a nice looking fly, Louis. Looks like a fish catcher. I'm still partial to the bead-thorax style, but I could be biased. You'll be happy to know that your baetis biot parachute emerger was the only dry I caught any fish on tonight. A nice tie that one. -Shawn
	Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com
Martinlf	July 1st, 2012, 11:15 pm
Moderator Palmyra PA Posts: 3233	Glad it worked for you, Shawn. By the way, I really liked your idea of using marabou on the soft hackle. That's one I will try.
	"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell
Feathers5	July 2nd, 2012, 8:12 am
Posts: 287	Oops. Sorry, Louis. I gave Shanny credit for your pattern. Bruce
Martinlf	July 2nd, 2012, 9:36 am
Moderator Palmyra PA Posts: 3233	The softhackle up above? Actually the photo is of Shawn's pattern. Later in the thread, when he mentions the biot parachute emerger he't talking about a fly I designed that is not pictured. I think Tony ties one that is almost identical to it. Shawn deserves full credit for the softhackle fly, and I especially like his idea of using a marabou strand to hackle it.
	"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell
Gutcutter	July 2nd, 2012, 10:42 pm
Pennsylvania Posts: 470	Shawn, I can really see that fly on a dry/dropper rig during a hatch on our creek where some are taking on the surface, and some are taking in or below the surface. Very nice. I'll take a dozen, assorted sizes between 18 and 22? Can you have them ready before I get up therE in two weeks?
	All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad. -Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Shawnny3	July 2nd, 2012, 11:38 pm
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PA Posts: 1197	Sure. You can mail the check directly to my wife. She'll remit me my finder's fee. -Shawn
	Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com
Crepuscular	July 9th, 2012, 9:14 am
Boiling Springs, PA Posts: 923	Shawn, very cool pattern.

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