Easy question regarding Birds Nest!

[Utah DaveII]

I have been rying to tie up so0me birds nest, but I do not have a recipe. from the picture I can't tell if the legs and tail are Dyed Mallard, Wood Duck or Partridge. If anyone has the recipe or the answer that would be great!

[Rod Hog]

Take a look at

http://shop.flyfishing.about.com/fly_archive/details/756.htm

It calls for wood duck.

[seabass]

Wood duck. At least that's what I use. Here's a link to a recipe that calls it out:

http://shop.flyfishing.about.com/fly_archive/details/756.htm

[seabass]

Whoah, I didn't mean to duplicate Rod Hog. We must have posted within seconds of each other.

[Utah DaveII]

By the way, what is the best 5wt. Given your title I would hope you know!

[flyty]

Try a Red Fox Squirrel too, if you like that pattern:

http://www.ozarkangler.com/education/lesson08.html

[Rod Hog]

For me, the best all around 5 weight is the Sage 590-3 SP. Notice I said "best all around" 5 weight. I would describe it as a moderate action rod that handles weighted flies with no problem, but also presents a small dry fly equally well. It is a real joy to fish with, whether you are catching small fish on local stream or larger fish in a big western river.

All other 5 weight rods pale in comparison. Although the Sage SLT is nice, I think Sage really made a mistake discontinuing the SP. As for Winston, Loomis, Orvis, Scotts, and all the other premium rod wanna be's, cut the guides off them, epoxy sand to the blank, and you have yourself a great tool when reaming cork handles. J/K

[Utah DaveII]

I like that pattern a lot too. Have you used the Whitlock blends for the Red Fox Squirrel Nymph? They are very good! I have a bunch of those tied up for the weekend but am kind of intrigued by the birds nest. I like the slimmer profile, but still buggy look.

Rod Hog--I'm glad that I got the same rod. Yes it was a sweet rod. Yeah i was looking for a good use for my Orvis rods, maybe I I can wrap velcro around them and turn it into one hell of a dubbing teaser!

[Rod Hog]

You would be better off giving the Orvis rods to a youth group. The kids will be grateful, and won't be able to tell the difference between an Orvis noodle from an Orvis broom stick!

[Utah DaveII]

Between the Superfine and the T3

[dryflyguy]

I bet rod hog has spent a lot of time on the water with Scott and Winston that he would know how terrible their rods are! lol

[flyty]

"For me, the best all around 5 weight is the Sage 590-3 SP."

Does that have a green/blue blank, medium colored wood insert, and nickel silver reel seat? If so, I've cast one, and it's one sweet rod although I know nothing about rods. All I know is it felt light as a feather and cast a mile, and I wanted one.

"Have you used the Whitlock blends for the Red Fox Squirrel Nymph?"

No, but I've seen them in a fly shop. I searched high and low for a red fox squirrel skin before hitting on something else. One night I noticed the sides of a hare's mask has a light reddish/orange colored fur which I used for the body, and I used the hare's mask proper for the thorax. In the end, I didn't think it was in the spirit of the Red Fox Squirrel to work so hard to obtain the exact materials, since Whilock used those materials only because the ones he saw the famous tyers using weren't available to him. I don't nymph much, but of all the nymphs I've used, the Red Fox Squirrel is probably the most successful.

To me, the Red Fox Squirrel just looks like a Bird's Nest with the hackle moved up to the head area. I do like Whitlock's trick for a fur head rather than a thread head.