interesting twist on an old favorite

[nhancock]

During the winter I usually spend more time tying flies and less time fishing. I try to replenish my boxes for the coming season. I had just finished tying some Royal Wulfs and some Adams patterns, about a dozen of each, when I got to thinking. Instead of tying in grizzly tips for the wings, why not use antron yarn for the wing like I do on the Royal wulf? I tied up a bunch and they look great. They are also easier to see due to th white wing.

Last year I tied some adams with biot bodies and they worked really well. They are a little harder to tie but they look great.

Have any of you experimented with variations of patterns that are supposedly tried and true?

[Sumner Newman]

try to come up with and experiment with variations on other patterns. That's much of the fun and challenge of fly tying for me - innovation, creativity and then see how the fish like it. Very fun and challenging. Sometimes my variations are very slight; sometimes they're pretty significant - significant enough that you could call it a new pattern.

[cheech]

This, again, is where the "manual" comes into play:


Section 124-83
a. One must never change color or feature of a current effective fly
regardless if it makes it more effective, or easier to tie.
1. Punishment for such action will result in the immediate booking of
a trip in which you will have to listen to Ezlehappy tell dating
stories, or you will be chained to the floor in MWS basement as we
turn the water on and leave for 16 hours.


Pretty cut and dry if you ask me...

[ScottT]

Antron yarn has replaced the "manditory specified winging material" on almost every dry I tie (with the obvious exception of stimulators & elk hair caddis - that's just wrong...) Can't remember the last time I stacked calf tail.

Loop it over the shank and tie it in - nuthin' easier, faster, less bulky, more durable, or more visible on the water.

Even forceps-proof. Which reminds me, thanks to whoever thoughtfully left me ANOTHER set of forceps on the Weber last weekend. I think that's 4 this year.

Scott

[Rod Hog]

Works for caddis quite well, as in Borger's Poly Caddis (poly yarn wing), Matthew's Iris Caddis (zelon wing), Steve Hoovler's Mr. T Caddis (EP Fibers for the wing), etc.