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Joe Brady from the Harper book, which I’m so glad I picked up! Didn’t quite get the nice red-orange transition, too short…
I tried to emulate Richard's "Little Irish pattern..." from his earlier post of 5th August.
Comment on Facebook I tried to emulate ...
Looks good. Well done 🙂
Really nice fly Gary Weir
Better again, remember to keep that wing material on top of the shank and pinch HARD at tie in point
Well done Gary...keep making those little steps.
Possible inspiration fly. One of my favourites. Wonder who tied it!
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From both sides: very nice & accurate tied.
Never cared much for the pattern, but this indeed makes me want to tie one. I think it was tied by a guy named Eddie.
'The Druggist'
Happier with this. But:
I trapped some ostrich with the Rib.
I didn't think the pattern called for a topping, it does.
The tail is slightly off-centre. I also realised how few of my golden pheasant toppings are straight. Will try the spit and dry on glass approach.
Getting a smooth underbody on a gutted hook is really challenging (for me). I think taking more time to be very careful in mounting the gut (mono) will help. Any other smooth underbody (for floss) tips are appreciated.
Any tips and critique are greatly appreciated.
Comment on Facebook 'The Druggist' ...
Now you're getting somewhere! Retie it and correct those mistakes. Proportions are SPOT-ON! Perhaps gut loop could be a touch wider.
Are you just twisting up the mono gut yourself? Or buying some sort of furled leader material?
Probably said, or you’re doing it, but burnishing the layers of underbody will help them find their lay, and give you a smoother finish. I got an agate burnished for a few bucks, and it’s done me well. Before that, I used the narrow edge of a box lighter. That didn’t do too bad either, lol.
Looking good Gary keep at em perseverance will get you there.
Wonderful progress. Just keep at it, and you'll improve with every fly you do. A tip for the head: you don't have to cover all waste ends with thread. You secure the final bits with two or three wraps, then whip finish. Use fine scissors to trim the waste ends into a taper, then soak with clear varnish. When near dry, squeeze and mold with fingers. Cover with two layers of black, also these you mold when nearly dry. You'll see that the second coat of black has hidden all waste ends. Shape a nice bullet head, then finally, when really dry, coat with a final layer of clear. Perfect head each time, and never big.
Gled low water Dee, based on a photo from the CFT antiques gallery. Slight variant…
Comment on Facebook Gled low water Dee, ...
Very classy tying. Love that Ad.
Nice and slim. I think the hook shank could have used a re-warp, to counter that upward curve.
Tied up a Colonel per Tolfrey. Size 2/0. Tried to see if I could get away with using speckled turkey for sub of bustard. I don’t know, at least it’s bright.
Added a forth topping since my selection of usable toppings is rather short of excellent at the mo’. The ones I have are thin!
Some kind of partridge at the throat too, subbing the bustard hackle.
Comment on Facebook Tied up a Colonel ...
Beauty!!!
Beautiful!!
Thats a cracking flee Stig 👌👌
Super!
Really good stig
2/0 is missing in my fly box. I'm saying, my porn collection is incomplete. *wink* Nah, kidding. Cracking job, mate!
Just wonderful Stig well done!
Holy smokes, that thing is on fire! Nice use of subs!
Absolute killer
Lovely tying. Super.
No. 2 for the Erne & Ballyshannon from the 1867 edition of Francis…
Childers, 2/0.
Maybe a little heavy dressed, and the head got a little crowded. Otherwise pleased with to outcome. A nice pattern!
Comment on Facebook Childers, 2/0. Maybe...
This should be heavy dressed. Certainly doesn't look too heavy. I just wish you hadn't brushed the mallard into the wing. Otherwise absolute killer. Crowded the eye maybe?
Very nice
There are A LOT of materials in the wing, so it supposed to be looking quite heavy.
Awesome tye
A rather large Gold Purpy...not much else to say lol. Just enjoying the simplicity of the spey fly. Ive tried keeping it mostly traditional, other than counter wrapping the rib, and the fold back wings.
Mustering up the strength to do some Kelson flies...
Comment on Facebook A rather large Gold ...
That body is sublime. Well done Matt.
Beautiful.
Outstanding tying!
My first try at the Gitana I need to work on lining up my tippets. Just thought I'd give it a try. Actually this is my 5th try at a classic. Any help appreciated
Comment on Facebook My first try at the ...
I think it’s a great fly! Not an easy pattern for sure. Keep tying. That’s what I’m doing
A lot of good tying there,you’re on your way
Very decent attempt. When entering the world of classics, it is important to keep an open mind, and expect comments that will surprise you. In this case, like most beginners, we'll start with the tag. I know Schmookler dresses them long like a bombshell blonde's legs, but in the old days, tip and tag were simply very short. The idea that the butt has to be placed in front of the hook point, is nonsense that doesn't find any support in the traditional examples that we have so many of. So, in short, tip should be maximum about 2/3 of what you have here, and the tag just about the same size. This is what gives you the placement of your butt... Overall impressed though. This is not the easiest fly to dress, though admittedly, it isn't one of the hardest either. Great job!
The constructive criticism here helps if you listen and open your mind and ego. One thing that I might add as I have attempted this fly and tying this pattern on a bigger hook and laying out your materials first (as you will see displayed here many times) really helps. Good attempt my friend!
Wow, great attempt. I agree with Robert. Shorter tag makes a longer body. Your proportions look great! This pattern is a tricky one for sure! That teeny tiny cheek feather throws it off for me, but that’s just nitpicking. Shorter toppings would let the back of the wing “breathe” a little bit. I’m excited to see where you go from here. Great job man.
Gold Doctor 1/0 from Jarkko Reinola antique. Added topping for the Wing as I liked it.
Comment on Facebook Gold Doctor 1/0 from...
Very nice wing on this one!
Gorgeous work! Did you strip the body hackle?
nice work Santtu
A take on the Green highlander on a 1/0, do you have any pointers for me?
Comment on Facebook A take on the Green ...
Just a few notes. Dont freestyle as this isnt a place for that. Obtain and include the various wing materials like bustard and the ducks etc. Avoid Shlappen which I think you used on the throat? On the whole keep going as it's well tied.
First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for the amazing feedback on my unfinished fly yesterday. So helpful.
I went ahead and finished to the best of my ability from Alcotts book. I did order Hales book today.
Again thank you all. Still gotta get some better materials but I enjoyed it.
I'm attempting my very first classic salmon fly. I'm using Ron Alcott book Building Classic Salmon Flies.
The pattern I'm doing is the Black Dose.
I've got a LONG ways to go but I'm enjoying every second of it.
I'm always up for critiques and always willing to learn more.
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My advice ditch the book. You are referencing a modern book to tie a classic fly. Buy a copy of Hale. Starting on the right foot will set up for a good future with classics.
From back to front: 1) that tip/tag can easily be half the length 2) appears you may have tied down on the crest feather in tail which will cause the fibers to stick out like that. Try to trim just the whitish area of the feather near the base, and tie it in there. 3) ribs are far too fine IMO…if you have a larger oval I’d try that. 4) don’t trim the throat hackle on top, or tie it down. Just not a thing when it comes to classic salmon flies. 5) once the throat is tied off, resist wrapping forward with a bunch of thread like you’ve done, as you’ll just end up crowding the eye and lose the shape of your head. The hook isn’t doing you any favors either, but if it’s what you have then just keep at it. My advice is always to just tie the fly all the way through, then go tie another one, and another one etc…I try not to go back and fix mistakes. Just learn from them and move on. Your application of the materials is nicely done. Can’t fault any of that, it looks very nice. It’s all the little details, and thread control that are hard to get a grip on in the beginning.
As Matt says that hook will do you no favours. The proportions are just not right for classics in general but ok for say Spey's and Dee's. The up eye makes it more difficult to set the wing to. Get yourself some Partridge Addlington & Hutchinson CS6 hooks around size 2/0 or 3/0. They're not a refined hook by any means but for learning on the proportions are much better and of course cheap at around £12 for 10 hooks. Make some gut up using fishing line twisting three strands together then blast with a heat gun or set in an oven for a minute or so which is a cheaper alternative to silk gut. Saying that every fly I've tied so far has been with silk gut barring normal eyed hooks of course but it makes more sense to go the cheaper route certainly at first. Still positive first steps.
Finish the fly well done for taking the plunge I see more issues with style than application
Red doctor
Tied on partridge CS6 3/0
I think I got it right. Second time tying this fly. I really focused on the smoothness of the tag and the tail being slightly longer that the topping. Also having the topping ride the wing. Any and all feedback is appreciated and welcome.
Haven’t put the varnish on the head yet.
Comment on Facebook Red doctor Tied on ...
Wow that's great
Much better overall, but really need to work forward, and crowd the head are. Much too much space and very long head up there. In other words, the body could’ve been about four turns more. Do what you did, but keep the space minimal up front and the next will be a huge improvement !
What do you use for the gut eye?
Wanted to show you guys my first attempt at dressing a classic fly, the Durham Ranger. I usually tie big streamers for smallmouth bass and saltwater species, so this is a new world for me. It doesn’t take a genius to see my proportions are wonky, and my wing placement needs lots of work. However, I am excited for the mentorship, skill, and guidance that this group brings. I’ve been slowly acquiring materials, reading books, and watching tying videos for both recipes and techniques.
Comment on Facebook Wanted to show you ...
Great effort. Study old flies and buy a copy of Hale which will help explain the correct proportions. Heres a vintage Ranger for you to study. Little steps....a goo tail and tag are fundamental to success 👍
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That wing is just the right size! Usually WAY overdone...
Your best yet! Lovely job.
To celebrate one year of trying/learning to tie full dress classic salmon flies I thought I should attempt a Jock Scott. Version is from Dunne (aka Hi-Regan), which I like because of the option for IC veilings rather than toucan. A bit of a mess but a good challenge. Might be the first and last Jock Scott I ever tie haha, but I’m glad I tried. Continually appreciate all the inspiration and help this group provides. Looking forward to many more years of fumbling along.
Comment on Facebook To celebrate one ...
Your almost there 100%. You just need to learn to eyeball the right amount of stuff in the wings (it’s too bulky). The body work looks spot on to me. Keep tying Ad!!!!
5/o Spey Dog variant...used primarily gold tinsels, and also changed the hackle from the dun tipped, to a more golden brown tipped.
I've always loved this fly for some reason. Wherever Dx is at these days, he tied this a few times way back, and was one of the flies I always admired and one that really got me into this crazy classics thing.
Anywho, slightly more modern wing set, with it a little lower.
Comment on Facebook 5/o Spey Dog ...
Lovely fly and tying. Hopefully Dx will be back soon.
Crushed!
Stunning.
A unknown Ranger (at least to me) that Rv posted this week. Tried to copy it but I should have used a slightly longer shank hook. The kf dosent show for obvious reason.
Comment on Facebook A unknown Ranger (at...
Another beauty
Great! Why shorter hook?
Nice!
You know it, it’s a Durham! There were a few versions, like most popular flies, of course.
Really like the JC placement man.. That’s a beauty!!!
This is killer. Among the best I’ve seen.
Love this. Really fits with the flow of the old ones I have. Even down to the white on the eyes of the JC. Splendid.
Is it a substitute for the tail?
Thanks for your kindness guys 🙌✌️
Lovely tying Charles 'charley' Boissonneault!
1/0 GMK Black Dr. - I added peacock wing given I had a few tubers in front of me. Wing entirely one shot…tippets through mallard. Far side of head I see the thread popped through a little 🙄.
Brian Sunday - hope this helps!
One shot wings isn’t just for mixed wings, BTW. It works equally as well with, say, WT underwing, married overwing, sides and mallard. It’s practicing how it’s layer together. Much neater and with less bulk made at head.
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Very nice!
Anthony Smith thank you! This will be the first one I’ll be able to look at that isn’t one I’ve tied. Truly grateful! Awesome guy thanks again
Like a boss! Lovely fly.
You need to redo this wing on video 😅 amazing job, and one shot 👌
Man thats wonderful
Do you have a YouTube channel
Great tying Tony
A thing of beauty Tony. Top drawer.
I would take this guy swimming for steelhead!
The Lion, 2/0.
Comment on Facebook The Lion, 2/0.
Nailed it!
Nicely done on a tough hook to tie classics.