Porkie Chutes

I think I may be done tying soft hackles for a few days. Actually I know I have enough tied for this year at least. At least I hope so. It's been a while since I have thrown a fly so who knows.  Hopefully I don't lose offer too many sacrifices to the tree gods.  If I do I hope they are appreciative of my offerings and reward me in kind. Hopefully I don't offer up too many of these flies.

Tonight I broke out my McLean's Quill Body Material to tie up a few more Olive Parachutes. This time I was using curved scud hooks to use them as emergers and wanted to have a little more segmented look. If you have not used McLean's Quill Body you need to give it a shot.  From my understanding these are actually porcupine guard hairs and they make excellent quill bodies. Even my wife agrees that they make nice bodies. I know there will be a few nice fish caught on this little guy.

Quill Body Parachute Olive

Quill Body Parachute Olive

Hook: Tiemco 2487 #16-20

Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive

Tail: Ginger Z-Lon

Body: McLean's Quill Body Olive Small

Post: Ginger Z-Lon

Hackle: Dun Hackle

Thorax: Olive Dubbing

More Soft Hackles

Well I took a couple days away from the vise. Time to get back at it in full force. I don't know if it laziness or if I wanted to keep listening to some live Crowes but I kept Freak 'n Roll in the CD player.  I think I will pick up the DVD also.  If it is half as good as the CD I know I won't be disappointed. 

I ended up tying a bunch more soft hackles.  Especially the Partridge and Green and the Partridge and Yellow.  I figure these will come in handy during the Sulfur and BWO hatches.  I am predicting at least one large brown on the Partridge and Green. Hopefully more than one.

Partridge and Green

Partridge and Yellow

Partridge and Green

Hook: Mustad 3906 #14

Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive

Body: Green Floss

Thorax: Hare's Ear Dubbing

Hackle: Gray Partridge

Partridge and Yellow

Hook: Mustad 3906 #14

Thread: Uni 8/0 Yellow

Body: Yellow Floss

Thorax: Hare's Ear Dubbing

Hackle: Gray Partridge



Parachutes in the Wind

Glad I took my daily walk when I did.  The wind is really kicking now.  Why does it seem that you are always walking up hill and into the wind?  Listening to The Dropkick Murphys gave me that little extra something I needed to get through the wind. Who would have thought Celtic Punk would be so much fun.

Last night at the tying table was another stocking up day. Again I threw in some Live Phish and went to work tying up some Parachute Blue Winged Olives and Parachute Blue Winged Olive Emergers.  At first I was struggling with catching the hackle while whip finishing. Then I remember the end of my bodkin had a half hitch tool. Why didn't I remember that at first?  Oh well at least I remembered.  Talk about making life easier. 

The BWO parachute was always one of my most productive flies while fishing on the Au Sable River. More than once this fly saved the day.  If you look at the hatch charts for the Au Sable River there are BWO's listed all summer long. If the fish are rising but not taking what is supposed to be the main hatch at the time chances are very good that they are taking Olives.  

Parachute Blue Winged Olive

Hook: Mustad 94840 #18-28
Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive
Tail: Dark Dun Hackle Fibers
Body: Olive Dubbing
Post: White HiViz or Antron
Hackle: Dark Dun Tied Parachute Style

Parachute Blue Winged Olive Emerger

Hook: Mustad 94840 #18-28
Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive
Tail: Antron or HiViz Sparse
Body: Olive Dubbing
Post: White HiViz or Antron
Hackle: Dark Dun Tied Parachute Style