Night Cosseboom

Here's a pattern I've had some luck with fishing the mouth of the Waiteti after dark. The overall construction is loosely based upon a Cosseboom, but the colours are quite different. The tail and body are claret (well, the body is Uni Floss "wine") and with the gold rib I figure that had to be a good night combo (thinking of things like Mallard and Claret). The fox squirrel wing goes well, sort of like the brown wing on a dark Montreal. And, black and red for the hackle are just really good colours for night flies.

This is tied on a number 4 Mustad 79850 stremer hook, which is the biggest hook I've ever worked with. When I've fished these on the Waiteti, I've just tied them on size 10 2x length hooks. I'll be curious to see how these big streamer hooks work out.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...m/P1050669.jpg

- Jeff

Jeff,
Nice tie! There's only one way to know if it works... Just "have to" tie a few up and get 'em wet!

Zac

Jeff
Nice job. I like your selection of using squirrel for the wing. I use squirrel a lot I like it better than bucktail on some flies. Some guys complain that the hair slips out from under the wraps but I find a drop of head cement applied at the tie in helps holds thing in place.
Flap Jack

Hi quivira kid,

I'll be tying a few of these to give them a try. There are some areas where I think they will do the trick. Not used to casting such large flies, but I have a 7/8 weight rod that will handle them no problem.

Hi Flap Jack,

I tie a lot of squirrel tails actually. I like the way the wing pulses in the water. And yes, head cement on the ends after tying in helps a lot. I'll do a wrap around the hair bundle to hold it together, then tie it to the shank. Once secured, I'll lift the wing forward, throw a turn around it (like a parachute post sort of thing, but tucked way down near the base of the wing), and that helps elevate it slightly. Got that tip from Art Flick's old Masters of Fly Tying book from 1972 I think. Anyway, some cement on the exposed tips after they've been trimmed, then wrap down tightly. Squirrel hair is round, and doesn't compress, but with just a few simple steps the wing is secured.

- Jeff

Nice tie Jeff, I haven't been online much as I have my dream job of commercial fly tying for a local shop and this has been a big drain on my time -- but am enjoying it emmensly. I am running for the deadline now as the epoxy dryer has broken down several times and they have tried to fix it for me.

Well done on this nicely made streamer. The colours are nice and bright and the hook - well let me at it! I have tried to get long streamer hooks but have been unsuccessful.

Let us know how they go.

Jeanne...

Hey, Jeff,
That looks like a real winner. Excellent color selections.

Mark

Hi Jeanne,

Congrats on the job. I'm sure that would be a big time committment. Make sure you have your tying area well set up for long times at the vice. When you get the chance would love to see a photo of some of your ties. Are you doing mostly nymphs or NZ lures?

- Jeff

Thanks Mark,

I've been fishing this pattern for a while now, and it's been productive. I've even had one occassion where I was the only one to hook into a fish at the mouth of the Waiteti. I was out with a friend and his brother one night, while the wives were off on their own "girls fishing weekend". We went down to the mouth of the stream and there were a few fellows around but no luck. I was upstream slightly, closer to a footbridge that crosses the stream. I had never had any luck in that area, altough on the far side there is a really good lie. Anyway, after about half a dozen casts using this pattern (tied somewhat smaller though, size 10 2x length hook) I was into a decent fish. Was about 2 to 2.5 lbs rainbow, but in the dark I thought it was much bigger. I figured I was onto the "right fly". That, however, was the only fish I got all weekend! go figure.

- Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffHamm

Hi Jeanne,

Congrats on the job. I'm sure that would be a big time commitment. Make sure you have your tying area well set up for long times at the vice. When you get the chance would love to see a photo of some of your ties. Are you doing mostly nymphs or NZ lures?

- Jeff

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Thanks for that Jeff, no unfortunately my fly tying table is very small but I get things done well on it which is the main aim - sort of like the mother of necessity at times hehe.

I am making saltwater flies and nymphs at the moment it takes a lot of my time up but I take regular time to myself to ease the tedium unless the order is a top priority and needs to be out pronto - I have had another job offered to me making the NZ Scotch Poacher's for another shop down the line, but that is only if enough interest comes in for the order to be made.

I have plenty to keep me busy at the moment and although it is sometimes frustrating I am enjoying the challenge of it all. I also have had a lot of trouble with the epoxy provided - it is very thin and runny stuff, which has to be brushed on. And the machine provided kept stopping too -- but all in all a good order and the money from this one is good. Not all will be that good though as these were saltwater flies.

Hope things are going well with you.

Jeanne