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Hi Gigmaster,
One way to get rid of the under fur is, after you've cut your clump of deer/elk hair, pinch the "good ends" and use a bodkin, or sewing needle, to just pick it out (run it through the clump).
Also, you can use a film canister as a hair stacker. Cut the bottom off, put the lid on, and put the hairs in through the cut off end. Doesn't have quite the weight of a regular stacker, but will work in a pinch.
Anyway, I have no doubt that your cricket will work really well as tied. The rest is for the fisherman after all!
- Jeff
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Gigmaster,
I like simple flies, and the elk/deer hair caddis type patterns are great hopper/cricket imitators....I can't see a need for 'underwings/long legs/unneeded details' on such a fly when the fish won't care. Most flies are tied so that the tier can show off his skills, not so just to fool the fish...we've prretty much proven that fish aren't too bright....
For what you are doing here, a hair stacker is not needed.
If you pull the hair to 90 degrees from the hide BEFORE you cut it, the hairs will be even enough. I hate that 'straight even tips' stuff on wings...real bugs don't look like that...and the fish certainly don't care, even a little bit. The natural tapering that th e tips of the hair gives you, along with slightly uneven lengths, looks more natural and save you time at the bench.
As far as removing the 'underfur', if you don't already have one, you can get a set of cheap plastic hair combs from any dollar store for a buck...the one with the finest teeth will work just fine...better than many things made for the task.
The only 'problem' with the 'underfur' on a pattern like this is that it absorbs water quickly and can sink your fly...if you waterproof or aren't concerned about it sinking, then it's not an issue and it certainly adds to the shaggy appearence of the fly...not a bad thing all in all.
The only thing I do differently on the fly you posted is to cut all the materials flush with the body on the bottom, so it floats on the water flat and level....easier for the fish to take it there...the 'round' hackle profile can sometimes make it lean or even lay on it's side...makes it harder to get the hook into the fish that way.
Buddy
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Thanks for the suggestions. I will take them to heart. I especially like the one about trimming the bottom hackle flush with the body. It makes good sense.
BTW, I finally got to go try this one out at the local lake. I caught about 35 bluegills, all in a little over 1 hour. It took me longer to fillet them than it did to catch them.
I think this pattern works. I used a black foam cricket on a few casts with my other fly rod, just to compare them. The fish reacted differently to the foam. On the Foam cricket, they would rush up to it, and stop a few inches away and look at it. They wouldn't hit it until I twitched it. On the Elk-Hair, they just rocketed up out of nowhere and grabbed it, viciously. It's almost like it made them mad, or something. The panfish were in post-spawn.
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Excellent outcome! Curious about the different reaction to the foam version though. I wonder if the hair wing creates the impression of moving wings, while the foam version actually requires movement (illusion vs reality). Maybe next outing compare the "flush cut" vs "hackle as is" to see if there's a difference there as well. Anyway, thanks for the update as I've been wondering how it turned out.
- Jeff
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If I recall correctly, you can essentially use your hands and fingers to functionally create your own hair stacker without going out to buy one. All you do is take the clump of hair in you right hand, place the tips down vertically towards the palm of your left hand and loosen your grip on your elk hair with your fingers enough to allow the elkhair to fall to the flat surface of your left hand without loosing control of the hair. It evens up the tips pretty well and works fine once you get the hang of it. You could also easily make one with a pen cap and the pen body. Lastly as for the underfur comb, I found that using my fingers again works well. Just grip the ends of the elk hair with your left hand tightly and slightly less tightly use your right hand to grip the butt ends of the elkhair and pull, letting your right hand slide along the elkhair. Repeat a couple of times and most of the underfur comes out. Hope it helps and makes sense.
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http://www.geocities.com/kafinlayson...Directions.htm
Heres a pretty good cricket...a black madame X works really well too. Cheers.
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Underfur
I use a small 'flea comb' to remove underfur - a pretty cheap solution, available from any pet store.
Cliff