Feather Duster SBS

[ScottP]

A good Callibeatis imitation; seems like every time I try to fish Hebgen or any of the Blackfeet lakes when these bugs are around I'm fighting wind with green water coming over the bow. Not a lot of materials and pretty simple and quick to tie. Tied this one unweighted; lead-free wraps in the thorax or a beadhead if you're looking for something a bit heavier.




hook - Mustad 9671 #12
thread - Uni 8/0 camel
tail/shellback - pheasant tail fibers
abdomen - ostrich herl (actually came from a feather duster)
rib - copper wire x-small
thorax -ostrich herl
wingcase/legs -pheasant tail fibers


Part 1



mash barb and attach thread and wire at 60% mark; keep tag end of wire on far side of hook bend





wrap wire back to point above hook barb





tie in a few ostrich herls and return thread to 60% position (normally I'd tie in the tail first but twisting the ostrich generates a bit of torque and I've had trouble keeping the tail in line; doing it afterwards alleviates any twisting and doesn't take any longer)





twist herl together





and wrap forward





measure some pheasant tail fibers (extend abdomen length behind the butt)





and tie in ahead of abdomen





trim pheasant butts, hold fibers against the body and start wire rib forward





continue rib through abdomen, tie off and helicopter the end





measure another clump (8-10) of pheasant tail fibers (abdomen distance) and tie in 1 hook eye width back from eye; from this point, the tying steps are pretty much like the Turkey Tail nymph

[ScottP]

Part 2



wrap back to end of abdomen





tie in some more ostrich herl





twist herl





and wrap forward 1 hook eye width back from eye





divide protruding fibers





pull pheasant butts forward to form wingcase; tie off and trim





fold near side legs back and tie down





repeat on far side





whip finish, SHHAN and you're done








Regards,
Scott

[FishnDave]

I really like the looks of this, Scott!

[maodiver]

If you can get some emu go for that as well...makes a darker grey version of the same fly

[flybugpa!]

very nice fly tie Scott

[Longs for Cutts]

My unintentional variant, the second fly I came up with after coming west and one of two picked up by MFC in 2006. Alas, they're dropping it after this season.

Wiese's Four Feather

Hook: 1xl nymph #12-18
Bead: gold to fit hook
Thread: 6/0-8/0 dark brown
Tail: lemon wood duck
Abdomen: natural ostrich
Rib: gold wire
Wingcase: pheasant tail and gold Krystal Flash
Thorax: peacock herl
Legs: pheasant tail and gold Krystal Flash

[whatfly]

A good Callibeatis imitation; seems like every time I try to fish Hebgen or any of the Blackfeet lakes when these bugs are around I'm fighting wind with green water coming over the bow. Not a lot of materials and pretty simple and quick to tie. Tied this one unweighted; lead-free wraps in the thorax or a beadhead if you're looking for something a bit heavier.




hook - Mustad 9671 #12
thread - Uni 8/0 camel
tail/shellback - pheasant tail fibers
abdomen - ostrich herl (actually came from a feather duster)
rib - copper wire x-small
thorax -ostrich herl
wingcase/legs -pheasant tail fibers

[snip]

A personal favorite, and one of the best Callibeatis I know. I tie mine a bit differently, but your method seems more efficient, so I'll have to give it a shot.

Any idea who the originator is? Have always wondered, since I found the pattern in Arrick's bins one day.

[ScottP]

Apparently, it was developed by Wally Eagle (of Eagle's Store in West Yellowstone) back in the 70's. Here's a link to the story (it's about halfway down the page):

http://flyfishyellowstone-flies.blog...Summer Fly Box


Regards,
Scott

[pillcaster]

Wow, you do good work, I enjoy your SBS, very educational for me.

[dr korn]

Scott - I gotta get one of those feather dusters.... I really like the color of that herl, anyway very nice SBS and a great looking bug.

thanks for putting it up, Doug.