Substitutions in a Royal Wulff

[Byron haugh]

My fishing buddy of 35 years + on the Henry's Fork still uses this pattern. He called it a "Strawberry Shortcake" and used it when there was no hatch about.

I substitute Widow's Web for Calf Tail and Chinese Red Uni-Stretch for silk. I say Widow's Web, but not sure if it is that or EP Fibers. They are somewhat similar.

[Steven]

Polywings and red tying thread here. Mine don't look as nice though!

[planettrout]

Byron,

Check out this RW Cripple which Rowan Nyman designed while he was at BRF...they really work well in #18 - #20...

http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/sho...wulff_cripple/


PT/TB

[Byron haugh]

Very interesting PT, but a bit too "frumpy" for me...................

Steven, I doubt your comment. Post one of your Wulff's.
Thanks,
Byron

[Byron haugh]

Here's a slightly modified Gray Wulff. Bucktail for the tail, but deer hair for the wings.

[Steven]

Very interesting PT, but a bit too "frumpy" for me...................

Steven, I doubt your comment. Post one of your Wulff's.
Thanks,
Byron

Unfortunately, I don't have the camera for it.
I hope the comment you're referring to was that mine aren't as nice. My ties are OK; they catch fish, but I'm not sure they'd land a lot of fishermen.

[Alberto]

Byron,

I like to use calf body for the wings on mine. Also, I use some super fine gold wire as a rib to protect the peacock herl and floss body.

Regards,

Alberto

[oldster]

Visabilty is one of the best attributes of the RW. While easier to tie, I have never found any synthetics that show up as well as calf hair.

[Byron haugh]

Unfortunately, I don't have the camera for it.
I hope the comment you're referring to was that mine aren't as nice. My ties are OK; they catch fish, but I'm not sure they'd land a lot of fishermen.

Steven,
Yes it was. I'm sure you're just modest.
Thanks

[John Rhoades]

I use white Z-Lon for the wings in many of my dry flies, Byron, and I'm not sure I could tell the difference from your Widow's Web wings. I can tie wings of Z-Lon on 6 flies in the time it would take me to tie just one fly's wing of calf tail, and they have all the visibility I need to catch plenty of trout. And, we all know what a pain floss can sometimes be.

So, for me, I'd say your modifications make a fly that is superior to the original. Not knocking the original...they were undoubtedly tied with materials that were available at the time.