Tiltwing Purple Haze

[ScottP]

Tried calftail; won't be doing that again.


hook - Dai Riki 300 #10
thread - MFC 6/0 purple
tail - moose body hair
rib - Krystal Flash pearl
abdomen - dubbing purple
wing - calftail white
hackle - grizzly


Regards,
Scott

[hap]

But the calftail does make it very visible!

I have a bunch of very big plastic straws. push them over the calftail wing and cut off at the eye. Then push the cut-off piece back out of the way of the post and hackle. Cut the straw off as the last step.

[ScottP]

But the calftail does make it very visible!

I have a bunch of very big plastic straws. push them over the calftail wing and cut off at the eye. Then push the cut-off piece back out of the way of the post and hackle. Cut the straw off as the last step.

Doesn't work for the tiltwing since I wrap the hackle around the base of the wing and the butts. Calftail is visible, yes, but very stiff and, for me, a pain to deal with for this application; I've seen them tied with snowshoe hair, which I might try instead, at least in smaller sizes.

Regards,
Scott

[whatfly]

To me the problem with calf tail is that it really doesn't add much buoyancy, and may even help the fly sink faster. Snowshoe rabbit might be a better choice or even just polypropylene.

For the record, never caught a thing with the Purple Haze, but nice tie as always Scott.

[ScottP]

John,

Polypropylene (I'd use Congo Hair) would be the easiest solution since it sheds water and compresses easily, I was just looking at organic alternatives. I've got some white deer hair that I may try, too.
I've had some luck with other incarnations of the fly, for stupid cutts on little mountain blue lines and 'bows and browns on larger water thruout MT.

Regards,
Scott