A Black Gnat (Even smaller)

[Donald Nicolson]

I've gone for something smaller this time, it is only an 18, but I have trouble with anything smaller.



I have altered this to #22, I was not looking properly when I took the hook out of the box,
I was watching the golf at Carnoustie on TV at the same time as I tied the fly.
I have just checked the hook size.
It looks like I can tie smaller than I thought.

Here is the recipe -

Hook: Capt Hamilton Dry Fly #22.
Thread: Black Unithread 8/0
Body: Fine black dubbing.
Wing: White Antron.
Hackle: Small grizzle.

[Black Gnat]

A fine example!





Best,
Black Gnat

[JeffHamm]

Hi Donald,

Nice! Black gnats are a great pattern, both dry and as a wet.

- Jeff

[Donald Nicolson]

I bumped this up, so that people would see the amendment.

[JeffHamm]

Hi Donald!

Size 22, very nice! The smallest black gnats I've tied are size 16 as a wet fly. I use black hair from an Austrailian possum tail for the dubbing (has some reddish highlights and such that look good). The hair is a bit long and can be hard to tame for dubbing on small flies though. I've not tried putting it through the coffee grinder, but I like my coffee "possum free" and we only have the one! ha!

- Jeff

[flyandtie]

very kool.

[hcmiller]

Nice flies guys! The smallest I go is a 20
Hey Donald, Jeff , on the Black Spider is the body supposed to be a single layer or is it a built up tapered body?


And also ether of you guys see REE lately?
.......Bud

[Donald Nicolson]

The way I tie them, it is a double layer of silk, down the hook and then back towards the eye.
On this page it shows how Stewart tied them, remember he was also tying on the gut, and he was not using a vise.
http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/page174.html

I have not seen REE on the web, he is probably away fishing.

[hcmiller]

remember he was also tying on the gut, and he was not using a vise.
http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/page174.html

"tying on the gut??????"

And thank you for the info........Bud

[JeffHamm]

Hi hcmiller,

On the black spider, I tie down and part way back forward. On the way back up I tie in the feather. Then, bring the thread forward, then the hackle, and tie it off. That produces a bit of a taper because at the turn around there's probably only 1 layer of thread, then just 2 layers for a bit, and then the feather increases the bulk near the tie in, etc.

If you tie the feather in at the front, then wrap it back to the thread, and the thread through the hackle, the body would be less tapered. The hackle would be more firmly tied in as well. However, I usually just make a mess of it when I try and wrap forward, and personally, I tie so many flies that I'm not fussed if the hackle on one breaks. I just salvage the hook later and re-tie up.

- Jeff