Moorhen & Gold

[Hans Weilenmann]

Moorhen & Gold
Hook: Grip 14723BL #14
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer silk (Antique Gold)
Hackle: Moorhen marginal wing covert - one side stripped
Body: Tying silk


Cheers,
Hans W

[pillcaster]

wow hans!
Moorhen??? Sometimes I think you are making this up..... But wikipedia says it is a river or swamp chicken........ And there is a hunting season for them here in Virginia, so I learned someting new.
That hackle is beautiful, love the quill color contrast of the "legs"

[Hans Weilenmann]

In the classic recipes it was called Waterhen, but Moorhen is the name used at present.

[ScottP]

Cool fly; love the contrast between barb/barbule on the feather. Would coot feathers provide a similar effect? Not that I hunt, but we have lots of them in the nearby ponds and I'm always on the lookout for shed feathers.

Regards,
Scott

[Byron haugh]

Hans,
I notice you use that hook quite a bit. What is the primary reason you use that style? Does it relate to hooking capabilities?

When I travel to fish, I hit all the fly shops I can find. I cannot say I have ever seen a fly tied on that style hook in any shop I have visited in the US or in Patagonia (Chile side).

[hap]

Cool fly; love the contrast between barb/barbule on the feather. Would coot feathers provide a similar effect? Not that I hunt, but we have lots of them in the nearby ponds and I'm always on the lookout for shed feathers.

Regards,
Scott

Coot, moorhen, waterhen; are all the same bird, different names.
art

[maodiver]

Coot....white beak
Moorhen ... Red and yellow beak.

Other diffs? Not so much

[Hans Weilenmann]

I notice you use that hook quite a bit. What is the primary reason you use that style? Does it relate to hooking capabilities?

I find the shape and proportions pleasing, and find it extremely versatile across many pattern designs. On the water it hooks and holds great. Good enough reasons for me

When I travel to fish, I hit all the fly shops I can find. I cannot say I have ever seen a fly tied on that style hook in any shop I have visited in the US or in Patagonia (Chile side).

What can I say. Customers buying flies are, by and large, a traditional lot - and manufacturers generally wary of disrupting sales.

As a tier, I have the freedom to choose the hooks I like for my flies.

The above pattern is in the very traditional North Country Spider style - on a modern, some might say radical, hook design. You tell me how you find it?

Cheers,
Hans W

PS If one cannot find Grip hooks, but is perhaps interested in playing with the style - the Tiemco 206BL is near identical, and there is a very similar one in the Daiichi range.

[ScottP]

Art & mao,

Thanks for the info; I'll be on the lookout for coot.

Regards,
Scott

[Hans Weilenmann]

Thanks for the info; I'll be on the lookout for coot.

Or do what I do - get a pair of wings off Veniard