The Griffiths Max (GM)
The Griffiths Max or (GM) is a solid pattern in my box. An enlarged Griffiths Gnat by heritage, it’s tied in one 3-material dubbing loop. Making it extremely easy to tie, and very effective. A great search pattern whenever the fish are looking for terrestrials.
Recipe
Hook: Standard Dry#14
Thread: Olive 8/0 Uni-thread
Abdomen: Peacock Herl
Hackle: Brown Dry
http://ralphsflybox.blogspot.com/2014/08/tying-griffiths-max-video.html
This fly reminds me of the old Brown Hackle fly, only difference that one didn’t have the peacock hurl. Great little fly.
Larry —sagefisher—
Ralph,
Nice fly; thanks for posting.
Regards,
Scott
It’s times like this I wish I still had my books. That’s a much older pattern than you might think. It is featured in North Country Flies by T. E. Pritt (Plate 4) No. 17 The Red Palmer. As that dates it back to pre 1886 it is probably the original name. The “red hackle” in the dressing refers to red game hackle, which is what you would call brown. It just goes to prove what was mentioned in Byron’s thread the other day about different people “inventing” the same fly.
Cheers,
A.
Alan,
To take it even one step more, the Red Palmer would predate the Griffiths Gnat. Where the Griffiths Max differs form both, is that the hackle is not palmered. Its spun and wound together with the herl as a dubbing brush. Different techniques in applying the same materials. In all honesty, my reason for doing it in that manner had more to do with seeking durability, vs outcome. Although in the end the outcome was more than expected. After checking out the book, I gotta say, I like their thinkin’. 
NJ,
You don’t actually use a loop, do you? Could just leave a long tag end of the thread?
Ever put a grizz and brown together to get an “Adams” color?
Byron,
No, not on this particular pattern. I form the loop initially just because its the easiest method to create a tag. Form a short loop and cut one standing end. I have tied the pattern with a number of color variations. Never tied the Adams variation. I do tie it with yellow thread and Cree hackle though. One of the most effective is a Golden Badger hackle in #18 with rusty-dun thread.
"They fasten red (crimson red) wool around a hook, and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in colour are like wax. " -Claudius Aelianus (c. 175 – c. 235 CE), AKA - Aelian…first record of FlyFishing
Byron,
Here is a comparison of the GM versions I tie 99% of the time. The one on the left is a Cree hackle with yellow uni-thread.
NJ:
Not tied as neatly (as I don’t tie this method), but sort of the color combination I was thinking:
Unique and interesting approach. And the results look great. I’m with Byron though, I would find it easier to just leave the tag end long on the thread in the first place. Regardless, it seems as if the durability would be very good with your method. Very cool!
Looks great Byron. Simple pattern and basically works itself out.
I do leave a tag when I remember to. Buy about 50% of the time I clip my thread at tie-in out of habit. In that case I form a loop at the rear and create it.
Ralph
That is a fly pattern I will tie and use here in my local waters. I have a few tied up and I tie mine up differently than what everyone else has suggested, but, I never do anything according to the book and that is just me. When I tied this pattern, I tie the herl and hackle in behind the hook eye, wrap the thread over them to the rear and then twist the tying thread, herl and hackle together and wrap to the front and tie off. Hopefully, it will produce for me.
It is a good pattern.
I tied some using fine gold wire instead of thread to twist two hackles and herl. Gives a bit of sparkle to it.
Thanks Ralph, great looking fly in a size even I can tie!
Mike
