Claret Gnat

[Fontinalis]

Hi everyone:

The following fly is a pattern that I tyed tonight from Ray Smith who was a true wet fly fisherman that fished the Esopus in the Catskilss. Ray Smith was known by many in his hay days of fishing the Esopus was from the 30's throught I believe the erly 70's. The pattern was originated by ray and was believed to fish this fly during Isonychia hatches. I will be fishing this fly this year up on the esopus duing bug week. The pattern for the fly is simple:

Hook: Mustad 3906 size 8
Thread: Danville 6/0 White for the Underbody & Danville 6/0 Black for the head
Tag: Size 16/18 Gold Mylar Tinsel
Body: Two Stands of Danville Claret Floss wrapped from back to Front only
Full Collar Hackle: Black Hen Cape
Wings: Paired Duck Quils Slate (Natural)

I find this pattern very intersting and currently enjoying finding out all the history I can on Ray Smith.

[flickfly]

oooh-aaah! pretty!

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Ooooooooh, pretty. Great floss work, looks like it was sprayed on. Nice evenly distributed hackle, and a super shiney head. What's not to like.

REE

[JohnScott]

... and the pixels really do it justice. Nicely done.

For us dummies that don't do Latin and don't have much, if any, experience with that style of wet fly, what is the Isonychia hatch, and how do you present that fly ??

John

[gadabout]

I like that! What size do you recommend?

John - Isonychias are large mayflies, sometimes called Gray Drakes. They are probably most important in nymphal form. Winged wet flies like the one above are often fished on a down and across swing, with a a hand twist retrieve at the end of the swing.

[Cliff955]

That's a beautifully tied fly!

Cliff