Hairwing Flies

Island West Coast Hornet
By Michael Garnier*

Recipe

    Hook: Mustad 36890 used here.

    Thread: Black.

    Tag: Gold oval tinsel.

    Butt: Green floss or UNI-Stretch.

    Body: Black yarn or floss.

    Rib: Yellow micro chenille.

    Throat: Mallard flank dyed green.

    Wing: Yellow calf tail over which is Deer hair dyed chartreuse.

    Collar: Green hackle.

    Head: Black.

*About Michael Garnier

I've been avidly fishing from about the age of five, when I was first introduced to the sport by a friend of the family, at about the age of somewhere between 7 and 9 I was given a fly rod. Not having any knowledge or mentors to assist me in the operation of the strange pole, I removed the prespooled fly reel and attached a spin casting reel, and at such a young age found the outcome to be more than acceptable. As a child I would take these fishing excursions that would last most of the day, traveling the creeks and streams in and around where I lived sometimes following the streams so far up that I would actually come to the head waters of a particular stream or creek, I would fish one pool, while my head was buzzing with anticipation of what lay waiting in the next pool. About 6 or so years ago I decided to purchase a fly rod with intent to teach myself the mystery of a rod I did not understand as a child. The next year following, I would purchase a fly tying kit from the local sporting shop. After the purchase, I spent the first week teaching myself to spin deer hair, this is the first application I pursued having seen hoards of bugs and bombers in the shops that I visited on almost a daily basis. I could spin hair before I knew what a whip finish was or even a half hitch and remember quite clearly having to visit one of the local stores, to seek assistance in learning how to tie of a fly. A book my Dave Hughes came with the kit American Fly Tying Manual, it taught me the process of spinning and the whip finish. Apparently, having consulted the shop on tying off a fly, the process I learned from the book, had indeed been the whip finish. I have never looked back since the purchase of my kit, and fly tying is one of the most rewarding pastimes I have ever pursued. Remembering the excitement of youth, and the pure seemingly uninterrupted pleasure of catching a trout, my tying is most influenced by that small to medium sized little game fish, the Brook Trout.

Keep your hearts and minds open and may your hands and eyes stay strong and sturdy. Above all tie with Passion. ~ Michael

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