I recently saw a new video by Davie McPhail in which he tied a sort of “bullet head” mayfly pattern. I thought it might deserve a try on my upcoming trip to fish the Small Western Green Drake.
Please don’t reject the idea because of my inability to tie it well as I just started. Hope to get it refined before fishing it.
Anyway, thought others might find the general design interesting.
Size 14.


What material did you use for the under-wing. Nice job.
Thank you JC. It is deer hair dyed bright olive.
I’m trying to refine it.
The last time I fished over a hatch of Flavs, the naturals’ wings were taller than any pattern I had. Hoping to have several patters wth “high wings” this season.
Looks good now and looking forward to the evolution.
Locally, most anglers lump flavs in with Green Drakes and use the same patterns but slightly smaller. Rene Harrop’s Hair Wing Duns are very popular here for Green Drakes and flavs. I’m sure you’re familiar with them. Similar concept, but your bullet head looks great underneath.
I wonder if keeping the hair on top, not spinning, makes it easier to tie a higher wing?
http://www.johnkreft.com/green-drake-hairwing-dun/

So interesting Bruce!
This is the last fly I tied yesterday. Not as nice as Rene’s original. I used Caucci/Natasi spectrumized dubbing though.

Amazing, how stuff evolves. Your hair wing is really tall.
yes, Bruce. As I said, the last time I fished them, the naturals had wings higher than any I had on hand.
With a clipped hackle ribbing.
