Gigmaster has given me the nod to host for July and I just wanted to get started. I really like classic flies so for this month I have chosen winged wet flies. I think most people know of Ray Bergman’s book “Trout” , a true fly fishing and tying classic. Just pick one of the winged wet flies from one of the first 9 plates , which is over 400 flies to choose from. The flies run the gambit from simple to complex but all have there own charm. Here are a couple of links if needed for idea’s. There are many other great examples here in the archives of FAOL. Standard swap rules as always and P.M. when complete.
The Professor’s are not winged wet flies in the sense texfly is suggesting so I am changing to the Bergman Coachman. Gold tip, peacock herl body, white wings and brown (or dark red) hackle.
You heard about how much I hate doing wet fly wings, right? Of all the things involved in fly tying, there is one skill I have consistently failed to master…wet fly wings!!! You found my[i] Kryptonite.
[/i]I’m bouncing between either an Orange and Black, or the Governor. I like the colors.
My first two attempts at these flies are so bad I am not even going to post pictures. Turkey feathers do not cooperate with me. For some reason, the wings always wind up much thinner than desired, and having them match up is sheer fantasy. I think all of my turkey feathers came from specimens that were having a ‘bad feather day’. They do not want to stay together.
At least I have lots of time to practice. I will decide on one, or the other of these patterns within the week. I’d really like to do the Orange and Black, but I will need to go to Sportman’s Warehouse to get a lot of black turkey feathers to mess up. I have lots of Mottled Turkey, because I use it as nymph wing cases, and that’s what color the turkeys I hunt around here are.
I also like the Blue Bottle, but I would have to get some slate turkey feathers to destroy.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must confront their demons. My time has come. It was inevitable that sooner or later I would have to deal with this one weakness.
Question, for someone more knowledgeable than myself on wet fly wings (which could include just about anyone…):
I have been watching You Tube Videos on Wet Fly Wings. When they say you must have a left, and a right section, do they mean you need feathers from the actual left and right side of the bird, or just the left and right side of the quill on one feather?
How can you tell what side of the bird a feather came from? It’s not like they are marked “Port”, and “Starboard”… When I fletch arrows, I know, because the fletching says so on the package (when you fletch arrows, the fletching has to all be from the same side of the bird, or your arrows will fly like a dove after the first week of hunting season…), but I don’t think they mark turkey, pheasant, or duck feathers for fly tying that way.
I usually buy the feathers that come in pairs so you get a single feather from the left wing and one from the right. A good quality pair or set will be exactlly opposite each other in size and shape which makes taking the quill section from each one to make a wing set much easier. Here’s the quickest thing I could find to explain. I’ll do some more looking.
Since my pattern choice was a little different I started the thread early to give everyone plenty of time , including myself. I’m still trying to get my own pattern just right.
This is my second go around with wet winged flies. Last time was back in 2010 when somebody pulled this stunt in the monthly swap! I’m hoping this time, I’ll do a bit better on my wing proportions.
I like Hares Ears so I’ll wing them and do the Winged Hares Ear. I got plenty of Goose feathers for slate color wings. Pick a bunch up two years ago form resident geese that were molting at a pond I fished back then.\
Sjo