This is my soft hackle that I have been tying and fishing since the early 90’s. I have added a bead head for the faster/deeper water. It has been my most productive fly for all these years. Originally, I tied it without a bead. It works great fished as a wet fly - especially on the swing. If you see rises, you can either see that it swings near the rise or even false cast enough to dry it off and then fish it “dry” as well.
Very nice looking Soft Hackle Byron.
Beautiful fly and very well tied. Soft hackles are consistently one of my top producing patterns in a wide variety of fishing situations.
Thanks for sharing.
Jim Smith
Hi Bryon,
That is certainly one very nice fly. I was just looking through Fogg’s new book on wet flies and your fly is as good or better than many of his illustrations. Please keep up the good work and please keep sharing your pictures. 8T 
Very nice Byron. I realize the tying sequence is straight forward. Would you list the materials please?
Thanks,
Bruce
Very nice tye indeed. Would you please be so kind to list the pattern so I can have a go at it.
A very nice fly, looks very good.
Nice tie there! Have only fished soft hackles a couple of times, may need to try it more if everyone seems to have success with them.
I, also, loved the pattern and it is very well tied. What size hook do you use most often for this pattern?
Thanks for sharing…
Sure, and thanks for the interest!
First, I tie it on a dry fly hook. I find that size 14 is the most effective. I have tried smaller and they work, but the size 14 works the most consistently.
The ribbing is gold mylar
The abdomen and thorax are formed with a dubbing I make from an antron material sold under the brand name of Dazzle Aire. I used to get it at a Ben Franklin store. When that source dried up, I found it being sold on ebay. The skeins I buy are a variegated version which have a number of colors.
I cut the antron yarn in 3/4 inch pieces and put them in a coffee grinder and grind until I have a nice “fluffy” and “airy” mixture.
The thorax is tied more softly than the abdomen.
The hackle is a partridge feather.
The head is peacock hearl followed by a bead head or just a whip finish.
Again, thanks for your interest and compliments!!!
Byron Haugh
Soft Hackle Byron, sounds like a good name for the fly. I suspect I’ll try to tie up and use some soft hackle byrons.
Thanks for sharing this.
Ed
Hi Byron,
That’s a very classic looking soft hackle (apart from the bead head). I find them very effective as well, and often I start fishing with a team of 2 or 3 spiders. One of my favorites is Pritt’s Water Cricket, which I submitted as a fly of the week some time ago.
- Jeff