Real basic; body hackle and rib optional.
hook - WFC Model 3 #12
thread - Danville 6/0 tan
body - peacock herl bleached
shoulder - sharptail grouse
head - pronghorn hair
Part 1
Start thread at 2/3 mark; wrap to bend
Tie in some herl, twist and wrap to 2/3 mark; tie off/trim
Prep grouse
Tie in by tip, dull side facing you
Fold back, lock in with a couple wraps
Stroke fibers back, wrap, tie off/trim
Part 2
Clean, stack, measure (tips to bend) a clump of pronghorn; tie in with 2 soft loops allowing hair to encircle shank, trim butts even with hook eye, apply pressure, allowing hair to flair/spin
Half hitch x 2, SHHAN
Regards,
Scott
Spruce Moth Muddler II
Added a wing for the impression of a little more movement
hook - WFC Model 3 #12
thread - Danville 6/0 tan
body - peacock herl bleached
wing - Congo Hair Baitfish Tan
shoulder - partridge
head - pronghorn hair
Regards,
Scott
Scot, do we have Spruce Moths in the East? I know they happen in Montana because I tied a few for a trip one time. Great profiles on this flies.
Bruce,
A quick interweb search revealed that there is a spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, in the East, mostly in the northern tier of forests. Don’t know much else about them but they appear to have the potential to be just as destructive as their western counterparts.
Regards,
Scott
Spruce Moth Muddler III
Natural wing and hackled body.
hook - WFC Model 3 #12
thread - Danville 6/0 tan
rib - x-small wire copper
body - peacock herl bleached
hackle - golden badger
wing - hen pheasant
head - pronghorn hair
Regards,
Scott
Over the past couple years, I’ve hit the emergence at the right time twice, and got in on the shoulder season another; even when it wasn’t red-hot, it was still good.
The trees along this little blue line were full of them
And the fish were looking up
It’s the one emergence I really look forward to every summer; pick the right spot and there aren’t any crowds, the bugs are easy to see on the water and the fish get stupid. Can’t ask for much more than that.
Regards,
Scott