Casual Dress Variant
Hook: Partridge BIN #10
Thread: Sparton 6/0, black
Tail: Muskrat
Body: Muskrat underfur
Collar: Muskrat - in split thread
Head: Wool, black - in split thread
Video here - please view in HD, if able:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRhmqHOaaZI
Cheers,
Hans W
Why did I ever stop using this fly? Its one (in the original version) that I have always done well on, but for some reason I haven’t fished one in over 10 years. Time to put that right me thinks. Like your variation Hans, makes sense. Don’t think I have any black wool so mine will have either black Antron or seal’s fur at the head. Also a little weight added. Hmm off to the vice.
Thanks Hans, good to see your production standards are as good as ever.
Now where’s my muskrat? (Recently I got a couple of pine squirrel skins, further variations may be made)
Cheers,
A.
Great looking fly. Not quite as pretty as your soft hackles, but it really looks fishy to me. Thanks for sharing yet another terrific pattern.
Jim Smith
Jim,
chuckle
I know Polly would kick me if I ever tied one of his patterns to look “pretty” - I know he much preferred the “fishy” description.
Controlled Chaos… 
Cheers,
Hans W
Hans,
I knew this pattern looked very familiar and I’m glad you mentioned ‘Polly’. Always been a fly for fishing. Gives great impresion of many insects.
Allan
that is a great pattern, our local sm bass luv it for some reason. I got some nice black angora rabbit that should work nicely on this variation.
Mike
Hans
Nicely done. I was fortunate to fish with Polly a number of times back in the '70s and sold him a number of mallard skins. I also tied with him a number of times and watched what he did with his dubbing noodle, the real reason for his personal “scruffy” nymphs.
I wonder though why you apply the wool in a seperate split thread operation without combining the muskrat collar with the black wool, fore and aft in the same split thread?
art
Art,
If I were doing a set I would have the proportions down pat and do in one ‘split’ as you also suggest. For doing a one-off for the video shoot it was safer to do it in stages and not end up crowding it
Cheers,
Hans W
Hans,
Just a general question about splitting the thread. I just tyed this pattern and, for the first time, tried splitting the thread. I went so far as to sharpen an already sharp needle thinking it would get between the thread fibers more easily. Anyway, my question is: Are there any tricks to doing that or is it just a lot of practice and good eyesight? Oh, I was using a flat 6/0 thread.
Cheers,
Allan
Allan- do you further flatten the thread over your thumbnail? Helps me a lot. Also… what kind of thread are you using? Some “flat” threads are a bear to split. Here in the Colonies I find Flymaster to be by far the easiest to split.
Chuck
Allan,
Keep the needle perpendicular to the flattened section.
Keep the pad of your index finger close to the hook shank.
You may find it easier to press the point through the flattened thread where it is draped over the pad, as opposed to the in-air section.
Keep trying - once mastered it soon becomes an invaluable technique.
Cheers,
Hans W
Since I have no muskrat I believe I will try tying this with some Red Heart Symphony yarn. When I first saw the picture I thought it was tied with a leech type yarn. This looks like a wonderful generic type pattern that would lend itself to multiple color variations as well as materials.
Thanks, Hans.
I’ve seen other variations of this pattern using hare’s ear & squirrel and possum & squirrel too.
Mike
Sure. It is, however, worth getting a piece of muskrat pelt. The spikey guard hairs add something to the pattern.
When I first saw the picture I thought it was tied with a leech type yarn. This looks like a wonderful generic type pattern that would lend itself to multiple color variations as well as materials.
The muskrat underfur is very fine, very soft and quite long staple. It brushes out very nicely, as can be seen in the picture.
It very much is a generic pattern, in the same way as, say, Jack Gartside’s Sparrow is. Both can be made to imitate many food items indeed.
Cheers,
Hans W
There are a few really good Ebay sellers that sell complete muskrat soft tanned pelts for about $35-$40 if you want to get a life time supply 
Great for making up some zonker strips too.
MIke
Anyone interested in furs /hair for tying:
www.hideandfur.com
I recently added a full skin of muskrat and one of chinchilla.
No vested interest in this Co, just a very satisfied customer.
Denny