Following Hans’ lead I thought this would be better in a separate thread.
The other day I mentioned using snowshoe hare in a dubbing loop to make wings. At the time I couldn’t find any photos so I’ve done some new ones. This is what the technique produces. A Dun (mayfly), an Emerger, and a Caddis. All have be made using the hair in a split thread, though you can use a dubbing loop if you prefer. Hope you like them. All of them “present” very well, landing gently, and usually the right way up.
Cheers,
A.
Well spotted Byron. They are but they are a unique colour. One Lawrence tried and didn’t like so I have the only grey ones.
Only a few errant hairs are trimmed. As you wind tease the fibres up and back with your other hand, Like you can when winding the hackle. It produces a big bunch of fibres on the top of the hook. I’ve a week off the day job next week so I’ll try to get a video made. Its one of those techniques that doesn’t come across well in photos when you have no one else to take them as you tie. I was shown the technique by Marc Petitjean for making wings of CdC. It works for many materials. Getting the wings to emerge from the sides of the thorax makes the fly float higher. His mayflies are some of the best I’ve fished with. Here is a photo of the results of winding and teasing the fibres up before trimming the odd fibres off. Its a larger fly using deer hair rather than snowshoe. [EDIT] The longer fibres at the back of the bunch are the ones I will pull through the bunch and tie down to split it.
Hook: Size 14 dry fly (I think this one came from Allen Fly Fishing), Use whatever size you think appropriate.
Thread: UTC 70 Rusty Brown.
Tail: Coq D’Leon Split with bright green floss.
Body: Tying thread.
Thorax Cover: Closed cell foam (It is great for splitting the wings to get them level. I’ve used pink for visibility).
Wing: Snowshoe Hare, using the same technique as above.
Hoping you like it. A much simpler pattern than it appears when written down.
Cheers,
A.
I’m liking it a lot. Thanks for the recipe and pic.
Regarding the foam, have you also tied this fly without it, so you have some of the snowshoe hare winging up top, for visibility when the fly is on the water ??
Making me wish there would be a PMD or BWO spinner fall this afternoon. :roll:
That, John I just can’t arrange, even when the hatch is due to happen! There is a way that Marc Petitjean uses on his when tying something similar with CdC. In place of the foam he uses floss. Before he ties the floss in he ties in a bunch of white CdC. Very small and short. This acts as a sighter when the fly is on the water. You can see this here on his web site
I liked this thread and the flies, bit I don’t have a good snowshoe foot that looks like the wings in the flies shown. Closest I have is some very old green-dyed polar bear. I used the long hairs for the tail and body, then used the next length for the wings, and the shortest for the wing case to separate the wings. A one-material fly that came out pretty cool. Should work well with white PB, but I have a feeling it won’t float naturally as well as snowshoe. I’ll have to order me a good snowshoe hare foot.
Looks like you got the idea. In another discussion elsewhere I was trying to explain the difference between learning technique and pattern. I was shown this technique for winging with CdC. Since then I have used it with all kinds of materials. Here’s mask, Deer hair (with slight modification) Squirrel body hair, Antron Yarn, and Snowshoe. Well done for giving the technique a go. Its a long time (10 years +) since I worked with Polar Bear, but from what I remember you may find it works better if you use it using my modified technique for deer hair.
The problem of working deer hair is that the thread doesn’t grip it well. Also, being a more robust fibre, splitting the thread isn’t a good option. So a dubbing loop is better. Then tease out some medium texture dubbing (Seal’s fur is too stiff, Superfine too fine) into a long thin mat. Place this into the dubbing loop with the deer hair, like this.
Then when you spin it up it grip the deer hair (or in your case Polar Bear hair) and stop the twist throwing the material all over the floor. This does happen once in a while, it is embracing when it happens in a demonstration. I now do it deliberately, for the laugh, and to show the problem.
I’m sure Marc will not approve of this thread! He tends to keep his techniques close to his chest. I’ve known people pick his flies apart to try to work out how they are put together. He wanted to learn how a magic trick with two rubber bands, I think I got the better half of the deal! He now knows it is a mistake to do any new technique when I’m watching, even once. As a boy my father always taught me “never have to be shown a job twice”. It has served me well.
This week I’ll try to get a video of this technique shot. I have step by step photos for the deer hair version. It could make a Fly of the Week submission. Here is the SbS on a UK site.
