Hairy Grub

Spring is definitely in the air - yesterday while walking in the park I found this years first Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis L.) which made me think of spring and the opening of the 2012 fly fishing season.

I greatly desire it to be a season full of dainty mayflies, meaty caddis flies and helicopter-like Danicas.

But my realistic side tells me that the very early season will not be a dry fly affair. So I sat down to tie a half dozen weighted hairy grubs, using highly mobile hare's fur and adding a tag of hot pink in an attempt to increase their allure to Grayling.

The tie:
#12 Skalka Gammarus hook
3.3 mm Gold Tungsten bead
a layer of flat lead
tag of Hot Pink UNI Neon Floss
body of hare fur, dubbed lightly and then vigorously scrubbed with a velcro brush
rib of pearl UNI Micro Tinsel

Ode on a Hare's Pelt

Oh, Hares Fur, how can I use thee?
Let me count the ways...

The Hare fur has long been my favorite material, with only CDC Feathers coming close to its versatility. But unlike the CDC feathers which - wonderful as they are - are just one kind of a material, the Hare fur comes with several different types of hairs, all having their places in a fly tiers arsenal.

The dark and spikey hairs on the back of the hare are extremely scruffy, excellent material for a nymph body. This is the premium material on the hare, greatly desired by Czech fly tiers. Each hunting season I am able to bum at least one hare pelt from my hunting friends in exchange for a Ziploc bag of processed dubbing of this type.

The longer and lighter hairs on a hares's flanks are finer and much more mobile. Very good for larger patterns, such as this #8 Peeping Caddis.

The underfur of the hare is very fine and easy to dub into a tight rope. On the abdomen of this CZ Nymph it is seen in its natural greyish color, but it takes dye very easily and the range of its use on both wet and dry flies is limitless. Note the difference of the structure of the abdomen and the "legs" made from hair from the back of the very same pelt as the abdomen (the hot spot is rabbit fur).

Update: a very interesting article on the use of Hare can be found on blog pages of my UK based friend Alun Rees.

Heron Goldies

Some simple goldhead nymphs, not particularly fancy but they seem to have the catchy look. Fingers crossed they confirm my expectations in real action.

The tie:
#12 Hanák H260 short shank hook
3.3 mm Tungsten beadhead
a couple reddish brown rooster hackle fibers
fluo green floss thread by Tommi fly
Heron herl body
scruffy hare thorax

Pink!

Tying pink mayflies to cheer up the arctic winter...

The tie:
#14 Dohiku 301 hook
8/0 UNI thread pink
Coq de León tails
pink Gütermann sewing thread
two pink CDC feathers spun in loop

Silk Thread Buzzer

A simple fly using two colors of the Gütermann silk thread - two olive threads and a single black tied side by side and then wound using the rotary feature of my vice. Otherwise plain vanilla buzzer.

The tie:
#10 stillwater hook
2 threads of olive 1 thread of black silk thread
TMC Aero Dry Wing, tied cross wise for breathers
Black Australian Opossum dubbing for thorax