The soft hackle. In my case, it usually has a brown body. This is the first fly I'm always reaching for. Get it over a fish, and there's just something that they can't pass up.
The ones here consist of a dubbing blend abdomen and thorax, ribbed tightly with brown thread that is invisible, but adds shape, segmentation, and durability. Four different soft hackles, tied in tip rearward and flared in front of the fuzzy thorax.
Its fast! Tie in the Z-lon shuck, dub the body rearward, wrap the thread forward through the dubbing, flare in a hackle tip, and done. Assorted sizes of this thing can cover the whole season of mayflies and caddis. 18's and 20's for baetis and midges. 14's and 16's for Mahoganies, March Browns, and PMDs. A size 10 or 12 for the drake afternoons and evenings. It's the best emerging caddis I've ever used.
Its the swiss army knife of flies. I dead drift it on top, or in the film. Its always alive, yet vulnerable. There's a reason it has flourished for centuries.
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| Hackle consisting of partridge, CDC, pheasant rump, and hen neck. The possibilities are endless. |
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| Dubbing blend of spikey squirrel with a touch of flash. It has a close resemblance to hares mask. |
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| CDC |
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| Partridge |
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| Pheasant rump |
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| Hen neck. Sloppy and fishy. |
