BilletHead

Thanks Ronnie, When I get the lighter version done if its a success will run it by you.

Bummer Dutch!

Yes, pheasant rump would look good on it. I am thinking about trying to tie one making the bulk taper of the body with some foam to cut the weight down so it will ride higher in the water column.

-6 -12 I am ready for normal.

I have two thermometers in different outside locations. One says -5 and the other says -11. Could be worse I suppose.

Let's finish this nymph. After the trim job this is what it should look like and what I was going for. After trimming around the hook eye you might still have a mess. A small drop of head cement in my case some UV glue on the threads. Still some wild hairs around and in the hook eye? Heat up a needle or straight pin and insert into the hook eye singing them into oblivion. Don't touch the thread wraps on your good work will come undone. Because of the lead placement on the hook this will ride hook up. No problem less snagging on the bottom. Ham said this is a good imitation of a little sculpin too.

Now dubbing the thorax. Another dubbing loop. This time make a loop and wax one side. There will be no noodle this time spun in between the threads on the loop. Place little pinches of loose squirrel dubbing between the threads. Top to bottom of the loop. This will be messy and hair will fall off. Don't fret enough will be trapped between the threads, Yuck you say. Spin this mess up. Loose hair will go all over. Here is your loop now. Clean it up a bit with a tooth brush or Velcro. If you have it tight enough it will be just fine. Now wrap that up from back of throax to behind the eyes and around and over the eyes and catch off right behind the hook eye and whip finish. What a mess you have now:). Time for scissors work. Get right in there and give it a flattop, do the same for the bottom. Leave those sides! Trim the wild hairs off in front of the eyes shaping the head.

Again at the vice trying something. A dragonfly nymph. I had really good luck with nymphs like this especially in ponds after some warming. Fish are hungry and looking for a fat slow juicy treat. This fits the bill. Actually many big bass have been caught on the nymph. Here is what I came up with today. Hook 4X long #8 streamer hook. Olive 6/0 thread, some ribbing material. .25 lead wire and fox squirrel for dubbing. Bead chain or plastic eyes. Tie on eyes. I use bead chain. Run your thread to the back. Give yourself a little room for a little tail . Live ones don't have much of a tail but I add a small one for a little action. You can add tail now or do it later. Start lead right ahead of that point and wrap up to behind the eyes, then wrap on top of that back a little ways and break it off. Now take some pliers and smash the lead flat like this. Now some thread work. Cover lead work at each place that needs a smooth transition this will take a bit of time. If your thread balls up at the transition smash it flat with your pliers. If you want a rib on the abdomen tie that in now. Now to dub up the abdomen. At the back of the abdomen at the tail junction pull down a good amount of thread and wax it. We are going to make a tight noodle of mixed fox squirrel hair. The back of the squirrel only. When you get this tight noodle made make a dubbing loop with it. Spin this loop up to make it tighter. This nymph is going to be bomb proof. Now wrap up this loop forward trying to keep your body contour to right behind where you think the thorax starts. Catch it off there. Take your scissors and trim top, sides and bottom smooth. Wrap up your rib if you planned for that now and catch it off and cut off excess. More to come

Not a problem adding ten to Pat's and my fly's.

Good question, I'm not smart enough to answer that question. Before I had straight eye hooks I did some like that and still managed to catch fish. See if we can get a response from @fishinwrench.

Potential Snownado. Not to be confused with an icenado or thundersnow or the dreaded snowlightning strike.

I don't mind it once and awhile. Yes, there are better fish to eat. Variations of flavor depending on where you get you catch your fish. Pellet fed or pink to orange fish feeding in the wild. Other than fried smoked trout works. @gotmuddy smoked and pressure canned some trout that was good right out of the jar and better when he made a dip out of it. I know those fish came out of the white river where that fish food taste is going out of those trout as they revert to nature provided food. You did good @Johnsfolly it looks good to me. And remember it's not cooking it right it's not cooking it wrong, if you cook the most expensive cut of meat wrong, you can buy you can destroy it.

Keith, I really like size 4 hooks for most of my general purpose Clousers. Size way up for hybrid. As for other colors besides the ones you mentioned gray over white, chartreuse over orange or fire orange and one more of my personal favorites gray, yellow and white. I may be at the vice More today.

Three to four here. It can quit anytime by me.

I know where that is. Crap is going to hit the fan here in the wee hours of the morning and all day into tomorrow night.

Various places John. I just do a search on what I need and then compare prices. This is where I found the hooks I would like to try. While I ordered the hooks, I also ordered some Veevus thread. The stuff is strong for its size. I used 14/0 on the dries. Works well but wanted smaller. 16/0 is ordered and will give it a whirl. Trident Fly Fishing: Gear, Fly Rods, Reels + FREE Shipping over $49

Dang. This 20 is small enough for me Keith.

I ordered some 18 and 20 big eye dry fly hooks. Should help with tidying up the head and tying on the tippet.

Post your dry flies people, Just had to try. Broke the grizzly midge hackle twice before success. Size 20 buzzball. Orange hackle trimmed under grizzly hackle.

Thanks friends.

Canadians booed at our national anthem. Then fights and then we beat them . I watched the highlights is all.

Happens every winter in anticipation of spring and good things to come. Two dozen of our favorite colors. Do you think I can get them into the Clouser box?😁

Actually it was! It's hard to escape our past. I'm sure there are many on here that would not admit to such things. Might as well embrace it. 🙃

Did anybody watch and listen to the Saturday Night Live 50 years of music special last night? We enjoyed it. This is another program Pat, and I watched weekly and is less than three years older than our marriage. Back then there were just the major network shows to watch. Brought back memories of music Good, Bad and controversial. Tonight will be more SNL 50 years special on the show. More again of Good, Bad and controversial. We will be recording it but most likely watching it live. Just like last night watching so much talent being lost to drug and alcohol abuse. Many of these actors/comedians went on to stardom and many got cut off short. Last night the show was not sugar coated and hope tonight's will be the same.