Tiny Tweaks...

[Scratch]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new wand... on medicinal grounds, you understand. A lovley 'Loch-Style' tool... 11' #6. Although it's not exactly an everyday 'go to' rod, it represents, to me at least, the reasons why I fish. It epitomises the true spirit of loch stlye fly fishing - long lazy days of short lazy casts, with lines that operate in the top foot or two of water, and flies that link us to a simpler 'truth', and a glorious past with their mystical, magical names, and alchemic mixes of fur and feather - the job that this rod was designed to do. Truth to tell, a rod of similar length (RPL 11'3" #6) was for many years my 'go to' tool; but that was before I discovered the murky and multi-faceted world of competition fishing, and long before my elbow started to express its dissatisfaction at being subjected to 11' 3" worth of leverage on a daily basis. Elbows apart, broader horizons and a larger assortment of rods, slowly but surely consigned the RPL to the (very long) rod tube for all but those very special days of the season which just scream classic loch style. The RPL isn't getting any younger though, and neither is my elbow - hence the purchase. Three inches will make all the difference.. honest guv.

Anyway, the first session with the new wand drew a blank. Sadly, the action was all down below and out of sight. I caught fish though, eventually, but on a 10' #7 poker with a Di3, and a 'Rolling Polish' retrieve Next time it will be different. I'll fish the eleven footer all day, and catch something with it if it kills me, or my elbow drops off - whichever comes first.

So, what's all this got to do with fly tying? Not alot, so here's the short list of flies that will probably adorn my leader in some or other arrangement whilst I drift around Stocks reservoir next week, with nothing but pure enjoyment and relaxation on my mind... and these tiny tweaks on my cast...

Tiny Tweak 1 - The Butcher

I'm not a great fan of bare tinsel bodies... can't put my finger on the reason why, I guess they just seem, well, bare! That's fine for the tail or middle dropper positions, but I just feel a bare body limits top dropper opportunities somewhat - hence the addition of a Grizzle hen hackle to give the Butcher a wee shot in the arm. I went for Grizzle, to try and emphasize the buzzer-ish aspect to this classic fly, and give me a bit more confidence fishing it higher in the water.

Butcher Variant

Hook: B175 sizes 10,12,14
Tail: Red feather from a kids party pack - use Ibis if you can't get any kids stuff.
Rib: Silver wire or oval
Body: Flat silver
Body Hackle: Grizzle hen
Wing: Mallard 'Blue'
Head Hackle: Black Hen

Tiny Tweak 2 - Black Pennel

Pearl Arsed Pennell

Hook: B175 sizes 10,12,14
Butt: Opal Mirage
Tail: GP Tippets dyed 'Orkney Peach' (Artifly)
Rib: Silver wire or oval
Body: Black Seals fur
Body Hackle: Black hen

A couple of tweaks this time - seals fur and a body hackle - again to bulk the pattern up slightly and make it more suited to top dropper work, and again to emphasize the buzzer-ish qualities, especially hatching buzzers. The Mirage butt was thrown in for good measure to suggest a gassy shuck. Not that the Black Pennell needs any help from me you understand.. it's been fooling trout into thinking it's a buzzer for a hundred years or so, without my help. Mr Cholmondeley Pennell though, as far as I'm aware, didn't have Opal Mirage in his kit!

Tiny Tweak 3 - Kate McLaren

Furnace Kate

Hook: B175 sizes 10,12,14
Butt:Flat Silver
Tail: GP Topping
Rib: Oval silver, or wire
Body: Seals fur mix - Black and darkest brown
Hackles:Furnace hen

I think I've shown this one before, but included it here again due to a new photo (below) which I think nicely demonstrates both the virtues of mixing your seals fur bodies, and the wonders of transmitted light. Under reflected light (fly in your hand, or in the fly box etc) the 'darkest brown' appears, to all intents and purposes, black; but look closely at the body mix in the photo (with back lighting) and you'll easily be able to pick out the two seals fur colours used. Viewed as transmitted light, the 'darkest brown' glows a bloody brown/red. The black, as they say, is black.

Tiny Tweak 4 - Alexandra

Once banned, due its alleged fish-fooling powers, the Alexandra seems to me to be another of those 'marmite' flies. Personally, I love it - it has minnow/stickleback written all over it. To be hoest though, it's kinda fallen off the radar for me in recent years, so this is just a wee exercise in reviving my interest. Again, the bare tinsel body gets the hen hackle treatment, to provide a little more movement and to break up the solid flash of silver.

Alexandra Variant

Hook: B175 sizes 10,12,14
Tail: Red feather from a kids party pack
Rib: Silver wire
Body: Flat silver
Body hackle: Black hen
Wing: Peacock Sword
Slips: As tail

[shuck raider]

Interesting variations there, I particularly like the Butcher. I used to employ this pattern as a top dropper fly but it didn't create enough 'wake' for my liking and lately have used it as a point pattern. With the addition of a palmered hackle, I'll certainly experiment with it on the loughs next season.

Re the Pearl Arsed Pennell, I think the little bit of flash could make a difference to the attractiveness of what you rightly say is an already proven killer.

Without the pearly, the pattern is known here in ireland as a Briggs' Pennell developed some years ago by a Dr. Francis Briggs from Sussex for use in larger sizes (8s) as dropper pattern for grilse on the River Erriff, where I have used it with great success.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by shuck raider

Interesting variations there.....
Without the pearly, the pattern is known here in ireland as a Briggs' Pennell developed some years ago by a Dr. Francis Briggs from Sussex for use in larger sizes (8s) as dropper pattern for grilse on the River Erriff, where I have used it with great success.

Thanks for that S.R. I'm sure most of these tweaks have been added to the classics long before I began tweaking in earnest - some of the tweaks, as you say, even have names. The orginals though, still do more than their fair share of damage, and I still keep a couple of rows in my fly box for the unadulterated originals.

[mancfly]

Very nice tweaks there Scratch! Must have a go meself, the Cinnamon and Gold seems a likely candidate!

[Wee Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Scratch

Once banned, due its alleged fish-fooling powers, the Alexandra seems to me to be another of those 'marmite' flies.

Funny how one successfull session with a particular pattern can change the way you see it.For me the Alexandra was never a favourite.......the red and green thing,they dont look nice together do they....? The texture of the peacock sword didnt seem to lend itself to producing a nice wing either..?
It was a fly that untill very recently, wore a cloak of invisibility in my flybox for decades.I finally gave it a trial merely on the whim that my target trout were possibly feeding on small fish.
The Alexandra accounted for two thirds of the total catch and was an instant hit as soon as it was put on the cast.

Very probably a one off but.... I wont be so slow in giving it another chance in future.
It does look nice with the palmer down the body Rob.......I know exactly what you mean about the tinsel bodies looking 'bare' without one.
I think JC cheeks set it off nice ,as do strips of red holo rather than the ibis slips....

[darwin]

Very nicely tied and photographed, but that's to be expected. I really like your tweaks to the Butcher and the Alexandria. While I like the look of the traditional versions, I have never warmed up to the bare cold metal bodies. That part always seems strange to me, but then again I have landed thousands of red fish and speckled trout on a silver spoon. Go figure... I think your tweaks most definitely warmed up the originals and made them look much more natural to my eyes, and yes I will "borrow" your ideas at some point.
I tied a black claret Pennell variant some time back again borrowing the bushy styles I have learned for you guys and I really like it, will see next month if the fish agree. Thanks for all of this, greatly enjoyed and appreciated.

[darwin]

Originally Posted by Wee Jimmy

Alexandra was never a favourite.......the red and green thing,they dont look nice together do they....?

Jimmy,
The first time I saw the Alexandra I thought it was done as a Christmas time laugh for the fly fishermen. Shortly after that I read a bit of history on the fly and was knocked off my bar stool I still don't fully get it, but I am OK with that for now...

[HOOK]

Hi Scratch, I like your Pearl Arsed Pennell and your Katie is my favorite very impressed with your tweaks.

Robbie

[Wee Jimmy]

Originally Posted by darwin

Jimmy,
I still don't fully get it, but I am OK with that for now...

Aye man....generally I'm in the "if I don't like the look of it,I won't fish it" camp.It could be the most successfull pattern in history for others but it has to pass that simple criteria before I give it a swim.
Like I said though,its funny how a bit of success can change your opinion of a pattern.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by HOOK

I like your Pearl Arsed Pennell and your Katie is my favorite very impressed with your tweaks.

Glad you like'm Robbie There's a couple in me box for ya. Just don't let me go reaching for the 'reservoir nasties' and my Di3 on Tuesday if the fish aren't liking me teaks

Thanks for the kind comments and feedback chaps