Coot Wings - Advice Needed

[tonyt]

I bought Mike Hardings book on North Country flies a couple of months back, a superb book and great reference.

Been tying spiders with mostly partridge, brahma and grizzly hen hackles. Although having trouble with the brahma twisting on me but that's another matter.

Bought some coot wings at the spring fly show was told they make a good sub for waterhen. Mikes book calls for the upperwing coverts to be used (coot and black spider). I was wondering when upperwing and underwing coverts are supposed to be used, does it make a difference?

Also any suggestions for uses of the other parts of the wing would be appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation
Tony

[ickypimp]

[tonyt]

Many thanks ickypimp

That's great.

[wingman]

Yes coot is a good sub for waterhen tonyt, The coot upperwing covert will probably have darker feathers than the under-coverts although I've never used coot personally, but if its to imitate a darker looking fly then go for the darker feathers although you could tie it useing the lighter coloured feathers as there's always some kind of hatch happening throughout the season where both could be used.

[ickypimp]

coot does tend to be gigger than water hen though...

[doonicus]

You can use the coot wing feathers for a darker version of "blae" as in the Blae and Black series of wets and dry fly. It can also be used to great effect on the Greenwell's Glory, again, wet and dry. Very useful for buzzer/ nymph casings. Also useful for split wing dry flies. Good winging material for the Haul y Gynt (Sun and Wind) as well.

Sam

[christy27]

I also bought the same book some months back and like you find it a good reference. What I have found very interesting reading the replies to this post, is how versatile and adaptable the more experienced tyers are. Coot wing feathers for Greenwells for example. I tend to follow the recipies exactly and nothing else will do. It is a mind set I must definately get out of.

Chris.

[tonyt]

Originally Posted by christy27

What I have found very interesting reading the replies to this post, is how versatile and adaptable the more experienced tyers are. Coot wing feathers for Greenwells for example. I tend to follow the recipies exactly and nothing else will do. It is a mind set I must definately get out of.

christy27, I agree entirely. The knowledge and experience on here is unprecedented, thanks for the info and guidance everyone.

[flytier07]

I think the key word in fly tying is "Versatility"-being able to substitue materials. After all many classic patterns call for materials that are now illegal to source yet fly tiers manage to substitute other materials for it.