Peacock herl PTN?

[fishyjames]

I have just decided to tye a PTN for practice and I decided to make the thorax out of 3 peacock herl strands, any views on this fly, I think I have seen one before but not sure. What do you think?



Thanks for looking and all the Best, James

[wobbly face]

No reason why it shouldn't work. Could be better with a more bronze colour peacock herl as to the green. Good effort.

[syphogenic]

Originally Posted by fishyjames

I have just decided to tye a PTN for practice and I decided to make the thorax out of 3 peacock herl strands, any views on this fly, I think I have seen one before but not sure. What do you think?



Thanks for looking and all the Best, James

You need more fibres for the thorax cover, and it looks like you snapped the fibres at the tail, line the tips up before tying in. It will catch fish. Keep going with it!

[fishyjames]

Originally Posted by syphogenic

You need more fibres for the thorax cover, and it looks like you snapped the fibres at the tail, line the tips up before tying in. It will catch fish. Keep going with it!

Thanks for the tips, I only started tying flies on Monday, so I am still picking up lot more information and I have a long way to go, will have another go tomorrow and see what you think then

As for the tail, I did line it up but it was too long, and I realised after I had finished tying the fly and so I regretted using the scissors

Thanks for the posts, and All the Best, James Gill

[syphogenic]

Originally Posted by fishyjames

Thanks for the tips, I only started tying flies on Monday, so I am still picking up lot more information and I have a long way to go, will have another go tomorrow and see what you think then

As for the tail, I did line it up but it was too long, and I realised after I had finished tying the fly and so I regretted using the scissors

Have a look at you tube davie mcphail...lots of information there for you...

[silver creek]

Originally Posted by fishyjames

As for the tail, I did line it up but it was too long, and I realised after I had finished tying the fly and so I regretted using the scissors

Since fly proportions are based on the hook, use the hook to determine the length of materials.

Measure the length of the tail fibers against the hook shank. The tail should be about the length of the shank. Measure and tie in at the bend.

The relative size of the thorax to the body is incorrect. For most mayfly nymphs the thorax and the body are about equal in length. You have made the body too long. Take a look at most mayfly nymphs and you will generally find this proportion. See the photos below:










The body should gradually get thicker from tail to thorax. Your body actually has a bit of a reverse taper, thick to thinner just before the thorax. The way to control thickness is to twist the fibers, the more tightly the fibers are twisted, the thicker the "rope" becomes. So you gradually add more twist as you tie to to get the tapered body.

The other way is is tie in the tail and form a tapered underbody with the thread. See the method that Charlie Craven uses in the tutorial below. Charlie is one of the premier fly tiers on this side of the pond. He has a book on fly tying that is considered one of the best in the USA.


Charlie's FlyBox - Colorado's Best FlyShop and online Fly Tying Tutorials

Take a look at the reviews for his book:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying: Modern Techniques for Flies That Catch Fish

Amazon.com: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying: Modern Techniques for Flies That Catch Fish (9780979346026): Charlie Craven: Books

Amazon.com: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying: Modern Techniques for Flies That Catch Fish (9780979346026): Charlie Craven: Books

[fishyjames]

Wow, tons of inforamtion here, thanks, will read this through again tonight and tye another, then see if there is an improvement.

Thanks and All the Best, James Gill

[maharg]

Originally Posted by fishyjames

As for the tail, I did line it up but it was too long, and I realised after I had finished tying the fly and so I regretted using the scissors

Bad lad, dont do it again or you will be sitting in the naughty corner.

[fishyjames]

Originally Posted by maharg

Bad lad, dont do it again or you will be sitting in the naughty corner.

This made me laugh, I will take great care to line up the tail next time, maybe a bigger hook will help, it is size 12, and I have read that bigger hooks are easier for beginners, maybe size 10?

[flytyingguy]

Aye, sz 10 B175s would be perfect, nice fly