DB advice please

[bobblaikie]

after spending the last few months tying buzzers i am now reasonably pleased with my tyings so i have decided to go with something slightly different.

Diawl Bachs. here is one of my, better, first few efforts...



im planning on tying a load more, different colours, sizes etc and have a few questions before i start tying like a mad man.

this is tied on a size 12. do you think the ribbing is to wide/narrow?

is the tail and throat hackle to long/short?

im using 3 peacock herl on the body. is that to many?

any other advice would be much appreciated.

thanks in advance,

Bob

[Scratch]

I can't see the pic at the moment (filtered out on works computer) Bob, so I can't comment on the proportions etc, but three peacock herl sounds too many. I only ever use one, and sometimes even rub most of the herl off that... keep 'em skinny

[twiddling]

Ditto above keep them skinny work that way for me anyway

[3lbgrayling]

Youv'e sussed it out pretty well.tail/beard just a bit long,rib OK, but would work a bit better. thinner.Try 2 hearls and see if you like it better. I like mines with just 1.Head could be a bit smaller, try 4-6 turns.

Jim

[bobblaikie]

thanks for the quick replies guys

ill give them a go with less peacock herl and ill shorten the beard and tail.

ill be tying a few more tomorrow night. pictures will follow.

thanks again,

Bob

[marks]

Bob,
another vote for one herl, and use sparse material or (as I do) varnish before you spin the herl on, then smooth the fibre before you rib the fly.

I like my beards a lot tighter to the fly body that the accepted norm. Don't be afraid to use a curved hook like a B110. I don't have a picture of one but red holo rib and black tail/beard, mint fly.



On the far left may be a B110.






Thing is with DB, experiment and de-bulk..
Mark

[bobblaikie]

thanks marks. nice flies

when you say varnish before winding the herl do you mean the herl its self or the bed of thread i am laying it onto?

cheers,

bob

[Shamus]

Originally Posted by bobblaikie

thanks marks. nice flies

when you say varnish before winding the herl do you mean the herl its self or the bed of thread i am laying it onto?

cheers,

bob

I find the underside of the bed of thread you mention, should suffice. Even try twisting the herl around the thread before running both back up to the eye.

I'm no expert and really I'm content with just a rib of some description. Subtle or flashy, fine, medium....to match what ever I'm trying to achieve, poorly.

[marks]

Originally Posted by bobblaikie

when you say varnish before winding the herl do you mean the herl its self or the bed of thread i am laying it onto?

The thread under body.

[bobblaikie]

thanks Shamus and Mark. i will try both of these

theres more to Diawl Bachs than i first thought best get practising

Bob