Octopus Front hackle

[Fishtec Tackle]

What is the correct feather for the Octopus front hackle?


Kieron

[troutheaven]

Originally Posted by kjenkins

What is the correct feather for the Octopus front hackle?


Kieron

The yellow-ish rump feather from a golden pheasant. Of course, that is only correct if you are talking about the Melvin Octopus. The original Octopus had a red flank feather from a golden pheasant for a head hackle.

[Fishtec Tackle]

hi Stan,

Thanks for the reply! There's been some confusion in the clubhouse so i thought i'd clear things up

Cheers, Kieron

[The Blue Licer]

Does that mean I have been tying them wrong. I use the red behind the wellow ish ?

[troutheaven]

Originally Posted by The Blue Licer

Does that mean I have been tying them wrong. I use the red behind the wellow ish ?

Yea............ and no. If you want to call it a Melvin Octopus, do without the red. If you want to call it a variant (and by all means feel free) tie in anything that pleases you.

[The Blue Licer]

Thanks for that Stan, good point well made.
Though, in truth, it still leaves me a bit confused. In 2005 I was tying flies for the England Ladies team on Mask. I was given a 'Melvin Octopus' by a well known Irish angler/tyer. I copied said fly and the ladies used it to win gold and yes, it had the red behind the yellow though only two turns.
If it was a variant then that is fine with me, and I will tie them accordingly in future but it is still a fabulous fly on a lot of Irish waters as well as waters nearer to where you are.

[troutheaven]

Originally Posted by The Blue Licer

In 2005 I was tying flies for the England Ladies team on Mask. I was given a 'Melvin Octopus' by a well known Irish angler/tyer. I copied said fly and the ladies used it to win gold and yes, it had the red behind the yellow though only two turns.

The fly tying scene in Ireland is so f*cked up I don't believe 1 in 10 know the real dressing.

[irishflies]

The front hackle is the romp feather from the golden pheasant body skin.
There are a lot of variations of this pattern but the above does serve well.

[The Blue Licer]

Nice ties, Irishflies. Mine must be a variant but catches a lot of fish every year and on lots of waters. It's a shame really because my customers are going to have to have at least two versions now.
For you Stan, it's 25 years since we had a drink together, well quite a few actually, I recall Charlie Jardine was with us when the Irish Tourist board were plying us with Irish Single Malt. Still I am sure we have both tangled with more than a few 'octopusses' since then but hope we bump into each other again. I do not get up as far as your neck of the woods but who knows. Pearl Invicta may give you a clue.

[seanie]

Originally Posted by irishflies

The front hackle is the romp feather from the golden pheasant body skin.
There are a lot of variations of this pattern but the above does serve well.

They are cracking flies Trevor.

It really shows how f*cked up the Irish tying scene really is