Magpie herl for small dries?

[la_jolla1]

Was experimenting with a magpie tail (liked the subdues green iridescence) and tied a few small 16-18 dries on Tiemco 100BL hooks

Tail and hackle: Blue dun
Abdomen: Magpie tail herl
Rib: small copper wire

Has anyone used magpie herl on dries or is this just (in the words of M. Python), very, very silly?

[shpeil]

Good idea. I can see that working. A bit like a shorter flue'd version of peacock herl.

[flyfishwithme]

I love the use of heel in bodies. Especially as it gives bodies what I think is the right amount of life.
I now tie most of my dry flies with the use of that material.
I have also use Magpie but the best beyond doubt is Heron (a pick up while out fishing). I also use Rhea which has similar properties to Heron but is a light fawn colour.
Condor is also excellent but difficult to get. A substitute isn't quite the same.
I think this style of tying is largely unexplored as you see few patterns around.
Another think I like to do is to vary the colour of the thread and 'twist' two heels together and then open wind down the hook.
I get a lovely segmented lifelike look.
Here is an example from my parachute 'Kite'.

I have also use the flight feather of a Macaw Parrot to develop a Yellow May Spider:

This spider uses Rhea:

A Rhea:

So keep up the experiments and post them as I am interested and I am sure others would be too.

[jindra]

Herl is a great material, and I agree it does not get the respect it deserves. Herl bodies are not as sturdy as dubbed ones; this can be helped by ribbing.

I have tried the Magpie tail feather also, but I was disappointed - the herl is very fine, extremely fragile and short. Usable only for the tiniest midges. For bigger size flies I get better results from ordinary pheasant tail, dyed black.

J.

[clydestyle]

Used 2 strands of magpie herl for the ribbing on this Wee Black Doctor Spider
the effect comes into its own when wet

[la_jolla1]

Originally Posted by jindra

I have tried the Magpie tail feather also, but I was disappointed - the herl is very fine, extremely fragile and short. Usable only for the tiniest midges. For bigger size flies I get better results from ordinary pheasant tail, dyed black.

J.

Hi Jindra:
What do you mean by the tiniest of midges?

Clydestyle and flyfishwithme - thanks for the good ideas especially about the spiders

Shpeil: thanks for the feedback

Best

Hugh