Give em something different (No pictures though)

[flyfishwithme]

Now it is grayling time, how many of us remember some of the old favourites like the Red Tag, Treacle Parkin or even a Sturdy's Special. These flies appear to have gone out of favour and only grace the fly boxes of some stalwarts like me.
As you can see from the title, I haven't been specific about the pattern, so let me give you a little secret. I keep a bunch of size 18 Red Tag's in my fly box for that occasion where I need to 'give em something different'.
Just recently I had the chance to do a personal swap with another member of the forum. We agreed on 15 patterns that were our favourites. Among the patterns I selected was the 'Red Tag'.
Now in Oz, this fly graces everyone's fly box is various sizes. You see, it represents a lot of the terrestrial insects that trout feed on down under. Anglers have them in a range of sizes and in Tasmania they rank as the number one fly during the summer months and are used with great success when presented to cruising trout around the margins.
I used to tie thousand's of these commercially years ago and I learnt from Australia's first full time guide who used to get his clients to tie on a Red Tag during a heavy mayfly hatch. "Give em something different" he used to say and fish after fish would fall prey to a size 12 Red Tag. I know because I 'plucked' his roosters when I fished with him.
Back to the swap. Our fellow member went out very recently and caught 18 Grayling on the fly.
So fellow fly tiers and grayling fishermen, try tying and using a Red Tag over the next month while the fish are still feeding on the surface.
My tie for this is:
Hook: Tiemco 103BL 17
Thread: Black Uni 8/0
Butt: 3 turns of gold tinsel around the bend
Tag: 8 strands of red Danvilles Floss (I think it is more effective than wool)
Body: A single peacock hurl tied so that a fat looking body is produced. (Now I differ on tradition here. I tie it in on the butt end as I can get better control and a fuller body. Mind you, it has to be facing the right way to get the correct effect)
Hackle: Genetic Hen Brown/Red Hackle. (I use these in preference to a genetic cock as the fibres are too stiff for my liking).
There you go. Return to tradition and 'give em something different'. You may be very surprised.

[jdl]

Steve Cheetham and Roger Beck did a nice article about Sturdy's Fancy in the Yorkshire Post: http://www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk/yo...005.htm#Sturdy. Another top fly

jdl

[ickypimp]

Spot on Phil, i snatched a couple of hours on Wednesday afternoon, i fished with a redtag varient which had a hot pink tag, tied with a red hen hackle, i like the mobility it gives the fly, tied on a size 14 captain Hamilton dry hook...

in the few hours i fished i had 7 grayling between 1 and 1.5 pounds and a handful of small salmon and trout parr...

i have just bought some cream capes to try the sturdys fancy... maybe sunday

[Mrtrout]

Yes very good fly as you say Phil.
I always find the ones you give me work better than the ones I tie though.
Never understood that.

[Buzz]

I was that swapper. and cynic
Nothing as unpresbyterian normally graces the hollowed buzz box but OMG it works. FFS its got a hackle and a bright red tail
Its brings them up from nowhere, both Trout and Grayling.
As a hard core CDC man i never fish with traditional thoraxed hackled flies (albeit i do with parachutes)so that in itself was a departure from the norm.
I guess what i am trying to do here is endorse Phil's philosophy.
He taut this old dog a new trick and i am eternally grateful for it.
We all know the fly the red tag but how many of us actually fish it?
Once again thanks Phil.

Edited to add photo and say like Steven my home tied ones are not as effective as Phil's (hint,hint,hint!)


The money shot

[jdl]

Wow! Awesome photo!

jdl