Barr Emerger PMD

[stevekale]

Some of you may have seen me asking questions last week about PMDs, Pale Wateries and Small Spurwings after a chalk stream day with a large hatch I couldn't match.

I've now tied up a few of these in size 18 which hopefully will do the trick next time this happens:





The tail on this one is a little thick and I was lazy doing the thorax but it should still work. (The tail meant to be clipped.)

[stevekale]

And now its partner in crime, my attempt at a Barr Vis-a-Dun PMD in size 18. The hackle is clipped to a V under the shank.

[taff]

Very neat Steve,

Whats the thinking behind trimming the tails on the nymphs?

Cheers

paul

[stevekale]

No explanation is given by Barr in his book. The back half of the fly is intended to simulate the nymph/shuck while the front is the emerging dun (obviously). All variants listed by Barr have the tails clipped. It will obviously result in a stiffer tail but otherwise I have no idea. I'm tempted to ask Craven who did the SBS.

[Buzz]

Steve for what its worth my most successful PMD pattern this year has been a comparadun style fly (cdc as opposed to deer hair) on an Oliver Edwards K17 hook with a shuck of yellow zelon, i am at work so cannot post a picture.