Gordon Fraser - Blended Fur

[Cumbrian]

I have been re-reading "Mastering the Nymph" by Gordon Fraser this week and I am seeking clarification regarding his BP series of flies.

BP (blended fur and polypropylene)
- a blend of stippled hare fur and seal (for the body with a polypropylene rib I assume)

Can anyone expand further on the brief description given in the book for the blended fur?

What would you use for the polypropylene rib?

The daft thing is, I had a flybox full of his nymphs many years ago but disposed of them when family commitments ended my initial foray into flyfishing.

The flies in the book, by comparison with more modern flies, appear to be a very simple collection (some may even say crude). Apart from the original Fraser Nymph (bought recently from Fulling Mill I think) I don't use any of his patterns now, I wonder how effective they would be today?


Thanks

[zonnkers]

I still use Gordon's patterns , the Fraser Nymph is still my standby when I am lucky enough to fish during a hatch of Pond/Lake Olives(never could tell the 2 apart)

As for the Blended fur I use 50/% Hare back fur and 50% Natural seals fur with maybe a pinch of bright Red Seals fur, this is used on most of my "Hares ear" nymphs and dries , I find the proper Hares ear fur to short and end up with most of it on the bench and not in the dubbing.

Have you tried Gordons only Lure type pattern? the Baddow Special

Dick

[arkle]

The "Baddow Special" was invented by members of Hanningfield Res. in the early 1970's who lived in Great Baddow, Chelmsford. The only name I remember in connection with that pattern was John Poole.

I tied many 100"s of them for the only tackle shop in Great Baddow, called "Ronnie Crowe's". I also tied them for 2 other tackle shops in Chelmsford up until 1974 when I moved to Bristol.

It was not a lure, but a stickfly pattern.