Griffiths Gnat

[Spider]

As this was by a long walk my most successful dry pattern last season, have been tying up lots of them, mainly in size 16 + 18.

However, I have noticed that they arent that "black" , and they are supposed to represent little black things .....

I had a few small hackles last year which gave a blacker pattern but they are used up now .... and I know Ollie Edwards likes to use a cape with lots of black colouring close together .....so is this a big deal , no ?

Alternatively, has anyone tried using a black hackle with the same peacock herl underneath ?

Or is this a daft question?

(Yes, probably )

I dont know where i got the half cape from - its probably fine , but the floes dont look too black to me, even if the bottle green herl underneath looks v good.......

[Scratch]

I've used black plenty of times Spider.... works well on rivers and still. I never bothered with peacock herl on any of my Griff's though.... for my money, the deal is done with the dimpling effect as viewed from underneath by the fish. Colour, and the peacock, is by and large, irrelevant...... I think

[North Country Angler]

I agree. The fly stands on the tippy toes of its dense hackle which gives the impression of a confusion of legs and appendages in the way it dimples the surface film. Deadly!

[Spider]

Funny that , but I found it worked best when it sat right down in the surface film and the fish kind of kissed it down ?

Also, some recommend chopping away the hackle underneath .

Any thoughts ?

[tack4]

Originally Posted by Scratch

I've used black plenty of times Spider.... works well on rivers and still. I never bothered with peacock herl on any of my Griff's though.... for my money, the deal is done with the dimpling effect as viewed from underneath by the fish. Colour, and the peacock, is by and large, irrelevant...... I think

hmm i was taught to always use peacock herl and a tip of spinning the herl and hackle (light coloured) together before winding from bend towards eye.


any chance of a scratchesque photo of one of yer Gnats m8

[Spider]

Tack4, one of mine is on this site . I'll bump it up for you. Not sure which cape i used on this - probably the end of the darker sample I had. The Griffiths is the last one, below the nymphs. If u can try tying the Hends nymph - I was very impressed with its maiden season results last year ! Probably outfished both my sparkly PTNs and Hares Ears....I'll bump it now for u if i can trace it.

[treecatcher]

Apologies for hi-jacking the thread but which hackle are supposed to use for tying the Griffith's Gnat?

I'm new to this game and have just tied some with trimmed down Red Game short cock hackles. They look alright but not much like a Griffith's in colour.

I think I should be using grizzled cock hackle, is that right and does anyone know where to get one at a reasonable price?

[jonathan27]

Originally Posted by Spider

Funny that , but I found it worked best when it sat right down in the surface film and the fish kind of kissed it down ?

Also, some recommend chopping away the hackle underneath .

Any thoughts ?

If you trim the underside of the hackle and then the top as well you can turn it into a 'supa pupa' for emerging sedge

Id have thought that using a different hackle would be for you sighting only as all black against a white reflection would stand out well and conversely a white hackle would stand out well against a dark surface depending on how the light falls.

Jonathan

[shuck raider]

Originally Posted by treecatcher

I think I should be using grizzled cock hackle, is that right and does anyone know where to get one at a reasonable price?

You are quite correct, the pattern calls for b/w short-fibred grizzle. Sure, you can tie it with other coloured hackles and catch well on that - but then it isn't a Griffiths Gnat. You can add a few strands of Pearl Twinkle as a tail and then you have a Sparkle Gnat.

In 16/18 or smaller, like Scratch I also omit the peacock herl

[treecatcher]

Thanks Shuck Raider, do you have any idea where I can get some b/w short hackles from at a reasonable cost. All I've found so far is grizzled capes at £25 to 35 a pop, which is a lot more than I'll need or want to spend.