Griffith's Gnat - How Do You Like It Dressed?

[Steve Walker]

I've seen this pattern recommended as a flybox essential, so I thought I would have a go. I knocked off three, but wasn't really sure about the proportions - do you dress them sparse or bushy, with the body slim or plump? Also, are you happy without any rib? Do they hold together? I ribbed the first two with nylon mono, but the third one without any rib (top right) looks better to my eyes - might just be because I deliberately made the hackle sparser on that one.



Sparser? Bushier? Plumper? Skinnier?

[lvlacleod]

This was mine for the dry fly swap, 6th picture down. On a size 16 hook and how I always tie them.

Dry River Flies Swap

[falsecast]

They look good Steve. You can tie the hackle in at the eye of the fly and run it down then rib it with the thread down to the bend and back again before tying off

[stevekale]

no rib needed. Make your head about 1/4 of its present size - no more than an eye length.

[Steve Walker]

Originally Posted by lvlacleod

This was mine for the dry fly swap, 6th picture down. On a size 16 hook and how I always tie them.

Dry River Flies Swap

So, perhaps a longer hackle, fatter body and maybe a shorter shanked hook?

---------- Post added at 09:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by stevekale

no rib needed. Make your head about 1/4 of its present size - no more than an eye length.

Thanks - I usually make the opposite mistake and don't leave enough space for the head, so perhaps a bit too cautious with these!

[Steve Walker]

Originally Posted by falsecast

You can tie the hackle in at the eye of the fly and run it down then rib it with the thread down to the bend and back again before tying off

I did wonder about that - all I did was to tie a bit of fine mono in at the bend with the hackle and the peacock herl. It seemed to me that without some sort of rib a bit of abrasion from teeth on the quill of the hackle and the whole thing would come unwrapped, but the definitive pattern doesn't use it and people say that it doesn't need it.

[Tommy Ruffe]

The Griffiths Gnat has become my fail-safe fly over the past few seasons and wouldn't leave home without one. On our particular water I've found size 20's to be the most useful.

I buy mine from John Norris as it's a bit of a strain on the eyes tying the small stuff these days.

I find though that, after two or three trout, they do get damaged and, if I were to tie them myself, I would include a rib.

Your flies look excellent, with perhaps a smaller, neater head, and I would see no need to change them.

[Scratch]

For my tastes... no head, just finish it off. A slightly longer hackle barb length... so that the hook point cannot rest on the water. Don't worry about masking the hook... it's a surprisingly good hooker, and takes will usually be positive. I don't bother with the peacock... the Griff sells itself to the trout by the dimpling effect on the surface film. The rib is pretty much superfluous. You've got the density about right.

[Steve Walker]

Had another go in my lunch break (advantage of working from home - disadvantage is that I expect all my former colleagues are currently down the pub...)



Head is a bit smaller - any better?

Originally Posted by Scratch

For my tastes... no head, just finish it off. A slightly longer hackle barb length... so that the hook point cannot rest on the water. Don't worry about masking the hook... it's a surprisingly good hooker, and takes will usually be positive. I don't bother with the peacock... the Griff sells itself to the trout by the dimpling effect on the surface film. The rib is pretty much superfluous. You've got the density about right.

That's on a 16, with a Whiting 100s hackle meant for an 18 - better tied on an 18 or 20 then?

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Steve Walker

That's on a 16, with a Whiting 100s hackle meant for an 18 - better tied on an 18 or 20 then?

That's the idea Steve, or a 14 hackle on the 16. I never bother going any smaller than 18's hooks.