Author Topic: Competition Tactics 4: Tactical River Fly (Read 1357 times)

Alain Barthelemy · « **on:** February 28, 2011, 06:37:43 PM »

This has been my best river fly lately. I know you have similar ones.

I added some notes about the features you might notice. In particular, I prefer the stiff tail fibers, since they tend to pivot or jig the fly more during presentation. For a while I saw flies using Wood Duck tails, but they are quite soft and bend in the water. The stiff CDL barbules are also much tougher. When this fly is well-constructed, it will last for many, many fish. Keep in mind this is a size 22, so every little tying imperfection is magnified!

This has been my typical practice scenario for the past few months:

Tight lines.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:47:28 PM »

Alain, I'm going to sound like a broken record so here it is one last time since this is becoming the norm for you: Excellent Post!

I have many, many flies very similar to this as many of the other circuit worn guys do. I really haven't dabbled with the Stripped Peacock yet though... now where is that post on how to do it again, hmmm...

John Dunn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 09:19:05 PM »

Dejon---this is the best I have seen.
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-tying-forum/107582-peacock-quill-how-use.html

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 11:17:07 PM »

Alain, good work man. I enjoyed your tippet deal you sent me months ago and you continue to put out good info.

Josh McFadden Strips his peacock with bleach, then rinses it. Works nicely. Makes one fantastic stripper midge. I invented a midge with stripped peacock I call the "single mom", she works hard lol.

Kalvin Kaloz · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2011, 12:16:22 AM »

Alain, very solid post!

Like the pattern. do you strip the quills yourself? Have you used the prestripped and dyed ones offered at Siman http://shop.siman.cz/index.html?pod=_quills_pea_s.htm

Alain Barthelemy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2011, 08:01:34 AM »

Thanks everyone.

I have seen the stripped quills from Siman, but currently I am doing my own. I've done the diluted bleach/fizz method from A.K. Best, but I would say I met with mixed success. There always seems to be a few stubborn fibers left. Currently, I am back to stripping my own with an eraser. I can prepare a batch of 6 quills in about 10 minutes. The key is to keep cleaning the eraser and the paper you are working on. There is usually one magic swipe that cleans the whole quill in one shot.

I keep the quills soaking in a shallow dish overnight. When I am ready to tie, I take 'em straight out of the water. I build a tapered thread base, then drop a good-sized drop of glue on the thread. I wrap right in the wet glue and tie off.

This is the size 18 version I also use, and an insect it (maybe) imitates:

My philosophy about quill-bodies came about after about 5 years of fishing Frenchies. I love the standard PT-body Frenchy also, as I believe the trout can sense the micro hydrodynamic current swirls that come off of the tiny herl fibers. The problem with that fly, however, is that it sometimes sinks too slowly for my liking, especially in pocket water situations, when you want to stick the fly deep in a hurry.

The quill flies with glue, take on the superglue buzzer characteristic. The glue makes a hard, glossy finish that definitely slices through the water faster. I think this characteristic of the fly is more beneficial than its actual appearance.

It is tricky (for me) to make these flies come out perfect, even with my rotary vise, but I have found the best way is to hang a weight off of the quill as you rotate the vise handle. The quill wants to lay flat in touching turns if you just let it be.

These flies last a long time, unless you use forceps to remove the hook. Try to get the flies out with your fingers as much as you can. It would also pay to cover the forcep jaws with heat shrink, as someone mentioned in Todd's post about the hemostat knots.

Hope this helps you.