ANGLINGIRELAND

fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

I am tying up some various coloured hot spot pheasant tails in different combinations. So far I have not felt the need to add any hackles. As much to do with my poor tying skills as oppossed to choice, things tend to get a little crowded at the eye. Embarassed

The ones that I have finished look Ok-ish, Embarassed

and do not seem to require a hackle. Any one else any thoughts?

Question

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"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
Richard Dawkins

apache · Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 65 Location: belfast

FF as most of my fishing is mainly dry fly ( im not a dry fly purist by the way ) I have tied ptns up to fish with but never found the need to tie a hackle in as i like to keep the nymph nice and slender and to me a hackle would only add bulk. Going back to dry fly my friend was fishing woodford wed night a civil service competition. He was fishing size 26 dry flies and he said his biggest fish was about 14 lbs he had about 10 fish that night 3 of which where in the high lbs mark. I know you fish woodford so you should tie up some small dries and give them a go.

fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

Cheers Apache and thank you.

That was some fishing. Hope to get back to Woodford next week.
Very Happy

_________________
"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
Richard Dawkins

Beatnik69 · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 149

I don't think I've ever seen a hackled PTN.

apache · Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 65 Location: belfast

Sorry FF i rushed the last reply because of she who must be obeyed wanting on the computer Sad

What i was trying to say was i know you fish woodford pretty often.) On wed night athough my friend was fishing size26 the fish where feeding on stuff you could hardly see and probably impossible to tie. The one fish he took home on examining the contents of its stomach he couldn,t believe how much minute stuff it had eaten. There was no big buzzers, sedge or any other large flies in it .No caneis that night either.The fish had ignored all sorts of large natural flies so i think the moral of this is when fishing woodford at night fish really small dry flies, degrease your leader often and hopefully catch more fish Very Happy

. I hope this helps you and you tie up some size 26 to try. But if not im sure the PTN will be as good as its always been and as i said before i keep mine slim.

fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

Cheers Apache, but I don't think that I could even see a size 26 hook never mind tie one. Embarassed

In recent years I have even given up using anything smaller than a 20 in my coarse fishing. Even then it was very seldom I felt that I needed to go smaller than an 18 for pleasure fishing.

Smallest I have tried so far are 18s, but I may get myself some 20s for very simple patterns. I managed a fish and some takes to a parachute emerger tied on a size 16 b100. That to me is a tiny fly Shocked

We shall try and think smaller. Very Happy

_________________
"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
Richard Dawkins

FIREY BROWN · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 582 Location: belfast

Hi All

here`s my tuppence worth LOL

small flies feature a lot on the menu especially at this time of year as there is plenty of fly life around infact i saw that much fly life at my local Club water i was amazed at what was on the water,,some stuff (and i call it STUFF because it was hard to tell exactly what it was) was so small it is virtually impossible to represent so my answer to it is simply to tie up size 22 Hares Ear CDC`s..i`ve been fishing these on a tapered leader ONE fly only in flat calms and even during caenis hatches with great success,i`ve had more fish than i care to remember on these tiny flies with 4lb tippet so its definately worth the effort to tie some and give them a throw..

22 is the best i can manage due to failing eyesight,,or some would say OLD AGE lol Laughing

Regards
FIREY BROWN
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Work is only for those who dont know how to fish
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fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

So, back to the original question. I take it no hackles on PTNs is the way to go.

These are size 12 B170s, hot spots are orange, peach and green flurocescent floss, no hackles. Hoping they might take fish that are feeding on buzzers, but also that they will fish a little bit higher in the water than my usual varnished thread type.
_________________
"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
Richard Dawkins

FIREY BROWN · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 582 Location: belfast

First Class Fossil

they will surely take fish for you no doubt about that

Regards
FIREY BROWN
_________________
Work is only for those who dont know how to fish
http://www.troutandfly.co.uk/

harry_lfc · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

the only ptn i have seen with hackle was one that was tied to be a dry flies they look good youll get fish on them Very Happy

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its not the flies its how u use them