Back in the 70's, Catskill tying legend Harry Darbee, came out with his Two-Feathered mayfly pattern using a woodduck flank feather and a dry fly hackle, and ever since then I have experimented using the technique to create my own semi-realistic patterns. The use of the arching woodduck flank feather to imitate the tail and abdomen always looked so right to me for imitating mayfly adults.
This pattern combines the tailing technique Darbee used with one of my favorite materials, Snowshoe Rabbit Foot. It is incredibly durable, fairly easy to tie, and works very well. You can adapt the pattern by changing size and body color to imitate green drakes, brown drakes and other large mayfly patterns. If you don't have natural woodduck flank, you can substitute mallard or teal flank with good results.
I've been using this fly the last couple of weeks in the evenings, and some nights it has been all I need to tie on the end of my tippet. After a fish or two, dry it out some with Amadou or some other absorbent material, then restore the fly with Frog's Fanny, and it will continue to float well without the use of paste or liquid floatants. Hat's off to Tim Flagler for another great production.
Sharpen your hooks!
4 comments:
Real nice Matt - just wonder if a sparse hackle to imitate legs would work out nice?
Hi Andy, thanks. Re: legs - One of the great/cool things about using snowshoe rabbit foot is that the outer fibers of the wing tend to be attracted to the water surface, creating a footprint of "legs" around the thorax. When I get a chance, I'll photograph this phenom and post it.
Great fly. The video is well done and easy to follow.
I like it also...
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