One Feather Fly (Adirondac and Catskill) SBS

give it the Adams treatment and Voila: Catskill variation

   I'm often reading about people looking for a simple pattern that uses minimal materials, and is easy to tie. I present to you the Floating Duck, Swamp Duck,   ok, so I haven't come up with a catchy name yet.
 Here's a simple StepByStep explaining how to make your very own OFF One Feather Fly  simple tie.

first off, choose a CDC feather that has plenty of butt-fluff. These fat-assed feathers are gonna make a wicked tail.
 I will be tying the Fly on an Allen hook today. I just met these guys last week, and got the hook-up on a bunch of hooks to try out!

Ok.  Wind your light brown thread to the point, grabbing the stump of a natural to light brown CDC feather.  tie just behind the butt-tip with two loose wraps so that you can carefully pull the feather rear-ward, creating the tail. Keeping the feather on the top of the hook, make 3-4 tight wraps, really binding the stem to the top of the hook-shank.

With your favorite rotary hackle pliers, grab the feather by the tip and begin to wrap forward, **pulling the fibers back Every wrap!  You should have something like this.  (the stem is going to make a great looking segmented body when wet!)   Tie off the tip with two tight wraps, and one in front.
--If tying the Catskill Variation, this step is where you would tie in your hackle feathers, just in front of the CDC feather, but still leaving a hook-eye's space behind the eye.

Ok, this isn't too tricky, but just take your time so that all the feather has the same tension pulling forward: with your thumb and pointer finger, grab the loose feather, and pull forward towards the eye.. ** Important: Notice that I have the feather pulled slightly up, exposing the hook eye on the bottom. this will cause the next few wraps to bind the material to the top of the hook.

2-3 wraps of thread, and you're almost done.  Next, take your thumb-nail and press rear-ward the wing, flaring it out similar to a comparadun. Make a thread dam, form a head, whip- finish, and done. !

 trim off any loose fibers, and this slim buoyant  fly is ready to fish!

here's another shot of the variation.  I think this photo looks pretty cool.

BrrrrR

I can't wait for spring!!!

The Fly Fishing Show Marlborough, Ma +++ PM Party!!??

   Its that time of year again.... and for the rest of you nutcases out there who are fly fishing/tying fanatics, this is the show!   Take out that dusty ball of rainy- day $$, and get ready to buy yourself more dub, hooks, or overpriced pieces of aluminum. 
   I will be attending the Friday show/film fest with 4(?) other High Spirited fly fishermen. as a day away from the Wife/Kid, its gotta be worth it.  Our crew will be easy to spot...  look for these telltale signs that the Swamp Yankee's crew is in town:

1. Upon entering, you see Daniel Galhardo (Tenkara USA) running out with a broken nose.
2. There is a disturbance near the Sage booth, including the profane and derogatory insult of calling their   sales CEO a Burt Reynolds fake MF.
3. The mens room smells like weed. 
4. There's puke on your shoe.
5. All,  ALL muskrat belly fur has been bought up by 9AM.
6. You see people show up with full backpacks before they buy anything at all. (beers)
7. You hear the heavy use of the F word.
8. There are empty nip bottles in every garbage can.
----- you get the idea... this is a once a year event to hang out all day with your friends, and buy dub.

*IF4   This event is totally worth the $10 tix.  they throw all kinds of free shit out into the crowd, and/or hold some sort of on-stage contest.  I have no idea what they have in store this year, but it's worth the 10 bux.

*Keg Party????   I know its such an off the wall idea, yeah right. 
--- Where is the Keg Party???  I've got a crew that excels in this sort of environment. We have a nearby stay, but nothing walking distance from the show.  If you know of a Keg Party, please let me know!  We will have a cooler of brews/whisky, but no party to go to.

Moose parachute

Hook: Varivas Wave BL 22
Tail: Moose
Body: Moose & CCG
Post: Mallard Flank
Hackle: Ginger
  *tie off on the post base

moose quill & stonefly

Ha! Moose quill? Hells yeah,  think I feel like stripping quills tonight? Hells no!

Tail: moose mane
Body: same 'quills' wrapped forward w/CCG
Wing: natural CDC tied in at tip, then make a small loop and tie again
     Ginger hackle.

Body: moose & CCG
Wing: blk foam (body length or longer)
Ginger hackle.
  * keep the body very slender and the foam wing long. Fish right up against the mossy rocks.

Dry fly late night

I liked the way this fly's tail came out.  had me a late night session,  any favorites?  99% of my flies are made on a whim, usually with few materials each. The fly above was made with a minimal amount of lemon wood duck, and a grizzly hackle.   Sometimes my experimenting with few materials makes me use them in new or unexpected ways, it keeps it fun & creative.  (or maybe that was the 6-pack of #9 last night)