Jan's Flies

Jan Spencer
Flash, flash and more flash is the point this issue. I have often said flies for fly fishing, especially for trout, have fashion run-just like the clothing industry. Fashion in flies changes every few years and it seems flash is "big" at the moment.
I think people like Dick Wigram, Max Christensen and Stuart Napier would be taken aback to see the amount of flash we are using on flies today, even though there was a little used when those fly tiers were tying. Flies like Miss Tasmania and the Yeti had a small amount of flash material for eyes. I am really not sure what caused the flash fashion to start in fly fishing, certainly the lure trade has encompassed very bright flashy bodies made out of all sorts of flash papers even chocolate wrappers around for many years.
Mostly this generation of flies are in Woolly Worm styles but in a multitude of designs. You name the colour combination, and it's been done. Searching for materials to tie these flies can be interesting to say the least. A look through your Christmas decoration box can be productive-it's amazing what will come forward. Other than that, your local fishing shop can be of help with full sections of flash. Look and think hard just what and where these materials can be used. Tails, wings, bodies, throat and other section of the fly can be decorated.
Personally I don't like too much flash. I like to keep it subtle, some fine flash in the tail, perhaps a little in the wing. Although, there are some who tie the full fly in flashy materials and catch heaps of fish. As always, it's a preference thing and having confidence in what you are using is essential.
The Fizzle Fly fly is tied full of flash and can be changed to suit the individual requirements:

Fizzle Fly
Hook:    Heavy guage size 8-6
Thread:    Black
Tail:        Olive green marabou
Rib:        Gold wire
Body:    Olive diamond brite
Hackle:    Olive palmer chenille

Method
1. Take thread full length of shank.
2. Place fold wire rib in, cut away excess rib.
3. Tie in a small bunch of olive green marabou for tail.
4. Dub on a body with dubbing material, finishing just behind the eye. Bring rib forward making nice even turns, tie off firmly and cut excess rib away. Now with a piece of Velcro, rough up the body material a little, pulling it out between the turns of rib. When finished doing this, pull the fibres back toward the tail.
5. With a short length of palmer chenille tied in, make two turns around front of body close in behind the eye. When doing this, make sure the chenille fibres face back toward the tail, tie down firmly, cut away excess chenille.
6. Form a nice head, whip finish and varnish.
When tying these flies, I like to keep them in subtle colours of olive green, black, brown, etc. The above fly is one to experiment with by changing the colour combination. Try not to make it too much like a Christmas tree.
I hope this article sees you through the winter months, as we all wait in anticipation for next season.
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