My go to Frenchie is red thread, yellow Pheasant tail, and Orvis olive UV dubbing (I didn't have the flat pink). I don't have CDL tailing so I substituted polar-flash rainbow pearl. The contrast between the red thread "hot spot" and the olive dubbing may be the reason I get violent hits from Brownies 12" and larger. Great video, narration and great music.
Thanks again Tim! Fished these with Billy Joe today and they picked up some nice trout for us. Now thanks to you I can tie my own and won’t have to steal anymore from Billy.
Great trick with reversing the string direction. To help the pheasant tail hold up as it is pretty brittle, I apply a bit of super glue on the body before wrapping them. Great video! 🤘🏻
I put the Frenchie through some trials beginning this season after tying them over the winter and having them sit for 3 months. I've primarily run it as the lead nymph on a 2 nymph rig and its been the 2nd best producer thus far. The lead wire and large bead give it a good sink rate, and i didn't even use tungsten beads, it gets down to the fish. The only complaints i have stem from how fragile mine have been. I noticed that my more recent ones i forgot to counter-wrap the wire so that didn't help but even the original ones i tied lasted 1 day of fishing as my point man. By the end of the day they were a mess with dubbing, thread and pheasant tail strewn about, though they kept catching fish. I trailed a weightless San Juan worm in red behind it and together they've put up great numbers and have been consistent for the entire 1st month. I can't thank you enough for putting this video up, i've never heard of this nymph before and i'm lucky you featured it, it has forever earned a spot in one of my boxes.
Adam Grasinger I burn through Frenchies at a rapid rate too, but I lose most to the bottom. The only suggestion I can make in terms of durability is to wrap tighter and I mean every thing, pheasant, wire, dubbing, finishing wraps. Just focus on making every single wrap tight throughout the entire fly. Also, believe it or not, try NOT counter wrapping with the wire but make the wire wraps super tight and continue taking 4 to 5 adjacent wire wraps on the hook shank under where the dubbing with be and then really securing them with tight thread wraps. I know I will take some heat for this, but I am becoming less and less a fan of counter wrapping every day. Hope this helps.
tightlinevideo Thanks a lot for the advice, i'll give everything you said a try since like i said i've had great luck with the Frenchie and the longer i can fish them the better. My whip finishes i get a little wary of using too much tension, i've had many break at the end of the finish.
It's actually the butt end of my whip finish tool which I've ground into a chisel shape and then sharpened. When I'm done whip finishing, I simply flip the tool around and use the little chisel to cut off the tying thread.
GENIUS!!! I always wondered where you got this special whip finish with the cutter end. I will have to modify mine also. Love your videos Tim. Been a big fan since I learned about you in Fly Tyer Magazine. Congrats on Tyer of the year you well deserve it. Helping me fill my boxes!!
I do it that way too and it works well for me (counter wrap the pheasant tail instead of the wire). Just keep the pheasant tail fibres nice and tight while tying down the thread. But that is a really great tip in the video I'm definately going to try!! Excellent videos and flies, thanks!
Yeah, I think a lot of people now leave off the ICE dub collar. I chose to tie it the way Lance Egan originally did but hey, if no dubbing works for you and is easier to tie, go for it. Personally, I still like the pattern with ICE dub as it adds a bit of movement and realism.
Awesome tip with the wire! Thanks for sharing. I usually tie the pheasant tail the other way so the wire is on the same direction with the thread. But this looks way better. I'll try it! ;)
If keeping hold of any fibre while tying in and then the tight wraps of wire will hold securely, Pheasant is easier to tie down than wire i would think then i agitate wire,give it a go and let me know what you think ....keep up the vids cheers Alister.
hi, i am a member of the canadian youth fly fishing team... most frenchies i have seen and tied never used dubbing as a hotspot but just brightly colored tying thread. i find it looks better and many competitors would agree, and it makes them easier to tie, the fish dont care what material the hotspot is so i keep it simple.
I think I understand what you are saying, but if you did that when you went to tie down the pheasant tail fibers with thread wraps, wouldn't the thread and the pheasant tail be wrapped in opposite directions thus loosening the pheasant tail wraps? Wow, that got complicated quickly.
Your videos are great. The production level is definitely the best on the web. I found your channel through a popular website, probably like most? That said I've been looking for a Flashback Hare's Ear online and there is not much out there that’s worth a darn...any chance you guys can put together a quality piece on the classic Gold Ribbed Hares Ear with a bit of flashback? Thanks in advance.
Ben Franklin said the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, but he never fished the frenchie. If there was ever a never fail confidence fly, it would be the frenchie. I have an entire nymph box dedicated to this fly. Sizes 12-18, I've caught trout, bass, panfish, shad, and everything else on this fly. I usually fish it behind a large stonefly pattern or in front of a GLF sparkle pupa. It's hard to not fish this when I'm out.
I haven’t ever been able to find cdl pelts idc about the price just no shops sell them and I can only find the chickabou pelts on whitings website I’ve just been using mallard flank feathers the fish don’t seem to mind 🙂
My go to Frenchie is red thread, yellow Pheasant tail, and Orvis olive UV dubbing (I didn't have the flat pink). I don't have CDL tailing so I substituted polar-flash rainbow pearl.
The contrast between the red thread "hot spot" and the olive dubbing may be the reason I get violent hits from Brownies 12" and larger.
Great video, narration and great music.
Thanks again Tim! Fished these with Billy Joe today and they picked up some nice trout for us. Now thanks to you I can tie my own and won’t have to steal anymore from Billy.
Great trick with reversing the string direction. To help the pheasant tail hold up as it is pretty brittle, I apply a bit of super glue on the body before wrapping them. Great video! 🤘🏻
I learn a little something new with every video of yours I watch. Thanks
Glad to hear it, thanks for watching.
I'm new to tying, thank you for a few new tips.
Watched this this morning and tied it up on my lunch break, thanks for the lesson!
Thank you so much… you are the best!
I put the Frenchie through some trials beginning this season after tying them over the winter and having them sit for 3 months. I've primarily run it as the lead nymph on a 2 nymph rig and its been the 2nd best producer thus far. The lead wire and large bead give it a good sink rate, and i didn't even use tungsten beads, it gets down to the fish. The only complaints i have stem from how fragile mine have been. I noticed that my more recent ones i forgot to counter-wrap the wire so that didn't help but even the original ones i tied lasted 1 day of fishing as my point man. By the end of the day they were a mess with dubbing, thread and pheasant tail strewn about, though they kept catching fish. I trailed a weightless San Juan worm in red behind it and together they've put up great numbers and have been consistent for the entire 1st month. I can't thank you enough for putting this video up, i've never heard of this nymph before and i'm lucky you featured it, it has forever earned a spot in one of my boxes.
Adam Grasinger I burn through Frenchies at a rapid rate too, but I lose most to the bottom. The only suggestion I can make in terms of durability is to wrap tighter and I mean every thing, pheasant, wire, dubbing, finishing wraps. Just focus on making every single wrap tight throughout the entire fly. Also, believe it or not, try NOT counter wrapping with the wire but make the wire wraps super tight and continue taking 4 to 5 adjacent wire wraps on the hook shank under where the dubbing with be and then really securing them with tight thread wraps. I know I will take some heat for this, but I am becoming less and less a fan of counter wrapping every day. Hope this helps.
tightlinevideo Thanks a lot for the advice, i'll give everything you said a try since like i said i've had great luck with the Frenchie and the longer i can fish them the better. My whip finishes i get a little wary of using too much tension, i've had many break at the end of the finish.
That's an awesome tip on tying off wire.
Another great video, thanks so much.
It's actually the butt end of my whip finish tool which I've ground into a chisel shape and then sharpened. When I'm done whip finishing, I simply flip the tool around and use the little chisel to cut off the tying thread.
Did this to my whip finish tool make it’s easier to get that thread cut without reaching for your scissors
GENIUS!!! I always wondered where you got this special whip finish with the cutter end. I will have to modify mine also. Love your videos Tim. Been a big fan since I learned about you in Fly Tyer Magazine. Congrats on Tyer of the year you well deserve it. Helping me fill my boxes!!
a dark pheasant tail and green dubbing could accurately represent a cased caddis also. thats what i use them for
I do it that way too and it works well for me (counter wrap the pheasant tail instead of the wire). Just keep the pheasant tail fibres nice and tight while tying down the thread. But that is a really great tip in the video I'm definately going to try!! Excellent videos and flies, thanks!
Great tip with tying off the wire, I'll need to remember that one. Cheers
Glad you like the videos. We will absolutely add a flashback Gold Ribbed Hares Ear to the list, it's a great suggestion! Thanks.
Great tip for securing the wire wrap! Thanks! :-) Great video!
you are coming up on your 100th video! make it a good one. I'm sure many people will be looking out for it!
Yeah, I think a lot of people now leave off the ICE dub collar. I chose to tie it the way Lance Egan originally did but hey, if no dubbing works for you and is easier to tie, go for it. Personally, I still like the pattern with ICE dub as it adds a bit of movement and realism.
Awesome tip with the wire! Thanks for sharing. I usually tie the pheasant tail the other way so the wire is on the same direction with the thread. But this looks way better. I'll try it! ;)
this is a great pattern, I use it under an indicator and our local panfish seem to hit it pretty good.
MIke
I like this tying.... thanks for sharing.
All the best.
Paolo
planning to fly fish for some McCloud rainbow trout down at crane creek and it seems like they love this fly at this time of the year
Thank you. I just bought one, in the standard length.
If keeping hold of any fibre while tying in and then the tight wraps of wire will hold securely, Pheasant is easier to tie down than wire i would think then i agitate wire,give it a go and let me know what you think ....keep up the vids cheers Alister.
excellent video,thank you!
hi, i am a member of the canadian youth fly fishing team... most frenchies i have seen and tied never used dubbing as a hotspot but just brightly colored tying thread. i find it looks better and many competitors would agree, and it makes them easier to tie, the fish dont care what material the hotspot is so i keep it simple.
I find winding the fibers away and the wire normally a lot easier, just a thought...good vids
It's a Rite Bobbin, they're great.
I think I understand what you are saying, but if you did that when you went to tie down the pheasant tail fibers with thread wraps, wouldn't the thread and the pheasant tail be wrapped in opposite directions thus loosening the pheasant tail wraps? Wow, that got complicated quickly.
Your videos are great. The production level is definitely the best on the web. I found your channel through a popular website, probably like most? That said I've been looking for a Flashback Hare's Ear online and there is not much out there that’s worth a darn...any chance you guys can put together a quality piece on the classic Gold Ribbed Hares Ear with a bit of flashback? Thanks in advance.
good job man.
Ben Franklin said the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, but he never fished the frenchie. If there was ever a never fail confidence fly, it would be the frenchie. I have an entire nymph box dedicated to this fly. Sizes 12-18, I've caught trout, bass, panfish, shad, and everything else on this fly. I usually fish it behind a large stonefly pattern or in front of a GLF sparkle pupa. It's hard to not fish this when I'm out.
What kind of head cement do you use? Currently I use sally Hansen hard as nails. I haven’t tried the UV stuff
Great cant wait to tie this but I have a request. Do u know any foam mouse flies if u do can u post a tying video
Great videos! What color is the coq de leon feathers in the Whiting Tailing Pack? Thank you very much.
Cool nimf! Special for competiton! ;b Best Regards - urbanoviczFISHING!
Great looking pattern, thank you.
What thread snipper do you use? I's seen it in a few of your videos and it looks really handy!
do you ever do any saltwater fishing because I see you tie nice saltwater patterns
What company makes the bobbin that you use? Looks nice!
Can this pattern be tied on a jig hook?Surely better as it then wouldnt hang up on the bottom as a point fly on a euro nymph setup?
Ryan The Rock yes
Where did you get the snips?
can this be tied on a jig hook so it doesnt hang up on the bottom?
I haven’t ever been able to find cdl pelts idc about the price just no shops sell them and I can only find the chickabou pelts on whitings website I’ve just been using mallard flank feathers the fish don’t seem to mind 🙂
Is this the same color used on the damsel fly?
If you are talking about the Coq de Leon used on the tail of the Frenchie and the wing of the Damselfly then yes, medium pardo.
What can be used as a substitute for coqe de Leon or however you spell it
Stiff hackle fibers
tightlinevideo so would one from a rooster pelt work the ones usually used for dry fly hackle?
Actually I think they will work they are pretty stiff thanks for the tip!
@@keiranrooker7981 Yes, they are the ones. Can be difficult to find really stiff fibers that are long enough.
could I substitute the ice dub with classic dubbing?
AS50ELIMINATER ! You don't need ice dub but you want something with shine. I use senyos laser dub and you could use Antron too
medium pardo
I hate wrapping bodies with pheasant tail on bigger nymph hooks
næs gæs
næs gæs
Can I use biots instead of coke de Leon or however you spell it for the grammar nazis