I’ve come back and watched you tie this pattern several times over the past few days, and there is just something about patterns that are intentionally (buggy) disheveled and random that are so much more interesting to me and hard to not watch. A lot of people can twist up a messy disheveled fly, but to watch a tier that has prided themselves on being so exacting as yourself twist up something and allow it to intentionally have the messy out of place fibers going everywhere I find fascinating. Mr McPhail and many of the European tiers do that often with the use of seals fur even in their dries, and their use of Velcro to intentionally loosen fiber so that it can be blended or “brushed into the dressing of the fly” has grown on me to some degree, more so when tying wets and nymphs now. Keep it up Mr. Charlie, and if so inclined, I would really enjoy seeing you document and tie some more of the classic patterns so that they continue to be documented for those of us that may have gotten into the game a bit late. In my opinion there is nobody better suited to show the world the right way to do it. Would also give anything to see a thread control video from a guy that taught himself to tie backwards just so that his thread would lay flatter, talk about a stickler and a glutton for punishment. My wife says you have to be every bit as stubborn as I am! Take that as a compliment sir!
Nice, Hare's Ear is a very versatile material for fly tying. I tied this fly and fished it quite a bit. Wood Duck is hard to come by and it's expensive when you do. No mind, Hen Grizzly Hackle for Wings works just as well and is easy to come by. For lack of a name, you could call it a hare's ear Adams. Back in the day, I did a lot of duck hunting and there was always a good supply of Wood Ducks around. I always had feathers off the half dozen I would shoot in a season. I even tied the fly without wings at all and the trout still eat it. You will find it in my Adams fly Box. I have a box just dedicated to the Adams dry fly and its variants.
Wow!!! Great video to start my day!! I was lucky enough to have a great friend that gave me two big bags of wood from his brother!! I’m trying up 3 patterns for a shadow box for a Christmas present!! Thx again!
Wow! Great fly for tiers and more importantly for people that fish out west where the Rainbow is,.. the Brown and Brook follow (good fun fellow anglers 😁) Do Note though: "Proportions" are out the window on this fly. While Wulff was doing the big bushy stuff where was this fly? Been tying stuff like this and catching fish for decades. Always against the published norm except for a Wulff fly or two. Great respect fo Catskill tyers. Love the flies and tie them for use today. Once you get west of the Rockies things change. After so many decades you'd think we'd understand that.
Ok man, I want to tie some of these and find a tweed flat cap to go with it. What you said about this fly being small stream appropriate, I get it! Here is where my mind goes with it: would a foam underbody keep it floating all day? Oh, and I had some great fishing last week on the Baby Boy hopper, one Charlie Craven Baby Boy Hopper lasted all day with one knot on big bluegills and later on brookies at 9000 feet high. Thanks for sharing!
If you like wood duck(me too) you will really love gadwall ! I'm still tying on a bird from a friend's dream stream "cast and blast" (from a good while back) Gadwall is a puddle duck that resembles acwidgeon a bit...difference is incredible flanks similar to woodies just much darker.
Thanks CC, you rock (even in a grey t-shirt!) Hey CC - You've mentioned tying hopper patterns with a non-slip mono loop knot for more natural motion, what do you otherwise use for trout -- the clinch or an arsenal of differing knots?
Charlie, when did it become common practice to tie the dry fly hackle with the dull side facing forward? When I began tying my first tying book book by Eric Leiser recommended them being tied in the exact opposite so they would provide more support to the front of the fly and keep it from tipping forward on its head. I would appreciate your comments on this, thanks.
Thanks a lot for the great tutorial as usual. BTW, it is surprising to see that your Dyna-King vise jaw has been chipped away where it meets the forcing cone. Is the Dyna-King vise jaw that soft?
I assume you are intentionally choosing hackles that's only a hook gap in length as opposed to the more conventional 1-1/2 or even 2 (in the case of Catskill style) hook gaps in length. It does give it a unique look. I'm just curious how it impacts its floatability.
I can binge watch these play lists over and over😂
I thought no one out West knew! 😆 This fly slays. Skitter it too for some fun before we don’t see anymore Caddis until 2024!
I’ve come back and watched you tie this pattern several times over the past few days, and there is just something about patterns that are intentionally (buggy) disheveled and random that are so much more interesting to me and hard to not watch. A lot of people can twist up a messy disheveled fly, but to watch a tier that has prided themselves on being so exacting as yourself twist up something and allow it to intentionally have the messy out of place fibers going everywhere I find fascinating. Mr McPhail and many of the European tiers do that often with the use of seals fur even in their dries, and their use of Velcro to intentionally loosen fiber so that it can be blended or “brushed into the dressing of the fly” has grown on me to some degree, more so when tying wets and nymphs now. Keep it up Mr. Charlie, and if so inclined, I would really enjoy seeing you document and tie some more of the classic patterns so that they continue to be documented for those of us that may have gotten into the game a bit late. In my opinion there is nobody better suited to show the world the right way to do it. Would also give anything to see a thread control video from a guy that taught himself to tie backwards just so that his thread would lay flatter, talk about a stickler and a glutton for punishment. My wife says you have to be every bit as stubborn as I am! Take that as a compliment sir!
Nice, Hare's Ear is a very versatile material for fly tying. I tied this fly and fished it quite a bit. Wood Duck is hard to come by and it's expensive when you do. No mind, Hen Grizzly Hackle for Wings works just as well and is easy to come by. For lack of a name, you could call it a hare's ear Adams. Back in the day, I did a lot of duck hunting and there was always a good supply of Wood Ducks around. I always had feathers off the half dozen I would shoot in a season. I even tied the fly without wings at all and the trout still eat it. You will find it in my Adams fly Box. I have a box just dedicated to the Adams dry fly and its variants.
Thanx Charlie , great fly.
Great tie as you always do. Thanks for all you do for us!
Excellent variation on a theme that isn't well known. Thank You for the details, tips and tricks. Take Care
Wow!!! Great video to start my day!! I was lucky enough to have a great friend that gave me two big bags of wood from his brother!! I’m trying up 3 patterns for a shadow box for a Christmas present!! Thx again!
Excellent! 👍🏻
As always, top notch…
Beautiful tie
So much hackle without crowding the hook eye. 👍
Nice . I like the wood duck wing would look good on a callibaetis pattern . Thanks for sharing.
Fun pattern Charlie never seen before. Catskill meets Adams with Cal Bird body.
Awesome tie. I'm sure a wood duck colored mallard flank feather would work as well.
Been a while since we’ve seen ya. Expertly done as always!
Very nice Charlie😉
Wow! Great fly for tiers and more importantly for people that fish out west where the Rainbow is,.. the Brown and Brook follow (good fun fellow anglers 😁)
Do Note though: "Proportions" are out the window on this fly. While Wulff was doing the big bushy stuff where was this fly? Been tying stuff like this and catching fish for decades. Always against the published norm except for a Wulff fly or two. Great respect fo Catskill tyers. Love the flies and tie them for use today. Once you get west of the Rockies things change. After so many decades you'd think we'd understand that.
you had me at buggy.😊
CHARLIE, I LOVE HOW BUGGY THAT FLY IS, THE EFFECT OF WRAPPING 2 FEATHERS TOGETHER REALLY AIDS TO THE BUGGINESS, THANK YOU,
MSG Leum
Ok man, I want to tie some of these and find a tweed flat cap to go with it. What you said about this fly being small stream appropriate, I get it! Here is where my mind goes with it: would a foam underbody keep it floating all day? Oh, and I had some great fishing last week on the Baby Boy hopper, one Charlie Craven Baby Boy Hopper lasted all day with one knot on big bluegills and later on brookies at 9000 feet high. Thanks for sharing!
If you like wood duck(me too) you will really love gadwall !
I'm still tying on a bird from a friend's dream stream "cast and blast" (from a good while back)
Gadwall is a puddle duck that resembles acwidgeon a bit...difference is incredible flanks similar to woodies just much darker.
Thanks CC, you rock (even in a grey t-shirt!) Hey CC - You've mentioned tying hopper patterns with a non-slip mono loop knot for more natural motion, what do you otherwise use for trout -- the clinch or an arsenal of differing knots?
Nice tie!! Charlie, you're sold out of spade hackle? 🤨 Any idea when you will be stocked again? Thanks...
Charlie, when did it become common practice to tie the dry fly hackle with the dull side facing forward? When I began tying my first tying book book by Eric Leiser recommended them being tied in the exact opposite so they would provide more support to the front of the fly and keep it from tipping forward on its head. I would appreciate your comments on this, thanks.
Killer! But Cree would be so much nicer. 🤣
Thanks a lot for the great tutorial as usual. BTW, it is surprising to see that your Dyna-King vise jaw has been chipped away where it meets the forcing cone. Is the Dyna-King vise jaw that soft?
No chip, just some crud on the jaws. Not to worry!
I assume you are intentionally choosing hackles that's only a hook gap in length as opposed to the more conventional 1-1/2 or even 2 (in the case of Catskill style) hook gaps in length. It does give it a unique look. I'm just curious how it impacts its floatability.
I do tend to undersized my hackle a bit. This one is definitely on the small side.
Is this a fly for about any where or more East or West coast?
This fly really would work just about anywhere!
how is best to keep this floating since hare's ear will get water logged?
Fly Agra
Yep, Tiemco Dry Magic or FlyAgra works great.
Can you spell the name of the T-Shirt? I could not understand the name.
Vuori! Check them out.
I’ll be THAT guy, Charlie- nice fly but I still think the wings are too long…😊
The wings aren’t too long, but the hackle is definitely short 😂
Promo SM