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Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2013/1/15 12:02 From Pipersville Pa.
Posts: 597
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On this cold snowy day. What to do? Tie flies. Most that know me know that I like to tie and fish with classic style dry flies. That being said I do tie and use parachutes, comparaduns, cdc drys. But there is something special with some of the older style patterns like Flicks variants. He did not create all of them but he is credited to popularizing them in his clasic book Art Flicks stream side guide. This book was the tying bible for me as a kid. Around 12 or 13 yrs. old. I am almost 55 now. How did that happen? So what we have is the Dun Variant which was to imitate a Isonicia, the Grey Fox which was Flicks version of the Green Drake and the Cream Drake imitates the Potamanthus. The Cream Drake is also a great serching fly to use any time during the Summer.
I hope you like them too, GenCon Attach file:  variants.JPG (100.46 KB) dun variant.JPG (103.23 KB) grey fox variant.JPG (103.72 KB) cream variant.JPG (135.63 KB)
Posted on: 2014/1/25 16:58
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I can make you feel. But I can't make you think. Ian Anderson, Thick as a brick. |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2012/12/9 15:03 From Lewistown, PA
Posts: 66
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Are they all quill bodied? I can't tell if the cream variant is a quill or just dubbing.
Posted on: 2014/1/25 17:17
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2009/12/17 20:43 From Souderton PA
Posts: 0
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Beautiful ties GC! Variants are favorites of mine and I'm always surprised they don't get fished much.
Mike.
Posted on: 2014/1/25 20:53
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2012/6/11 23:48 From Coopersburg
Posts: 143
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I can't wait for bugs...
I really like the grey fox!
Posted on: 2014/1/25 22:47
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Moderator
 
Joined:
2006/9/9 9:29 From Monessen, PA
Posts: 2882
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Is the "variation" that the hackle is over-sized?
Posted on: 2014/1/26 1:09
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"If you see the Buddha in the road, please slow down and see if she is OK." OK? -- Me |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2012/8/21 18:22 From SEPA
Posts: 41
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Wow. Very nice.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 1:28
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http://thejumpingtrout.wordpress.com |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2007/1/25 5:24 From Pa
Posts: 0
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Nice! The Cream Variant is the next pattern in line to be tied this week.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 7:14
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Moderator
Joined:
2006/9/11 8:26 From Chester County
Posts: 2879
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Quote:
In the case of Art Flick's flies, his "variant" patterns have no wings and longer hackle, usually more than 2x the hook gape to represent wings.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 7:54
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2013/1/15 12:02 From Pipersville Pa.
Posts: 597
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Jeremy, yes they all have quill bodies. And yes JackM nailed it. Hackles 2x larger. Or even slightyl larger. The hardest part of tying these is finding hackles long enough. But fun to tie and fish.
GenCon
Posted on: 2014/1/26 8:49
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_________________
I can make you feel. But I can't make you think. Ian Anderson, Thick as a brick. |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Moderator
Joined:
2006/9/9 9:29 From Monessen, PA
Posts: 2882
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Plus no wings-- but that has never seemed essential to me anyway.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 9:24
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"If you see the Buddha in the road, please slow down and see if she is OK." OK? -- Me |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2006/11/2 8:50 Posts: 1731
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I use variants (wingless dries) quite a bit on the mountain freestone streams. They are easy to tie and catch fish. So they are good options when you are about to head out fishing and just need to crank out a few dries before you go.
I usually do not tie the hackle over-sized, very much, if at all. Mostly I tie just 2 variants, a brown one and a yellow one. Brown variant Hackle and tails: grizzly and ginger (brown) Body: tan, brown, Hares ear dubbing Yellow variant Hackle and tails: grizzly and light ginger Body: Yellow dubbing. Use the brownish one from early season to mid-season, when a lot of the bugs are brownish. Use the yellow one as you get into the lighter colored bug hatches: sulphur, Cahills, Grey Fox, yellow sally hatches. You can also tie wingless dries to imitate any hatch, such as Isonychias, BWOS, etc. And don't forget to tie some Rusty Spinner variants. Which is just light blue dun for tails and hackle. And whatever "rusty" dubbing you like for the body. I prefer a cinnamon type color. A very good pattern to use at dusk, when trout are rising, but you can't tell what they are taking. They are probably taking spinners. Use the fully hackled one in pocket water. Trim the underside of the hackle when fishing flat water.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 9:34
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Moderator
Joined:
2006/9/11 8:26 From Chester County
Posts: 2879
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Quote:
^ Great post. Simple and effective way to both tie for and fish many hatches. The half a handful of patterns mentioned above will get you into fish in the vast majority of mayfly hatches found anywhere.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 10:03
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2009/5/26 8:36 From York & Starlight, PA
Posts: 493
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Very nice flies but rather than calling them variants based on the barbule length of the hackle aren't your flies more correctly called spiders?
Attach file: Grey Fox Variant.jpg (86.14 KB) Cream Variant (2).JPG (108.50 KB)
Posted on: 2014/1/26 11:20
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Fly fisher for fifty years. |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2012/1/13 15:28 From Ferguson Twp.
Posts: 21
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Gc, great tying. Those are fine looking ties, I'll bet they'll fish as good as they look.
Posted on: 2014/1/26 11:44
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There is a need to fish, to be in the water. It soothes the soul... |
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Re: Flick's variants |
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Joined:
2013/1/15 12:02 From Pipersville Pa.
Posts: 597
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wbranch, I see why you would call them spiders. But originally they where called variants. lv2nymph, thank you for your compliments.
I am itching to tie some of your mink nymphs. They look tasty. I'll send you a pic after and will appreciate your critique. GenCon
Posted on: 2014/1/26 12:13
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_________________
I can make you feel. But I can't make you think. Ian Anderson, Thick as a brick. |
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