Soft Hackle

[BelAirSteve]

So I have been trying my patience with soft hackles. On my two most recent trips to the Gunpowder, I had success with this fly when fish were popping everywhere but no bugs to be seen except tiny little black midges. I for one don't really enjoy fishing with size 28 dries to rising fish.

I came up with this after a recommendation from wetfly1. I tied it in size 16 on both a 2xl curved nymph and 1xl nymph hook.

Thread: UTC 70 rusty brown
Tail: Mallard flank
Abdomen: Light hares ear
Thorax: Dark hares ear
Rib: Fine gold oval tinsel
Soft hackle: Partridge

I bought a cheap pack of partridge feather2 just to goof off with, and I liked it so much I just ordered a hungarian partridge skin...can't wait...might arrive tomorrow.

Let me know what you think.

 

[bam]

That'll fish well for sure. Tear off the tail and you have a good caddis imitation in a pinch.

It probably doesn't make much of difference, but most soft hackles are tied on standard length hooks. Because they're often fished on the swing, a bigger hook gape should help when they're hit hard

 

[troutslammer]

hares ear soft hackle , yeah it'll work , very popular fly

 

[littlelehigh]

I tied some tonite without the tail to use this weekend as caddis imitations.

Thanks for the tip bam

 

[whheff]

Very nice fly!! Different hooks give the fish a different look. I tie many of my nymphs and soft hackles on different hook. That fly was working well on Resica Falls last week under the same conditions you had on the Gunpowder.

 

[jayL]

I tie that one without a tail and grease the leader when caddis are hatching. They'll hammer it in the film.

 

[gfen]

I've never done a dubbed body, I usually do peacock herl or more likely floss.

Yellow floss, especially, takes on a translucense when its wet that's really neat, but you need to remember to use white thread, not black.

 

[littlelehigh]

jayL wrote:
I tie that one without a tail and grease the leader when caddis are hatching. They'll hammer it in the film.

Good tip Jay I'm gonna try it next time I'm out.


I tied a few of these and picked the dubbing out and fished it near the bottom with weight. No takers. Maybe doing as you said will produce different results.

 

[BountyHunter]

To date my biggest rainbow and biggest brown have come on a "tailess" version of that fly. Spend some time with it, you wont be sorry.