Catskill style ties

[SlingingWets]

Is anyone tying Catskill style dry flies using non-traditional materials for wings?

I am proficient in tying both mallard style upright wings and split wing flank feather style of flies and have an abundance of mallard and wood duck flank I have collected throughout they years but I question if it makes sense to do it. Materials are much different than they were 50 years ago and with the benefits that synthetic materials offer, is it worth it to use Mallard Quill, Mallard Flank, or Wood Duck Flank for Catskill style dry fly wings?

For some time I have toyed with the idea of using poly yarn or antron or some other synthetic material for the wings but have always held true to tying an authentic Catskill style fly with the original natural materials. My question is simple, For those of you who enjoy tying and fishing this style of fly, what alternative materials have you used for split wing applications and do you think those modern materials have improved their floatability/fishability?

Thanks!

 

[Bamboozle]

I do...

Unless it is a strict version that is more for show than fishing, I use poly material for the wings on 99% of my fishing flies.

 

[afishinado]

For some time I have toyed with the idea of using poly yarn or antron or some other synthetic material for the wings but have always held true to tying an authentic Catskill style fly with the original natural materials. My question is simple, For those of you who enjoy tying and fishing this style of fly, what alternative materials have you used for split wing applications and do you think those modern materials have improved their floatability/fishability?

Both natural materials and synthetic materials work. I would say the synthetics have less of a tendency to wet out after being fished or catching fish and are more visible, but the natural materials look great on the fly. Many millions of trout have been fooled using the original recipes and materials. Tie both. I would use the natural ties for slower water and fussy fish and the synthetic wings for faster water where they will be more visible and float better when wet.

Catskill ties are great and classic, but I most often use parachute and comparadun ties for my dry fly fishing, so consider tying other styles of flies too. Good luck.

 

[dudemanspecial]

EDIT: I missed the original point of your post somehow. Absolutely you can use poly yarn or other such stuff, I use poly yarn all the time for wings.

 

[Nocktavius]

I’ve tried some other things but nothing looks quite as good as a wood duck in that evening glare when your pattern is drifting amidst the naturals.

As mentioned above, Catskill style don’t usually work as well on selective wild trout as lower riding patterns like comparaduns, parachutes, and biot/puffys (guess we might wanna consider a name change in light of recent events)- but for me a traditional fly deserves traditional materials. The one below caught like 8 mainstem browns and rainbows last weekend before it broke off on a wind knotted leader.

 

[Tigereye]

I use EP triggerpoint, parapost wing, and hi viz ( all are similar synthetic, antron or poly i believe) for wings on most of flies. Except March Brown and Lt. Cahill. I just like the look of those with wood duck flank.

A while back in the "what are you tying today" thread, I posted pics of BWOs, Royal Wulff, Adams, Henryvilles and Sulfurs all with synthetic wings.

I don't believe the trout care. One day, for most of us, the wings are going to be Chartreuse or Fl. Orange. But for the grace of God, I can see fairly well for now.

 

[SlingingWets]

This experiment lasted a total of 20 minutes and 3 flies. All of them went in the garbage and wont make it in my box. I just dont like the look of the synthetic materials and the fray you get with antron/poly. I'll still use it for spinner wings but not upright.

I fish a lot of hair wing dun's and parachutes and i'm just not sure that the "juice is worth the squeeze" when it comes to splitting wings. For Display -> Yes, for Fishing -> No.

 

[laszlo]

It would be interesting to tie one of each and fish them as a pair and see which the fish prefer

 

[dryflyguy]

I use turkey flat for my divided wings
Looks and works great

Calf hair also works well too

 

[Bamboozle]

This experiment lasted a total of 20 minutes and 3 flies. All of them went in the garbage and wont make it in my box. I just dont like the look of the synthetic materials and the fray you get with antron/poly. I'll still use it for spinner wings but not upright.

I fish a lot of hair wing dun's and parachutes and i'm just not sure that the "juice is worth the squeeze" when it comes to splitting wings. For Display -> Yes, for Fishing -> No.

All of my FISHING mayfly dun imitations are tied with a single wing whether it is a parachute post, a burnt wing or a wing on a thorax or Catskill hybrid. For example, I tie an Adams that forsakes the hackle tips for a single wing.

Sacrilege maybe and I admit they don't look as pretty, but they are WAY easier and faster to tie, they don't twist my leader and the fish don't give a rat's a$$ or I would have given up fishing them decades ago...

I also would probably have given up fly tying as well because in the beginning, those fancy quill or hackle tip wings frustrated the heck out of me... 😉

Now that they come easy, I only time I tie them is for fly swaps & such...

 

[tomgamber]

i use a lot of wood duck and hackle tips. Its what I have he most of. I use what ever I have the most of. I won't go looking to spend money on new stuff just to use something different.

 

[gadabout]

Is anyone tying Catskill style dry flies using non-traditional materials for wings?

I am proficient in tying both mallard style upright wings and split wing flank feather style of flies and have an abundance of mallard and wood duck flank I have collected throughout they years but I question if it makes sense to do it. Materials are much different than they were 50 years ago and with the benefits that synthetic materials offer, is it worth it to use Mallard Quill, Mallard Flank, or Wood Duck Flank for Catskill style dry fly wings?

For some time I have toyed with the idea of using poly yarn or antron or some other synthetic material for the wings but have always held true to tying an authentic Catskill style fly with the original natural materials. My question is simple, For those of you who enjoy tying and fishing this style of fly, what alternative materials have you used for split wing applications and do you think those modern materials have improved their floatability/fishability?

Thanks!

Quite frankly, no! I believe in preserving traditions in cases like this. If you’ve already got the right materials, why not use them? I reserve the use of synthetic materials for saltwater flies. For trout flies, I mainly use natural materials.

 

[dryflyguy]

Bam -
I quickly decided those fancy quill and hackle tip wings weren't worth the extra fussing around to tie them
They are fragile, usually not lasting more than one or two fish in my experience
Before those wings get twisted beyond the point where you can straighten them out again.
Then they can cause leader twist problems when casting.
And I really dont think they work any better than other patterns

 

[Bamboozle]

Bam -
I quickly decided those fancy quill and hackle tip wings weren't worth the extra fussing around to tie them
They are fragile, usually not lasting more than one or two fish in my experience
Before those wings get twisted beyond the point where you can straighten them out again.
Then they can cause leader twist problems when casting.
And I really dont think they work any better than other patterns

I LOVE the way they look, but I heartily agree about the fuss & frustration...

However, one thing I learned the hard way after tying at least 4,319 absolutely crappy flies is to practice unfamiliar or infrequent techniques before committing to trying it on a fly.

For example, on those rare occasions I tie quill or hackle tip flies, I will practice the wings several times on a bare hook shank. I'll use crummy hackle or less than desirable quill slips to practice. Doing this helps refresh my memory on the technique. It also gives me the opportunity to tweak my desired proportions.

As a result, I get the consistency I am after so my first fly looks as good as the last.

 

[JimNovo]

So I use EP fibers on Catskill style flies.
They split well, shape nicely and add to the float ability of flies.

My thinking is fish see the flies silhouette first...segmented abdomen, bulging thorax, moving legs. The wing is for the fisherman to see the fly.

Yes I tie traditionally, but I'm not adverse to bending the rules a bit.