OK so last year during the sulphurs I fell in love with this pattern tied on a Partridge 15BN for fussy fish.
Now as I am gearing up for the big bug time of year I'm trying to figure out the materials for a green drake version. I think I have the thorax, hackle and wing down however the abdomen is proving a challenge. The biggest problem is deciding on the color vs. proportion thing.
For the sulphurs and smaller mayflies I just use mayfly brown staight z-lon and spin it tight and then wrap. However on the drake sized hook (subbing a #8 TMR 200R for the partridge) this leaves tha abdomen rediculously skinny as compared to the real thing and the rest of the fly.
Any suggestions?
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Based on your location, I will assume you are interested tying a Quigley Cripple pattern to imitate an emerging Ephemera guttulata nymph whose subimaginal abdomen is stuck in (or has not yet been withdrawn from) its nymphal abdomen, which looks like this:
So, were it me, I would probably use medium tan marabou counter-wrapped with ribbing of light tan thread, or perhaps gold wire for increased durability.
Thanks Roger!
I suppose I should have been a little more clear on exactly which Green Drake I was referring to; fortunatly your powers of deduction are spot on.
That seems like it would be the ticket.
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn