Charlie; thanks for the tying tips on this pattern. I fish these a lot and they are really effective. But, I agree, not the easiest fly to tie. But, while struggling through about a dozen today, I decided to review a few videos, including Mike Mercer's, Tim Flagler's and yours. What a difference when I incorporated your sequence of applying materials, and a couple of your tips!! Thanks for your efforts on this one.
Wow this video really speaks to how good a fly tier Mike Mercer is. Charlie, appreciate the humility. Great to know you're a mere mortal from time to time after binge watching your videos. Please keep up the great work!!
Really there is. The key thing is to get the proportions right. On something like a feather wing Salmon fly, it is necessary because it will look like heck. But here the proportions are tight, and the difficult to eyeball. If one really had difficulty, I would just get out the calipers and measure it on the screen. It is a hassle, but one only needs to do it once. I am not saying to it that way, but it is something one can do if it really gets to be too much.
There are a lot of differences in how Mike ties this one. We all do things differently. Two things he does that are different, and possibly helpful relative to this process are that: 1) he uses only 10-12 fibers of Zelon, so between the 2 wings that adds up to 20-24 strands, it is really sparse. He also cuts them off as soon as they are tied in. He also ties the fly on light or heavy hooks, and he demoed it on a light one, so maybe with a heavy he would prefer a few more fibers, not sure. 2) Second important difference is that he pulls the elk hair wing initial wraps very tight, but he then build up a very heavy tube of thread, about 30 turns of his 6/0 vs 3 vertical turns, and 2 horizontal turns of 18/0 on Charlie's fly. Plus Mike then posts the butts with some tight wraps in front of them. The result is that the wing butts are steeper on the eye side than the wing is, so the hackle stays nice and flat., There are lots of little details to see. He places the wing well ahead of the poly, and works it back with the thread. Because he uses so little poly, it doesn't jack the wing forward, as Charlie complains of having happen. I don't think this fly is so much difficult, as poorly observed. It is counter intuitive to use that much thread on a dry fly. I prefer to count wraps and minimize turns. I remember learning from Stalcup to start the thread in the middle of the hook, and other tips to reduce wraps to a minimum. You probably could reduce the bulk with Nanosilk, but still spread the wing as Mercer does. Here is Mike's video after the wing is installed. Note huge thread build, and width: th-cam.com/video/R4gpeKRKpZQ/w-d-xo.html Mike does use UV resin on the thread. I prefer Charlie's approach, because while the UV looks nice out of the water, it will disappear in the water, so only serve the weight the fly down.
I find the cleanest way of tying the hackle is to wrap four turns up the hair, then just wiggle the stem down through the wrapped fibers and secure it directly to the shank. Or just say the heck with parachutes and tie a collar-style hackle with a three turns behind the wing and a couple on the wing tie-in point, then clip a notch in the hackle fibers underneath the shank so the fly still rides flush.
Charlie, you tie it a lot different from the originator. Mercer coats the body with UV resin, he wants it to break the surface film and he ties the wing a lot different too. Kinda neat to watch two masters using varying tying techniques to emulate different bug hatching attributes. I like your wing tie in method to tie in smaller sizes.
@@cachi-7878 I am planning to fish Hat Creek for a week or two in August or Sept. I got a road trip planned that will start in March in the South East and End with Steelies in Wis in late October. Home for the Rifle Deer Season Nov 1.
Charlie; thanks for the tying tips on this pattern. I fish these a lot and they are really effective. But, I agree, not the easiest fly to tie. But, while struggling through about a dozen today, I decided to review a few videos, including Mike Mercer's, Tim Flagler's and yours. What a difference when I incorporated your sequence of applying materials, and a couple of your tips!! Thanks for your efforts on this one.
Wow this video really speaks to how good a fly tier Mike Mercer is. Charlie, appreciate the humility. Great to know you're a mere mortal from time to time after binge watching your videos. Please keep up the great work!!
This looks great Charlie! I appreciate all you do for us
great fly for catching trout
I’ve seen this tied three different ways, yours I like the most!
Yep, another great tie Charlie!
Nice job Charlie. That sure is a lot going on at the front of that fly. Thanks for the video
Really there is. The key thing is to get the proportions right. On something like a feather wing Salmon fly, it is necessary because it will look like heck. But here the proportions are tight, and the difficult to eyeball. If one really had difficulty, I would just get out the calipers and measure it on the screen. It is a hassle, but one only needs to do it once. I am not saying to it that way, but it is something one can do if it really gets to be too much.
Great fly.
Nice one Charlie. Love it
Great bug Charlie...as Kelly Galloup says" your flies have soul"...
This fly and the mole fly kick ass
Very cool fly but if Charlie says it’s tough I haven’t got a chance!
When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
Charlie is fighting things that Mercer does differently. Basically it is just the wing tie in. Charlie does it "wrong".
There are a lot of differences in how Mike ties this one. We all do things differently. Two things he does that are different, and possibly helpful relative to this process are that:
1) he uses only 10-12 fibers of Zelon, so between the 2 wings that adds up to 20-24 strands, it is really sparse. He also cuts them off as soon as they are tied in. He also ties the fly on light or heavy hooks, and he demoed it on a light one, so maybe with a heavy he would prefer a few more fibers, not sure.
2) Second important difference is that he pulls the elk hair wing initial wraps very tight, but he then build up a very heavy tube of thread, about 30 turns of his 6/0 vs 3 vertical turns, and 2 horizontal turns of 18/0 on Charlie's fly. Plus Mike then posts the butts with some tight wraps in front of them. The result is that the wing butts are steeper on the eye side than the wing is, so the hackle stays nice and flat., There are lots of little details to see. He places the wing well ahead of the poly, and works it back with the thread. Because he uses so little poly, it doesn't jack the wing forward, as Charlie complains of having happen. I don't think this fly is so much difficult, as poorly observed. It is counter intuitive to use that much thread on a dry fly. I prefer to count wraps and minimize turns. I remember learning from Stalcup to start the thread in the middle of the hook, and other tips to reduce wraps to a minimum. You probably could reduce the bulk with Nanosilk, but still spread the wing as Mercer does.
Here is Mike's video after the wing is installed. Note huge thread build, and width:
th-cam.com/video/R4gpeKRKpZQ/w-d-xo.html
Mike does use UV resin on the thread. I prefer Charlie's approach, because while the UV looks nice out of the water, it will disappear in the water, so only serve the weight the fly down.
Lefty, that explains why my ocd is triggered watching you tie everything backwards 🤠
I find the cleanest way of tying the hackle is to wrap four turns up the hair, then just wiggle the stem down through the wrapped fibers and secure it directly to the shank. Or just say the heck with parachutes and tie a collar-style hackle with a three turns behind the wing and a couple on the wing tie-in point, then clip a notch in the hackle fibers underneath the shank so the fly still rides flush.
Thank You Charlie 🎉 You Motivate me as we approach Halloween 🎃 …… to get out of bed earlier and hit the vise 😊
✨ 🎣 💫
Charlie, I’ve seen some where the wrap back over the front of the spent wing and even angle them slightly down. Any thoughts there?
Charlie, can you comment on when to use Cow Elk, vs, Bull Elk, vs Yearling Elk? Thanks!!
Charlie, you tie it a lot different from the originator. Mercer coats the body with UV resin, he wants it to break the surface film and he ties the wing a lot different too. Kinda neat to watch two masters using varying tying techniques to emulate different bug hatching attributes. I like your wing tie in method to tie in smaller sizes.
It’s very effective even if you omit the hackle….. and a cinch to tie. I prefer it without the hackle, especially on slower water…..
Thanks Charlie. Why Zelon instead of polypropylene that you used on the Fat Angie and Lucky B?
mixology of a few different flies, rookie question for ya Charlie - Cow elk a softer hair, and the reasoning behind using it here?
Cool 😎
Wait! Is this the Mike Mercer who works at The Fly Shop in Redding, CA?
I believe so. Hat Creek is a great bit of water to fish too even if it's California.
@@GeorgeSemel fished it many times!
it is
@@cachi-7878 I am planning to fish Hat Creek for a week or two in August or Sept. I got a road trip planned that will start in March in the South East and End with Steelies in Wis in late October. Home for the Rifle Deer Season Nov 1.
I would never try that tie. No talent here.