[VFB] re: cree and variants..and tying flies

[Joyce Westphal]

Tony, In my book..you did very well on those necks..does it matter if they are "true cree" or speckled variant /cree when the use of them, to tie a combo gizzly/brown for an an Adams is the goal? I would bet that the fish won't know nor care..nor will any tier once that fly is hackled. I fail to see what the fuss over a true cree is about when a variant with the right colors is all that matters  when it comes to practical tying. Sometimes we can be such snobs.     So there you have it..just my humble opinion. Just wish I'd  been there also, I'd have grabbed a neck or two. Am currently tying with a Hebert Miner variant neck that Byard got for me..the second one I've had, and I love it for Adams. Doesn't make one bit of difference if it is a variant, cree, combo neck, the colors are right and it fills the bill. Sometimes think we are prisoners of our own conceit.     Try using the ginger variant for a reverse tie Lunn's Particular and the darker variant for a Delaware Wullf. Both hot flies and much easier tied with variants. Now I''ll have to go through the chinese necks to see if I can find some of these for soft hackles..where the variants also work extremely well. I do have one true cree neck..but I can't bring myself to tie with it as it is so beautiful..so it is in a baggie in my freezer. Joyce