> I like a short hook with a long supple extended tail (ultra-chennille or a > furled rope-dubbed tail), a fatter thorax with a little chikabou for legs,
For these nymphs, I go with a cone and/ or water drop taper where the abdomen is fattest near the thorax/ head area, thinning as it gets to the bend in the hook. I personally prefer "double-shanked" hooks, or rather, a hook with an extended body that is tied around wire that flutters in the water as a swivel would. Legs and the tail are almost always the most mobile parts of the fly for me, and I tend to limit the "sparkle" to the top-side / wingcase / wingbuds of these nymphs. (I forget the correct terminology for what I am trying to say...) By "sparkle" I mean Peacock Herl, not the flashiest synthetic out there. Anyhow, I use a tightly- woven dub in medium olive to olive- brown, personally, though I've heard rumors of Rusty Brown working well locally. I have no clue if this still imitates the Dragonflies and Damselflies, but this is what I've heard. I almost always burn some 30-lb mono for eyes, as the naturals tend to (in the majority) have occular protrusions in a ventrocranial fashion (in other words, they have eyes that stick out of their face and up towards their wings... up and forward.) All of that is just my observation and opinion, so feel free to disagree. :) On a different note, I have to ask - DonO mentioned a "Furled Rope-dubbed Tail" or something along those lines... I can rope- dub per DonO's style, but I'm confused how one furls? Also, is there an "easy" way to home- furl leaders, silk gut for eyes on blind- eye salmon irons, etc? I've been trying to hand- furl and the results... well, let's just say I could use much help... Tight wraps and I hope this helps, Pete
