Link to classic wet fly patterns & photos

[Nymphmeister]

Thought you TPO members might like the beautiful pictures and pattern dressings on this:
http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/bergman/

Merry Christmas!

[AaronJasper]

Thanks for the link. I see a few of the "magic" night flies in there as well. Those flies are very nicely tied and look much nicer than the ones that I would make. Also, I saw many that I would think would be killer on our trout streams.

[Nymphmeister]

It's a great link for some super clear photos, isn't it? I know you & I are going to be tying up some wets this Winter & fishing them in '08, the "Year of the Wet Fly". Lol.

[Dave]

Wow, these are some spectacular photos and patterns! Thanks for the web-link. After the success of some of those night-time wets, I'm planning on making them constituents in my everyday boxes. After reading all the wonderful wet fly posts throughout the past few weeks (with the outstanding informative posts by the expert DavyFly) I'm pumped for learning these techniques.

I'm going to start tying these now. If there were two or three staples, which ones should I focus most on? Which would be my "bread and butter"?

Thanks Nymphmeister for fueling a lot of these wet fly discussions. They have been extremely interesting.

[Nymphmeister]

Only 2 or 3? Boy that's tough. DavyFly listed his pick of 6 patterns in the Wet Fly Ways thread. #1. I guess I would make sure you have some version of a Hare's Ear wet- either the winged or soft hackle/flymph version, #2. something with a peacock body (Coch-y Bonddu, Brown Hackle Peacock, Leadwing Coachman, etc.) and #3. a bright, flashy tinsel bodied pattern like the Alexandra. Davy recommended starting with #12-16 in both medium and heavy wet fly hooks for starters- the 2 he mentioned were the Daichi -1530 and 1550. For early season use in high/dirty water you may want to tie up a few #8-10 too. Our guide friend from PA, Kurt Thomas of the Clarion River, swears by a modified #12-14 Picket Pin, says it outfishes every other wet he's tried. I've got a lot of faith in soft hackles & flymphs too, they are quite versatile and fish quite well in a nymph rig (hint, hint). There's also a lot of room for experimentation, mixing the old & new together.

[SlowNDeep]

I'm likin the Hardys favorite

Whats a picket pin? I've heard of that before but dont recall what it is.

[Nymphmeister]

Picket Pin Link:

http://www.danica.com/flytier/ttrexler/picket_pin.htm

Usually tied in #8-14 or so on a 2x-3x long hook. Kurt modifies it to more of a typical wet fly style & hook.

[CM_Stewart]

Here are three more links to classic wet flies. The first has some American classics http://www.classictrout.com/wetflies.php and the next two have some of the UK classics: http://www.angelfire.com/sports/wetfly/Index.html and http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/

[BLACKGHOST1]

Torrey, Aaron, Davy, alan_b ct, or anybody else,

On patterns like the Leadwing Coachman with that style wing, How do you shape the wing? And do you use any type of flexible cement to treat the wing before tying it on the hook?

[alanb_ct]

I don't tie many, but most books will say to use a "matched pair of mallard quills.". No one talks about painting the feather with fixative first. It is tricky to set the wings, but I have books with instructions. I will loan you one.