Interesting, useful and successful flies

PART 3. THE JASSID

          Few books have given such an impact on fly fishing as "A Modern Dry Fly Code" written by Vincent Marinaro and published in 1950. There he presented "The Jassid" as an imitation of various terrestrials. Today it's normal to use fly patterns that imitate terrestrials like beetles, ants, grasshoppers and so forth. But at that time it wasn't. So this work was ground breaking. I wonder how he was viewed among fly fishermen in general. Was he viewed as some kind of heretic? Probably by some puritans among fly fishermen. But obviously the message got through in time. Imitations of terrestrials were here to stay.

          The Jassid Dry Fly is a pretty basic pattern but it has it's drawbacks. The main material, the JC nail, is by it's nature fragile and often split. Furthermore it's not so easy to obtain and is quite expensive. Since the Jassid usually is used in small sizes that makes it even more difficult to obtain suitable material of good quality. In this case hooks, hackle and thread. Can some of these drawbacks be dealt with? Well, yes indeed they can. Let's start with the JC nail. Perhaps you noticed that the jassids in the photo above are quite glossy. It has an explanation.

          The JC nails are treated with a cote of Clear Cure Goo Tack Free as shown in the picture above. This resin can fix split nails and reinforce the JC nail so it can last for more than just one trout. I've been treating quite a few of the larger size jassids that I have. The first one I tied with an already cured JC nail is the little bugger in the front on the first picture. It's tied on a Partridge K1A Vince Marinaro Midge Fly Hook size #24. Let's take a closer look at that one.

From the right hand side

From above

          Here it's easy to see that the JC nail have been cured. I'm quite positive that it will make the fly more durable. Probably won't have a chance to test until the next season. Another thing with this fly is that I've used a new thread that I've just obtained. It can be seen in the picture below.

          The thread is called "Veevus" and can be found in different colors and strengts. I've used the black 16/0 as seen in the picture and I can really recommend this thread for tying tiny flies. It's the best thread I've ever used for midge flies. Since I've used Uni-Thread Caenis 20/0, Uni-Thread Trico 17/0 and Sheer 14/0 I can certainly recommend this thread. It's is my favorite thread now and it can be used with my favorite bobbin holder (the C&F Midge Bobbin Holder) as seen in the picture also. The thread is incredible strong and makes it easier to tie midge flies with confidence that the thread won't break. It's thin but has a good "bite".

          Just couldn't help it. Had to try to tie a Jassid size #32 with the same thread and a JC nail previously cured. Above is the result. I would recommend though the use of Clear Cure Goo Hydro when making really tiny flies since it should be easier to applicate to the smaller nails needed.

Additional methods to make the jassid more durable:

Winding the tying thread a little down the shank and tying in the hackle just a tad in  onto the bed of thread to avoid getting the hackle against the hook shank. Otherwise it easily gets cut off when you trim the barbs below the shank.

Cutting off the barbs of the JC nail instead of just stripping it.

Doubling the waist piece of the nail back while tying on the JC nail.

Using varnish, superglue or CCG Hydro finishing the head.

Cure the junction between the JC nail and the head to make it more durable.

          Well, some of these suggestions are quite obvious, but since I want that even those that just are entering on the path of enjoying the nature whilst fly fishing to understand, I've tried to make things as clear and understandable as possible.

Hope you enjoyed the post.
Best wishes,
M.O.

CLICK TO ENLARGE THE PHOTOS

Interesting, useful and probably (at least hopefully) successful flies.

Part 2: Trico Fly Pattern inspired by a Vincent Marinaro imitation

Trico with black mole fur as thorax

The same in the vice

Trico with natural mole hair as thorax

Trico on leather to give a better look of the body

          I have modified Vincent Marinaro's favorite fly for trico hatches. In his book "In the ring of the rise" he says the following about the fly in question:

 

"My favorite pattern for the female spinner is as follows:

Hook: 24

Tails: three fibers of palest blue dun or palest cream hackle. 

Body: two layers of clear white horsehair; start at the center of the shank, wind to the bend, then back to center again.

Thorax: black fur or black Angus wool (wonderful stuff that I collected from a barbed-wire fence).

Hackle: two or three turns of a tiny blue dun or palest cream hackle."

          Well it's quite obvious that I have used some modern material that Vincent didn't have access to. A short tying description of my modified fly would be:

Thread: Uni-Thread Trico 17/0

Hook: Partridge K1A Vince Marinaro Midge Fly Hook size #24

Tails: White microfibbets tied split

Body: White horsehair 1 layer

Thorax: Natural or black fur from mole

Wings: Tiemco Aero Dry Wing or just White Polypropylene

No hackle.

          The thing that I think makes this fly different is the use of white horsehair. I gives the fly a transparent look that I've never experienced before. It is as if light is emitted from within the body. So I do thumbs up for white horsehair.

I was fortunate to obtain horsehair in white, black and brown

          I've just found horsehair at one fly tying shop online (here in Sweden in fact) that currently stock that material. It originates at Veniard. I've tried to convey the translucency that this material gives to a fly in my photos but they don't give a fair look of  it at all. So if you get your hands on some white horsehair give it a try! You won't be disappointed.

Hope you liked the post.

Kind Regards,

M.O.

PARENTHESIS - Sea Trout and Salmon Flies

My Sea Trout Fly Tying Period

 

          I had a Sea Trout Fly tying period in the mid nineties. Was planning on fishing for sea trout since there are some nice locations along the coast here. I never got further than tying flies, experimenting quite a deal. So all these flies are unused. Some individual photos of some of the flies follows.

A Danish fly called Juletrae (Christmas tree) Wonder why?

Back in the old box again with other flies

          So I never actually started to fly fish for sea trout. In other words this fly tying just became a PARENTHESIS in my fly tying and fly fishing life. Hopefully this post might inspire some that use flies that are 4-5 inches long. I think these would do good fly fishing for both sea trout and salmon.

Have fun whatever way you choose to fly fish,

M.O.