Classic Wet Flies, Part 3

I've been at the vise pretty regularly over the past week or so, and, in addition to restocking the dry flies I've been going through, I've also made time to tie more of these beautiful patterns, most from Bergman's book.

Any deviations from the pattern as listed in Trout are noted.

Esmeralda

Tail: Brown Mallard
Body: Green Floss
Rib: Yellow Floss
Hackle: Brown
Wing: Slate

Fern

Tail: Brown

Body: Pink Floss

Hackle: Brown

Wing: Slate

Flagger

Tag: Gold Flat Tinsel

Body: Yellow Floss

Rib: Gold Oval Tinsel

Hackle: Dun

Wing: Slate

Hardy's Favorite

Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet

Body: Peacock

Rib: Red Floss

Hackle: Brown

Wing: Mottled Turkey

Note: This patten is not shown in Trout.  According to Bob Petti's Classic Wet Fly page, it's from Helen Shaw's book, which is on my list of must haves.

Indian Yellow

Tail: Ginger

Body: Light Brown Floss (Golden Brown shown)

Rib: Yellow Floss

Hackle: Ginger

Wing: Mottled Turkey

Irish Turkey

Tail: Yellow

Body: Green Floss

Rib: Yellow Floss

Hackle: Brown

Wing: Mottled Turkey

Last Chance

Tail: Scarlet Mallard Quill Slips

Body: Yellow Floss

Rib: Black Floss

Hackle: Brown

Wing: Slate

Light Caddis

I tied this one from memory, without referencing the pattern, and there are a few key deviations from the pattern, however, I feel the fly turned out really nice given my skill level, so I'm still putting it up here.  Like the Hardy's favorite, this pattern is also not shown in Bergman's book, but rather a pattern that I saw on Bob Petti's page over at Global Fly Fisher, which he referenced from Helen Shaw's Flies for Fish and Fishermen.

Tag: Silver Flat Tinsel (none shown)

Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet

Body: Peacock

Rib: Orange Floss

Hackle: Brown

Wing: Slate (Mottled Turkey shown)

I know these flies are far from perfect, but I'm having fun tying them, and my skills are improving, albeit slowly.  From this group, I think the Esmeralda, Irish Turkey, and Light Caddis turned out the best overall.  Over the weekend, the Indian Yellow caught a fish: a stream-raised brown, stocked as a fingerling a few years ago, in a small water filled with similar fish, proving that even somewhat ugly ties will still fool fish.  Aside from my own inexperience, though, I think these, and all the other classic wet patterns are really among the most beautiful flies...not quite so elaborate or gaudy as the full dress atlantic salmon flies, but with a simple, elegant look, and they're practical enough that they will actually get tied on, as opposed to some of the intricate salmon flies, which belong in a shadowbox, and not in the water.

Please, as always, leave comments!