1/ Lay
a thread base as we usually do. Then select a couple
of similar sized grizzle hacklepoints. Use a cheap
grizzle cape/neck available for uner $20 at most
flyshops for this purpose. You will get many hundreds
of wing posts out of such a cape. Tie in ywo feathers
back to back standing vertically from the hook shank.
Carefully take several wraps around the base of
the wing and then continue winding to the rear of
the hook.
2/ Take
a bunch of hackle fibres from a light brown, ginger
or barred ginger cape. Tie them in so that they
are equal in length to the hook shank. The first
clump should extend to the rear of the fly and be
offset at roughly 45 degrees from the hook shank.
The second bunch should be the same length but offset
in the opposite direction. See next step.
3/ You
can see clearly here what we mean. The tail fibres
should be splayed out at angtle from the hook to
give this look. This helps the fly balance perfectly
on the water, even in very rough conditions as well
as looking very natural. Don't worry about getting
it exactly as shown. Near enough is good enough
is my motto when tying flies for 'fishing'.
4/ Next
up, take a pinch of dubbing from the packet and
apply it to the thread. The soft underfur of much
of a rabbit skin is ideal as the colour is exactly
what we are after and the softness will make the
dubbing process even easier. Don't worry too much
about this material being water absorbent as we
have a lot of flotation in the oversized hackle
to come. Also it is tied on a heavy nymph hook to
keep it low in the water.
5/ Wrap
your dubbed thread forward and build a thin, slightly
tapering body (thinner at the back of the hook,
getting thicker towards the wing). When you have
reached the wing move the thread forward of it and
remove any excess dubbbing not needed now. You should
have something like what we have in the photo to
the right.
6/ Take
a hackle feather and strip the flue from it. Now
tie it in carefully, trying to get the shiny side
towards you as shown and the feather extending to
the rear of the hook. When you have done this trim
the feather stub not needed and continue to wind
the thread to the hook eye where the next step will
start.
7/ Take
another pinch of dubbing and apply it to the thread.
This time we want a slightly bulkier section of
body. Wind back and build the body between the hook
eye and wing. This should also be slightly tapered,
thinnner at the eye and getting thicker towards
the wing. When complete remove any excess dubbing
and move to the next step.
8/ Gently
grasp your hackle feather and begin winding it around
the wingpost. Starting on the far side in wind towards
you in an anti-clockwise direction. Be careful and
take your time so that you don't get frustrated
trying to wind it around the feather (which can
be difficult the first few times). Wind at least
5 times until you have a nicely hackled fly and
then pull the thread forward to the hook eye, tie
off and trim exess and thread.
9/ This
is a final view of the completed fly when seen
from above. Notice the tail filaments are angled
out giving it superb flotation as does the heavy
parachute hackle. This fly can be tied in sizes
outside the ones nominated above and also in other
colours. Rust is particularly deadly.
Requests for this fly over
the past year have prompted us to feature this fly pattern.
The
Pattern
Bushy's Dun is one of those
patterns that know just has to work. Combining many
characteritics of other well known patterns he has come
up with an interesting fly that works well. As guides
on the Goulburn and Rubicon Rivers we wouldn't venture
out without a supply of them and the numberof fish caught
locally with them each season would be too great to
count. The fly combines a heavy hook and water absorbing
body material that keeps it anchored in the film. The
parachurte tie ensures it lands the correct way every
time and this alone should see everyone fishing parachutes
as their standard dun patterns.
So tie some up today. We
are sure that not only will you enjoy looking at the
finished product but that it will bring you success
right through the trout season.
