Just starting.. but have watched lots of your videos to learn. Finding material is not easy and when you put in a order ..there goes a hundred bucks. When you tie this simple yet FISH catching flies it reminds me Use what you have.. I've caught plenty of fish on a yarn egg with a nymph below. The bigger fish hit the egg. I love the Art of tying, and learning keep my mind busy.. some times over thinking.. When you go back to simple but effective Catching Flies.. I tie more. Thanks for helping us learn..
I am not surprised that these two models, classic in their design, have caught a lot of fish! And thanks for helping me solve a little problem with making ephemeral wings with a single portion of quill in this video.
Davie sir, you are an absolute joy to watch in the craft, and tru gem in the sport of fly fishing. I honestly only last week realised what those holes that appear on Turkey tails wher! Doh! Lafyn to myself at the amount of times I stared at wing feathers with a furrow on me brow only to wrinkle me nose and place it back in the paper cup a couple less fibers and me no wiser on the 8 gage!
Well Davie, great informative video, making myself a cup of tea, then going to try these. Keep the tutorials coming, they are really are helpful to us learners. Thank you, regards Jed
Dear Davie, thank you for your videos, I'm going to try tie my first fly and I'm sure you showed me the way how to do that. There are lot of videos on the internet but no one can compare to you. Thank you! Regards from Czech republic.
I have loved all your videos over the years, but I always come back to this one. Takes me back to basics.....the subtlety and simplicity. Those special Indian capes that were all we had back then.
I like how such a skilled tyer who has tied up many complex patterns wouldn’t leave home without this simple little grey duster. There is something to be said for that but I don’t have the words, however I can say that I admire that in you. My badger cape just arrived in the mail today... :)
Nice work Davie, I've tied a few of those to give a go in a week or so when I head fishing with my father in law. Can't wait to give them a try. Thanks for another great video.. Hope all is well... Sam, and the family...
Hi Jeff Dosser, I use Prepared Fly Tyers Wax which is sold by a wholesale company called Veniards and what I do is cut off a small piece then I'll soften it by working it between my fingers until it's soft and tacky. I will then attach it to the side of my finger ready to be used...I'm glad you are enjoy your tying... All the very best Davie
Every day a school day Davy. I've just finished a box o Diawl bachs of sorts 😅 now onto some dries. Don't know about wings yet but def that Grey Duster. Beautifully done znd explained. Thanks again.
I use to get shipped down to my Grandparents in Edinburgh on the summer holidays. And I use to fish "The Water of Leith" in Roseburn. My two favourite dry flies were the "Gray Duster" and "Hen and Yellow" :)
I subscribed, i like your scottish accent and also the way you do your instruction, i was struggling with wings but not anymore thanks to you :), i will be tying these flies tonight, cheers to you from Nova Scotia, Canada
Davie, I heard you say anywhere where trout are rising these flies will work. I am never sure whether to tie a fly, especially if you tied if for Ireland. I live in the Easternmost state in the U.S. and I have never fished these flies. I tie them for peace of mind. My wife is ill and I don't get out much to fish. Like never, but I love to tie flies. I would like them to be effective when ever I do have my job done. Thanks so much for teaching how to tie flies. You have saved my sanity! Sean
Davy, love your videos, you are a consumate professional at what you do and glad that like me, you still believe in the continuing effectiveness of slip wing flies. And you show how relatively easily they can be tied using your style. They caught lots of fish in the days of Halford, Skues, Marryat and others and there's no reason why they shouldn't today. In fact I seem to have more success with spinners (e.g. Orange quill) with slip wings than just hackle alone. Spinners for example are not dry flies that alight on the surface of the water, they are dead or dying flies in the surface (Meniscus) of the water, so I tend to use slip wings and trim the bottom of the hackle short and press the wings flat so the fly lands in the water, with the wings showing in the water, and the short underside hackle pressing into the water like feet. It works for me. I don't believe in having 'pretty flies' to be honest, the fish can see that they are too perfect and if I buy flies the first thing I do is 'rough' them up between the fingers. Skues mentions a lot of methods in his books (e.g. the short underside hackle) and they have worked for me!
I've watched and learnt from many of your videos enabling me to build up a comprehensive collection of flies and fly tying materials. I've just watched the Special Klinkhammer video and you use Bug Bond instead of varnish or Superglue. I'm interested in why because Bug Bond is rather expensive compared to the other 'varnishes'
Mr Mc Phail, I tie a pattern similar to your grey duster which works well for trout. I actually tie it in a few colors both body and hackle... Thank You!
thanks davie,i think the rough flies r usually the best,my favourite been the bob s bits tyed in lots of different colors and dennis moss's chocolate drop sedges,very easy to tye and they can take a good hammering before u need to change them,take it aisy and keep em coming
Caught my first ever wild brownie in a small stream with a grey duster. Not that long ago, to be honest, and now am about to try tying one for first time.
Davie, I couldn't agree with you more. The Grey Duster is perhaps one of the most effective flies ever. I use them in different sizes with great effect. Personally I find the Grey Duster in sizes 16 and 14 to be best on the rivers and a size 12 is terrific arounf may Fly time on the Loughs. Greetings from Ireland.
Hello Davie... Now that I'm able to watch again, I had to come to this tie and see it again. I was wondering if this might be a tying you would consider doing again in higher resolution... maybe show the difference in tying thread color used for the lark & grey. Only if you are looking for something to do, mind you. Mike
Just going over my to-do list and ‘sorted’ it oldest first and this was my first one. While we’re locked in and going barmy I’m trying to up the stakes on my abilities. It’s slow going..... I’ve got to get to grips with the scale of everything to balance the fly up as well as basic techniques. Early days lol!
Outstanding flies very well orchestrated they are beautiful looking flies i would love to learn them could you please send me info on the grey duster thx so much, as usual your a great teacher and enjoyable to watch
I'll make sure to tie a few of these for sure. Also, I don't know if it is your style, but I would very much enjoy to see your take on some pike patterns, more precisely popper patterns and things similar. A mouse pattern perhaps?
Davie, Love the videos as usual..if you run out of moles over there in Scotland..I have some in my yard waiting for you to trap. All I ask if that you show me how shave the dubbin off them!
Davie excellent as usual !!!!! I am looking at the old style flies to top up box - would you say you could touch the wing tips with a smidgen of varnish to keep them from splitting ? Cheers
Hi Steve, I'm glad you liked the flies..I wouldn't do this as it will cause the flies to spin and this will twist your cast up..The fly still fishes well and I feel it looks even better once the fibres have separated so don't worry about it... All the very best Davie
When I tie winged flies like this, I always put a tiny drop of Veniards ‘flue glue’, with the dubbing needle, at the base of the wings. The flies don’t spin and the wing holds together much longer.
Dear Davie, Don’t know how to contact you other than this so I hope you see this. You mentioned you would try a Dynamite Harry Gray duster. Don’t forget to show us. Some of theses old “rough” patters are great on any water.
Hello again my long distance friend. Just tied my first . It turned out gorgeous following your instructions with the wings using a size 14 hook. My smallest fly yet. Would love to know how you keep the wax on your finger to use . Saves having to pick up a stick and also seals the whip finish without having to put on head cement.
i learned something here i like tying this fly with a quill body (peacock hurl striped away) and i always had trouble with the wings i used twwo feathers and the always seperated i will try your method
Hey davie ive not seen your videos in a while its great to be back. Also if you know the pattern could you maybe tye the crimp shrimp it is supposed to be doing great for salmon on the local rivers Thanks Jamie
Hi Davie, I just started tying flies but I don't have a big enough budget to buy all the materials you are using. I was wondering if you'd be able to make a video on some materials that you thing are essential when starting with flytying, and maybe give some comment on different sort of dubbing or other materials. It would help me out a lot. Greets from Holland
hi Davie I can never stop watching your videos....they are always so entertaining. love the music u play at the beginning and end.....one quick question though....do you buy the feathered skin or do you make them yourself? and what kind of bird is it? thank you again for all the great videos
Hi kao chang, I buy almost all my materials as they have been cleaned and are ready for use unless I need to dye them a certain colour then I'll give them a wash before and after dying..I'm glad you enjoy the videos and as well you like to listen to the music which my son composed and played for me... All the very best Davie
Hi Mike, I just use a pair of reading glasses to tye with which I buy from a local store so I've been lucky with good eyesight...I'm glad you liked the flies.. All the very best Davie..
And I enjoyed it again, Davie... probably the 20-odd time I've watched you tie these two flies... =] I'm wondering a thing. Here and with other flies using mole fur bodies, you mention blending it with a little bit of rabbit. Would you say about the proportion you find to work well doing this, please? Mike
Hi Mike, I would add just enough not to take too much of the colour of the mole away as it will lighten the dubbing if you add in too much, and just enough that it spreads throughout the dubbing...I'm glad you enjoy the video and the flies as they are still a favourite of mine.. All the very best Davie..
