#30 drowned ant

The worker phenotype of the Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger) is our most common species in the UK. Only 3-5mm in length, it's a useful terrestrial for small fly tiers with an interest in imitation. Where I apply a little creative licence is in physiology... the natural has three distinct body sections: head, thorax and abdomen to my bi-sectional imitation. Legs are a must. I don't go for floating ants (a simple, generic beetle imitation is better if you're working the surface), even in winged form they soon penetrate the surface film and commence a slow descent. And the solid black colouration must stand-out in the top 2-3" of water.
Upwinged hatches ease up at this time of year, so small midges and terrestrials come in to play. Recent rain has freshened up the local streams, if it remains dry until the weekend levels will be near perfect to drift a drowned ant along undercut banks.

Hook: Varivas 2210 #30
Thread: Uni Trico 17/0 (black Pro Marker)
Legs: Three-strands of Niche Siliconised Polypropylene Yarn (black)

The hook is selected for it's fine wire (think slooow descent) and the curvature is ideal for imitating the defensive poise of the drowning insect. Fine thread assists with controlled build up of body profile and a cinched waist. Careful application of Hard As Nails adds a slick gloss finish.

Vintage Future (Mustad 94840 #28 & Varivas IWI S-2000)

Mustad's 94840 is one of the first mass produced small hook patterns (and precedes the more recent R50 update - same basic design but with a wider gape and lighter wire R30 variant) popular with AK Best, Don Holbrook and Ed Koch. Now discontinued, they are available for small change from Kenhook in Sweden. Eric and his team are selling off a massive stock of Mustad patterns at 70% discount. The background story also makes for interesting reading. I was keen to stock up for my own tying but also to have a large stock for fly swaps - something I'm more open to as the close season approaches.

 

I've also just received a box each of Varivas IWI S-2000 dry fly hooks in #20 and #22. Designed by Keiichiro Iwai for small fly, light line presentations they feature a long tapered point to enhance hook-setting and holding ability when targeting Yamame - this striking, Japanese native trout is noted for it's shy nature and lightning fast strikes. Iwai designed the unique Varivas line, leader, tippet and hook system which Mark Hamnett (head of Fishing Matters) will be discussing in an interview planned for this Autumn.

There's a tradition to the Mustad hooks that really appeals, especially when tying simple thread midge pupa patterns from Holbrook & Koch's Midge Magic. That said, modern hook design and manufacturing is an emersive subject which converges with an increasingly technical focus on small fly design and fishing. This link to the Varivas site provides fascinating design insights to Japanese fly patterns tied using Varivas fly hooks.  

#28 Caenis spinner

Like most (I guess...), I've become reliant on synthetic materials especially for tailing and wings. If you exclude thread and cement, this is an all-natural build:

Hook: TMC 2488 #28
Thread: UNI Trico 17/0 (coloured with henna Pro-marker)
Tails: Select mallard fibres
Abdomen: Fine peccary bristle
Wing: Cream cock neck

Winding the wing adds useful bulk to the thorax area, and a few stray barbs suggest legs. This is the Vince Marinaro winging technique described in In The Ring Of The Rise, so it has some pedigree and pre-dates the convenience of synthetics.
A tiny drop of Hard-as-Nails was added to the thorax, above and below... makes for a nice profile.
Not pure imitation, but covers the tiny caenis here pretty well... with just enough differentiation (marginally larger, slightly darker, stronger abdomenal segmentation) from the naturals to trigger a strike - .well, that's the theory.

Quill-bodied spent spinner

Nik Dahlin is the quill-bodied master - he's brought a fresh European flavour to the Catskill style of dry fly tying.
I takes thoughtful material selection and a steady hand to apply a stripped hackle stem on a #30 but it can be done if you take your time - using hackle pliers facilitates control. The use of Niche Shuck Yarn for the wing on this fly should ensure a drowned presentation, with attractive shimmer in the upper 2" of water. Blood red tailing (I'm using these more and more on small flies) seem to trigger positive strikes.
May fit in a drift or two this evening... I've added 18" of 8X tippet to a 7.5' / 7X Varivas leader on a SA XPS DT2F partnered with a 7' rod... could be good.

UPDATED

Just back... got skunked.

Well I got skunked, Cal raised the bar with his personal best, a thick-set, hard fighting brown of just over 30cm taken on a #20 Black Pennell and 6X tippet fished tight against the far bank on his 7' five weight.

We've been working on his line control (no need to work on his casting - his roll-casts are effortless) and tonight was a joy to watch - he outfished me with ease.

Nice start to the weekend.

Future - next generation

The wee folk headed back to school this week... it's been a great summer (those smiles say it all) and they're growing up fast. We travel to England next weekend for a family gathering...

 Cal (13yrs) deadly assassin with a #20 Black Pennel, A* in geography

Joni (8yrs) muliple medals in Irish Dancing (AKA Bonkers Joni)

James (6yrs) the Lego maestro, eats adult-sized portions of Irish stew for breakfast