More on wet flies (traditional winged wet flies)

[dixieangler]

Traditional winged wets intended for trout work just as good for me on bream as the soft hackles without wings although the latter is easier to tie without the wings, the former does swim better. The duck quill wings (some like to use goose) are matching duck quill sections and you can get these (large and small size packs in different colors) in the multicolored packages cheaply at a craft store or craft department called "Indian Feathers" used for kids' Indian headdresses and other art projects. The wings can be tricky and daunting at first and I would recommend taking a tying class on tying them to save yourself a lot of frustration (some tying books and DVD lessons might also help). Once the technique is mastered, it really becomes easy but unlike riding a bicycle, you can fall out of practice with wet fly wings and practice is the best medicine for wet fly wings. Here are a couple that are not my best tied wet flies (they won't win any tying ribbons) but they do work and I apologize for the poor quality of the photos as I was in a hurry when I took them and could have done better. Some folks like the curvature of the wing up but I like the curvature down because it swims better to me when its down. I also like a hackle collar as opposed to a throat or beard because I feel it give the impression of more legs and action to the bream.

The Yellow Miller is all yellow except for the gold beading wire rib. Matching duck quill sections ala "Indian Feathers." Hackle fiber tail, hackle collar, floss body, and thread head. You might be familiar with the Improved McGinty soft hackle without the wing by now but the one below is the traditional winged McGinty wet fly.

#10 Yellow Miller


#10 McGinty

[BUCKET HEAD]

Those Look Real Good To Me. Have You Tried Them?

[deathb4disco]

Robert,

Are the flies weighted at all?

[dixieangler]

Yes, BUCKET HEAD, they do work among other similar wets. Black Gnat, Professor, the Miller series (white, yellow, orange, etc.), Royal Coachman, and so on.

No, Kevin, these are not weighted but they can be if you want. A few turns of some sort of wire under the fly body should do. I just use them mostly for shallow suspending fish usually.

[tankcreekpanfisher]

Nice looking flies, thx