Trying tying

[WylieSchroederHaggerty]

Dont want to be a slacker so I have switched gears ever since the prep for my last fishing trip. I reviewed Nick's tutorial on tying spey flys and it helped very much as I try and work the ring rust off. This pattern is what I would like to tie for the swap. Its a classic and since the whole goal is to stick it in a fishes maw I wanted to tie it up proper.

I first fished this fly three years ago on during a Thanksgiving trip to the Slammin. I had worked a pool twice over with nill and decided to switch to the Grey Heron, and ended up hooking three steelhead on one pass through the pool landing two of the three losing one at my feet after not being able to bank the fish due to the high eroded bank or poor angling.

I would like to tighten up this pattern so critique is key. I keep telling myself that the feelings will transition form frustration to rewarding.

When I get the chance I will put some head cement on the fly to make it look a bit better.

[VERNBURM]

I certainly am no expert on these, but here is what I would do: use only 3 turns of ribbing for the tag and either use uni-yarn for the rear body or spin the dubbing in a loop. To me it looks chunky between yellow and black. Also consider starting the hackle at the third turn of the ribbing. To me the hackling looks good and the wing length is very good. On a personal note I always counter rib for durability and sacrafice the clean looking hackle job...thus I always trap a few fibers when counter ribbing. Off to a good start!

[SteveKowalski]

I like it! great proportions.
I would pick out/fluff up the butt - Is it dubbing or just yarn?
And I totally agree with Vern O, counter rib the hackle.
oval tinsel is pretty strong stuff and will help
Lately I have been ribbing just about every thing i tie (that involves a rib) with wire. more for hackle preservation than the flash.