Tying the Hardy's Favourite (Wet Fly) with Davie McPhail

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill All-Purpose Medium size 12
Thread, Uni-8/0 Black
Tail, Golden Pheasant Tippet
Rib, Red Floss
Body, Peacock Herl
Hackle, Brown Partridge
Wing, Speckled Hen

[@sigurdurmarolafsson4183]

Love that fly. And the "hackle plier trick" has been a great help for me since my fingers are the size of sausages!!?😂😂😂

[@danjohnson6292]

When ever I try to put wings on a fly I can never get them to set the way I want. You always make it look soooo easy. Your video titles should include Davie McPhail, Master Fly Tyer. I'm sure you are far to humble though... Love watching you tie.

[@GHuber-xh5vv]

Well tied. That pattern is one of my favourite wet flies.

[@comesahorseman]

Very nice! 👍

[@kentw.897]

Very Nice pattern Davie. I especially like the way you tied in the wings. I want to get good at that. Thanks for sharing this video. Aloha🌴🎣🦃

[@Flies_the_limit]

Makes those wings look so easy lol. Just started working on slip wings and they can be pretty frustrating. Practice practice!

[@freddysflyz]

What a beautiful fly this is! Wonderful - thanks for sharing!

[@TheXeniaman]

Very nice wet fly, Davie. It is a pleasure to watch you tie flies.

[@ivanvalentin7127]

Again the king prevails. You are the master as setting wings Davie. I haven't done any of those wings since my last demo that I tied just to have it as a decoration on my fly tying desk.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

A wonderful and very effective old pattern/ I love old traditional wets and fish them all ththetime. :-)

[@chrisbukowski9434]

Nice 👍

[@elduderoony8171]

It must be like art. People look at pictures in a gallery and see their favourites. This is another one that stands out for me so is obviously to my taste! And, that’s ‘another’ one I’ll have to try Davey! Thank you for these ‘golden oldies’......

[@Loyalist-ul6qm]

You make it look easy my wings always split then I freak out after about 5or6 times thanks David I appreciate your help mate.

[@franciscopablodaloia7169]

It is an elegant, delicate, minimalist and essentially beautiful wet fly. Thank you very much, Davie, for sharing your knowledge of master of fly tying with us. Best regards from Argentina, all the very best for you

[@dannymcg8300]

Superb fly Davie. Well tied and explained as always. Many thanks for sharing.

[@deppipesdavey5471]

Thank you davie for your lesson`s on fly tying they are excellent and a great joy to watch.I have been fly fishing for wild brown/ sea trout and making flies since i was a boy starting without a vice and had to undo shop bought flies to see how they wear made.finding your lesson`s has helped me so much thank you you are a master fly dresser.

[@BB1872]

Great old pattern that works a treat ive done a few with small holograpgic red tinsel ,fantastic tye once again Davie 👍

[@garylawlor2288]

Love the work Davie. This is a lovely fly to tie in my opinion along with the March Brown, I really enjoy tieing these pattern. Thanks again for all your great videos. You have brought my tying of trout flies up a great notch since I started watching your videos over the past 3 or so years. 🙏

[@terryllmonroe6903]

I just added this fly to my list of flies to tie. Thank you Mr. McPhail

[@krallmi48]

I did enjoy it, Davie... thank you. I've come to love wet flies. You've leaned me that way over the years, and I look forward to every one you decide to show. Mike

[@hankvana2149]

WOW Davie!! What a blast from the past! Haven't tied or fished one of these in decades. Classic wet flies like this are sadly missing from my fly boxes - I'll remedy that this winter, it's long past time to make up a dedicated "Classic Wet Fly" box. Another classic that was always deadly for brook trout was the Dark Montreal. Never knew what it imitated but I caught all kinds of trout, bass and panfish on a size #12 Dark Montreal - all season long. Thanks Davie! ATB! Hank

[@donjensen6805]

You are one of the reasons I have taken up fly tying. So impressed by your videos.

[@Vincentdonnelly5158]

My vice is out. Your friend has great taste. Looks deadly. Thanks Davy your the man.

[@OldBear5255]

Great looking classic you tied mate. I love tying the old ones. They work very well here for our rainbows and browns. Thanks for sharing some from the past. Seems like a lot of Tyers forget where and how it became. Best Regards, Ken

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

Awesome fly and I have all the materials to tie one. Thanks Davy!

[@edsauer2889]

Your skills at the vice never cease to amaze me. Would that is were actually as easy as you make it look!!! Thanks.

[@dannymcg8300]

Lovely fly Davie and great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@seanearnest]

What a gorgeous pattern Davie, thank you

[@hywelmathias5470]

Dave a true master of the art

[@flytyer2368]

If there is every true recognition for “Greatest Fly Tyer of the Millenia” I would certainly nominate you because I like going with a sure thing... All my best to you my friend.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Thank You Fly Tyer for your very kind words... All the very best Davie...

[@jackreeves3001]

Again thanks for sharing your time!

[@franciscopablodaloia7169]

Amazing, beautiful and effective fly. Thank you very much Davie from Argentina

[@lazetanqn]

Well....what can i say? Always is a pleasure watch your videos. Thanks a lot

[@lesterismyname]

Fantastic as always! Great looking fly.

[@davidveilleux6370]

Sweet tie you always make it look so easy

[@tonythomas5978]

Another stunning fly Davie, looks so easy when you do it. Winging it, is far from easy, I'll keep practicing some more. All the Best, Tony.

[@wayneandrews1278]

Very cool looking fly

[@colynbarrett8127]

Perfection as always Davie. Also, always a Pleasure to watch you. May i take this opportunity to wish you ' Tight Lines ' For the forthcoming season! Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn. S.Wales.

[@joerussellflytying]

Beauty as always Davie , very nice

[@kiyoshilengyel4747]

this one is going to be my favo.too.. thnx.for sharing Daviesan!! ;))

[@harrymellor8797]

Davie you are the messiah

[@bjrnedvardsen6331]

A great fly and a great tie

[@johnh1159]

If you stopped tying this fly half way through you would almost have a red 'holographic' Diawl Bach. Lovely tie Davie.

[@AllanMHutton]

That looks absolutely superb

[@richarddvll]

definatly and awesome pattern

[@militarist7777]

Да вот это приманочка получилась огонь.

[@Rustyboyyy1]

Cracken fly, beautifully tied!!!

[@johnnyarmstrong9101]

Thanks for taking me to school Davie.

[@Relikt59]

Looking fly. 👏

[@Туйкос]

BEST!

[@cijous4]

una clasica realmente muy bien hecha. Felicidades

[@OlufsWaterview]

Great fly.

[@birrapampa]

Thanks a lot, Master!!

[@marekbosak7508]

Great pattern, very effective here in southern Poland!

[@steveg8322]

Doubtless Mr.Laurel's favourite fly as well.

[@jeffdankert2421]

that's a beauty

[@user-gm9kr1vu6o]

Davie как всегда оригенально 👍

[@alexthommen9442]

Danke!

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Alex, Thank you very much for your thanks and donation to my channel, it does mean a huge amount to me..I will add you to this months monthly draw and if your number comes up I will be in touch with you.. All the very best Davie

[@fliesbychris]

Looks great Davie, you make the wings look far too easy!!!

[@fliesbychris]

Could you do a daddy long legs please Davie, I've been looking for a good pattern.

[@andrewcox9279]

Here's a tip use some clear nail varñish on the underneath of each wing tip to stop splitting

[@userAguatic35]

Хороший вариант, лежит такой в коробочке.

[@terryllmonroe6903]

Absolutely fantastic Mr. McPhail. I am trying to copy your folding of the wings and somewhat struggling with it. You also said to place the wings on top of the shank before tying in to make it easier. I also noticed that when you do wrap the thread as you're pinching the wings, your fingers slightly slide down towards the eye. Is this to prevent the wings from rolling over to the side?

[@SlickRoode]

Fantastic proportions and the winging was effortless, always setting the bar. Can I ask where you get your Hen (Chicken) wings, either full paired wings or packets of paired feathers? I used to be able to get them quite easily years ago, but finding good quality ones nowadays has been very difficult.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Thanks Slick Roode, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and appreciate the kind comments..I bought the speckled hen quills from Cookshill a few years ago when I was at one of the fly fairs and I could look through them to get the colours I wanted..I'm running out so I'll probably be giving him a call soon.. All the very best Davie..

[@SlickRoode]

@@DavieMcPhail I appreciate the info. I'll get on to Steve and see what he has. Thank you.

[@gregorholtzer7044]

Superb! What does this fly represent? Which part of the year best to use in what sizes?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Gregor, Sorry about the delay in getting back to you...The Hardy's Favourite is more of a suggestive pattern and could give the impression of a few flies depending on the size it's tyed...I personally have fished it in the summer months in the lochs off Scotland and did really well with it..I'm glad you liked it.. All the very best Davie

[@kuttycrew]

Very nice Davie, any idea who can supply Speckled hen in the states? Or a reasonable substitute?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Kuttycrew, I did a search for you but couldn't find a good supplier though Woodcock is used a lot on the fly as well as Grouse, also worth trying is Hen Pheasant...I'm glad you liked the fly.. All the very best Davie..

[@aidangill9064]

Nice fly davie it's the only thing I have tube doing is the wing's

[@norwegianguy9480]

I just can't get the wings right. They always bend to one side or folds.

[@mosik_mo]

очень крутая муха

[@thestalicho]

What happened while you were off camera?

[@krallmi48]

I've been, off and on, searching for "speckled hen" feathers (secondaries) and not found a one. Would you say what your source for them is please? Mike

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mike, Give Steve Cooper a call at Cookshill and ask if he can help you as it was him that I bought the feathers from a few years ago...Another good feather for these flies is Woodcock as it was used a lot on them as well...ATB Davie...www.cookshill-flytying.co.uk/herl.htm

[@krallmi48]

@@DavieMcPhail Thank you, Davie. Mike

[@davidroberts8499]

What head cement do you use

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi David, I use Veniards clear varnish as well as their thinners which helps make the varnish last for a very long time...I have attached links for you to see and also to the bottle with the brush.. All the very best Davie Varnish..www.veniard.com/cellire/p/5611 Thinners..www.veniard.com/unitit-thinners/p/5609 Bottle with the brush..www.veniard.com/brush-coat/p/5622

[@davidgardner1612]

Davie, I notice you have changed the method you use to tie in palmered and head hackles. Previously you “doubled over” the waste tip and tied it down before breaking off or cutting. Now you seem to just tie in what looks to me to be a very short length before wrapping. Why the change?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi David, I don't always fold the stem back as the stem of some hackles can be too thick and cause problems especially if you are going to tye a wing on as a small lump will cause the wing to twist and not sit right so I will at times work round the feathers I am using... All the very best Davie..