Tying a Woodcock & Hare's Lug Wet/Nymph with Davie McPhail

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill All-Purpose Medium size 12
Thread, Orange Pearsalls Gossamer Silk or Similar
Tail, Bronze Mallard Fibres
Tag and Rib, Small Gold Tinsel
Body and Head, Hare's Ear Dubbing
Wing, Woodcock
Hackle, Furnace Hen

[@mikehulsey4813]

I know I’ve commented before here when I first watched the video, but after watching a time or two more, and after watching many many more soft hackle videos, both your uploads and others that have done the same, I honestly believe that this is one of the best examples that I have ever seen produced of the formation of the soft hackle wing from start to finish. I love that you zoomed further out to show the entire woodcock wing and explained to all the feather that was selected, a secondary, not a primary or covert. Next, the pre-preparation of the feather fiber to prepare it to be torn away from the quill as well as the importance of tearing away vs cutting as the formation of the wing is honesty easier to form after being torn away. The folding of those fibers to form our shape of the wing with the fibers we have selected from that secondary and showing that you folded twice over, thus 3x the width you want the wing to be is the total amount of fiber needed. Lastly tying those fibers in to complete the wing creation. Brilliantly done and by far the best demonstration of one of the easiest methods I’ve used myself as I was tying my own wets. Had to stop and say something as I believe that wet fly videos in the future should show this as it is incredibly beneficial, and the more you show it this way, the more individuals believe it is “the” way that it should be done, and the more individuals you are able to educate and help moving forward. Thanks for all you do for our community Davie

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Honestly. that is a stunning fly. So elegant. Like most wet flies it will be a catcher. but I love it's beauty. That's important to me in fishing. :-)

[@ross1458]

Love it! Love the hackle up front and the Hare’s ear. I looks alive. ❤

[@michaelshaw8370]

IMHO the use of the hen hackle with the additional dubbing at the head more than doubles the movement and effectiveness of an already great fly

[@mikehulsey4813]

Absolutely love flies done in this style Davie! Can’t wait to see more over the colder months

[@moonstarer55]

Another fly knocked out of the park. Great fly

[@bobbell5265]

Great looking fly.....really enjoying the traditional flies 👌

[@ruthcoates9587]

Great fly! It may be one I’ll teach to my friends in my club at the winter gathering! Thanks!

[@AllanMHutton]

Another fantastic tying of a clsssic taditional style wet! 👌

[@optimusfly.]

Thanks for that davie I've not been tying my own flies for long and I've been tying some traditonal wet flies and I find it easier to fold the wing rather than trying to tie on a left and right pair at least for now that I'm learning anyway 👍

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

That's a fly I would definitely fish it in my home waters.

[@derekcunningham9993]

Love watching you tie these

[@stevequeen5964]

I've been looking to see this tied for ages, It's a great fly and very well tied.

[@allanhughes945]

Excellent davie

[@FlickingFeathers]

Love that Davie.

[@Rustyboyyy1]

Wow, masterful work.🤙

[@graemebrown1191]

Lovely looking fly Davie✌ Nice body profile and I really like the fur in front of the hackle.

[@o.verhie]

I don't know why, but that fly looks so perfect, I wouldn't even fish with it.

[@davidfraser4083]

Love this style of fly, thanks Davie.,stay well, Big Davie

[@kerrypitt9789]

That's a beautiful fly Davie! Makes me wish I was a trout!

[@FlyTyer1948]

That is a superbly designed & precisely tied fly. It will lightly push water & breath. Much respect on your tying. I’m kicking myself. I never thought about using woodcock, although the wing has a lovely pattern. I used to tie for a good friend who was a fishing & hunting guide in Maine who helped mentor me on fishing our favorite river. He frequently guided woodcock hunters & hunted woodcock himself. He gave me material at times, & I now regret I never asked him for woodcock feathers. Sadly, he passed several years ago.

[@markfritch3168]

You are the wing master Davie. Cheers

[@PapaTube-ep1nk]

An old Stirlingshire Reservoir and Loch favorite in a team of 3. Pennel on point, woodcock and hares ear, or woodcock and mix dropper and soldier palmer or bushy flee on the bob. Old school short line 11ft rod dribbling the bob to bring fish up. We never yanked lures in those days till the cats whisker arrived. 😂

[@dodgeydave21]

Lovely fly Davie. Well done

[@comesahorseman]

Great color on that silk!

[@АлександрПлахотный-ю1д]

Благодарю, Дэви! Отличная мушка! 👍🤝🇰🇿

[@burtonbrocious171]

Looks like a sure fish catcher davie

[@paulnevins5936]

Coincidence - have just read the chapter on winged wet flies in Roger Fogg’s book!

[@aurelienlinnenkamp9885]

GREAT, more real as natural 👌

[@icedaft]

Thanks for sharing, nice Fly as always! What is the Brand of this Japanese Silk that i can substitute to Pearsall's? Btw, do you know the Ephemera Silk from "au ver à soie"? It's a bit expensive but possibly a good substitute for Pearsall's.

[@stevepalmateer]

a textbook March brown pattern. I'm gonna' have to start keeping my woodcock and grouse primaries.

[@tylerpaquette9376]

When working with traditional silk do you find certain bobbins work better than others thanks for another great classic

[@grahamwebb3546]

Luv it.

[@markwood5564]

Classic!

[@adrianmowat]

Hi Davie. Beginner’s question. Are you putting dubbing wax on the thread with the hare’s ear? Thanks

[@kenelliott6458]

Great looking wet fly mate. What other sizes would you tie it besides the one you did. Best Regards from West Virginia, Ken 🎣🦆

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ken, I mostly tye these on 12s and 14s though it's nice on a size 16 too..I'm glad you liked the fly.. All the very best Davie

[@bobpetti4841]

Hi Davie - would you use the same technique to form the wing slip when using grouse?

[@igortheassistant]

Hi Davie, what sort of camera setup do you use?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi IgorTheAssistant, I use a Sony camcorder AX100e and I screw on a +2 filter which gives me the closeup I want..Because I use the filter I need to have the camcorder on my table and close enough for it to focus. I zoom in as close as I can go with the autofocus and then I switch it off and as long as I don't move the camera and the fly it will stay in focus even if I zoom in and out so it makes it easy for me to film.. All the very best Davie..

[@tattvamasi_1]

👍👍👏👏

[@АлександрНовиков-ч2в5л]

👍💪

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

Hello Cheech!

[@harrymartyn7241]

Hey Davie ! While I like your Scottish accent it does not translate well in your transcripts. I am hard of hearing and would like it if you would include a material list as well as transcript. I guess model doc is a mallard duck. Thanks for the great patterns and tying methods. Harry

[@normand3666]

I, je ct o. 😊 o. Ao un ok mon 😊oo❤9

[@kinnellian]

Another cracker for the wet fly fans - cheers 👍 YLI (or Kimono100) is a lovely silk to use and 'Ephemera' is ok - though obsessives looking for Pearsalls/Langley as close as you can get, it's hard to beat Morus Silks of Yorkshire. Bit spendy, but worth it. Not affilliated, I just tried many silks in a blind panic after running out of my treasured Pearsalls 😁