This fly, credited to Art Flick from the early days of fly-fishing in the USA, is probably one of the simplest yet effective trout dry flies, both for rivers and lakes.Gray Fox, Cream, and Dun are some of the names given to these dry flies according to the color of the mayflies imitated. These are N View more...This fly, credited to Art Flick from the early days of fly-fishing in the USA, is probably one of the simplest yet effective trout dry flies, both for rivers and lakes.Gray Fox, Cream, and Dun are some of the names given to these dry flies according to the color of the mayflies imitated. These are North American patterns that can be easily adapted to other waters and insects from around the world.The Variant pattern has oversized hackle and tail compared to regular dries; this enables it to be presented delicately and also allows the fly to skate softly on the water, giving the impression of a live insect.The extremely ethereal silhouette can be shaped with dubbing material in or with rooster feather quill as well. It is simple to tie because it has no wings, so beginners’ don´t usually have a problem. It is important to have rooster feathers with long hard fibers (with no web) for the hackle and tail, even though these are found in expensive high quality rooster necks or saddles.Recommended sizes range from #12 to #20, but it is an effective fly for lake fishing in sizes #8 to #10 (if one can get good feathers in this sizes). Thicker tippets must be used when casting a big Variant, to avoid the fly from turning and twisting it.Here, I will demonstrate how to tie the Cream Variant.
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List of materials
MATERIALSThread: 8/0, tan.Hook: dry fly hooks, sizes #8 to #20.Tail: rooster feather fibers.Abdomen: feather quill (tied by its tip), cream.Hackle: rooster feather, cream.
Steps
Step 1
To make the tail, tie a bundle of feather fibers. The size should be of, at least, twice the size of the hook shank.
Step 2
Tie a cream colored rooster feather quill by its tip and along the hook shank, up to the base of the tail.
Step 3
Wrap the quill on the hook shank to shape the abdomen of the fly.
Step 4
Tie a rooster feather by its base, right where we just tied the quill to shape the abdomen. This feather should be tied with its darker section pointing to us, so that the fibers head to the front when wrapped.
Step 5
Wrap the feather to make the hackle of the fly. Whip finish and cemment.
