By Mike Hogue and Holger Heidt
I first meet Holger Heidt via the internet. Holger ties traditional Irish flies which sounded both interesting, unique almost somewhat exotic to me. I am always interested in new flies and after exchanging several e-mails, I asked Holger if he would be interested in making a few flies for my web site. A week or so later a box appeared in the mail with a set of beautiful Irish Wet Flies which Holger tied.
Holger lives in Ireland and by trade is a freshwater ecologist and works as an environmental consultant, conducting Environmental Assessment Profiles. Holger tells me that he has been tying since he was nine ( 22 years more or less). He still has the first fly he tied which is a Greenwell's Glory framed in his study. At one time Holger tied flies commerically to pay for some of his college. I have prepared a list of the patterns he sent with the dressing he listed. A fair number of the materials listed are difficult to find here in the US, although I stock the bulk of the items listed in each pattern. If you are unable to find something, don't be afraid to sub items for something similar. In some instances, a name which we use here in the US has been added or changed to avoid confusion.
Each of the flies listed below are called Lough Wet Flies. The flies listed were originally tied for the Loughs in Western Ireland, such as Lough Corrib but they are now used in Wales, Scotland and England as well several other countries. Holger tells me that to fish these, " You usually fish with three flies on a leader and drift along known or suspected places where fish are holding. Your leader with two droppers is generally the length of the rod you're fishing with and the flies are tied to droppers about two feet apart. Cast out and retrieve the flies at various speeds 'till you hit the jackpot. Simple and traditional stuff really, nothing fancy. " Hmm....... maybe I need to plan a trip to Ireland to see exactlly how this is done. I hope you enjoy these.
Claret Bumble
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tail: Golden pheasant tippets
Rib: Oval gold or wire
Body: Claret seals fur
Body Hackle: One claret and one black palmered together. You may also use Grizzly dyed Claret
Head hackle: Blue jay
Claret Bumble Variant
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Flo Orange
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets dyed Hot Orange
Rib: Oval gold or wire
Body: Claret seals fur
Body Hackle: One claret and one black palmered together. You may also use Grizzly dyed Claret
Head hackle: Blue jay Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Kingsmill ( AKA Penguin )
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tag: Blue floss Tail: Golden Pheasant Crests
Rib: Silver wire or very fine oval silver
Body: Black ostrich herl Hackle: Black cock
Wing: crow( rolled not folded) tied flat or low ( if you wish sub goose or duck quill dyed black )
Veiling: Golden Pheasant Crest tyed as a Topping Cheeks: Jungle cock
Golden Olive Bumble
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Olive
Tail: Golden pheasant crest
Rib: Oval gold tinsel or wire
Body: Golden Olive seals fur
Body Hackle: one golden olive and one light red game cock hackle palmered
Head Hackle: Blue Jay
Fiery Brown Bumble
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tail: red ibis or sub swan or goose shoulder dyed red
Rib: oval gold or wire
Body: Fiery Brown seals fur
Body Hackles: One fiery brown and one cock hackle dyed crimson
Head Hackle: Dark grouse
Green Peter Bumble
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Brown
Tag: Fluorescent green or red floss
Rib: Oval gold
Body: medium olive seals fur
Body Hackle: Dark red game cock ( Brown dry hackle ) or you can also use a dark red game and a medium olive cock hackle wound together
Head Hackle: Grouse
Bibio
Hook: Kamasan
B175 Size 8-16
Thread: 6/0 Black
Rib: Fine oval silver
Body: 3 parts black, red and black seals fur. There are variants that substitute the red seals fur for orange, claret or green seals fur
Body hackle: black cock palmered
Head Hackle: Black hen hackle
Thanks again to Holger Heidt for the nice flies and for his help in making these pages. If you are planning a trip to Ireland try a few of these flies. Mike
For more Info Contact:
Mike Hogue / Badger Creek Fly Tying / 622 West Dryden Road, Freeville, NY 13068
Phone: 607-347-4946