RAMBLINGS OF A FLY TYER
Western Green Drake and Flav
I have fished a lot of water, water types in different states and different hatches, but none that intrigue me more than the Green Drake. I should say, the Green Drake family. There are three of the large green drakes, two lesser green drakes and one small green drake. They all have a nymph, an emerger, a cripple, a dun and a spinner phase. That is 6 flies x 5 patterns equals 30 patterns, right? Let’s simplify this. For the 3 large or greater green drakes, and 2 lesser green drakes, you can use the same 5 patterns, just change the hook size. The third will use 5 different patterns. I’m not going to show 5 patterns, let alone 30. I will give you all the common names and Latin names of all three sizes. The Western Green Drake and the Giant Green Drake’s Latin names are Drunella grandis, Drunella dordsii and the Drunella spinifera and are in size 8-10.
The Lesser Green Drake or Flav’s Latin name is Drunella Flailinea and Drunella Coloradensis in size 12-14. The small Green Drake was just classified from the B.W.O. family a couple years ago. Is called the Margarite size, latin name Attenella margarite in size 14-16.
These flies hatch on most spring creeks or slower parts of big and small rivers and streams. We will start with the Western Green Drake and Flav, both will use the same patterns, just different size. There are lots of patterns; this is just the one I like.
Hook: Daiichii 1180 – 1190, or your favorite, size 8-10
Thread: 8/0 – 16/0 olive & brown (or use brown pantone pen)
Tail: Moose body hair
Wing: Dark dun hen
Body: Olive turkey biot
Thorax: Peacock or your favorite olive dubbing
Hackle: Olive & chartreuse dry fly hackle
Head: Brown thread or (a commercial tyer’s trick) color about 3” of olive thread with a brown water proof marker, build head and whip finish.
This is the way I tie this fly, but you may use a different order, if it works better for you. Pinch the barb on the hook. I start the thread 3 eye lengths back. Set your wings back to back, and length of the hook. Then add tail, 3 to five moose body hair. Tie in to olive turkey biot and wrap forward to just behind the wing. I find it works best by putting hackles in now, put in thorax then wrap hackles. Finish head in brown 16/0 or color 3” of olive thread with brown marker (as stated in recipe).
