The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

does anyone use this deadly grayling bug.i used to ty it with red thread under the wool and when it got wet the red would come through.has anyone got the traditional pattern?

I've not got the traditional pattern but I've tied them with both godhead beads and shell backs and done very well, hardly traditional though.

Still found plain old grey a killer colour in 99% of situations.

Hovis wrote:I've not got the traditional pattern but I've tied them with both godhead beads and shell backs and done very well, hardly traditional though.

Still found plain old grey a killer colour in 99% of situations.

I would agree with you hovis,greys a good colour for grayling.

Firebird wrote:I think it's difficult to get the particular wool. I too tie mine with red thread and pale dubbing. Gives a similar effect.

I dont think the wool has been available for years now,maybe the red tied in is common but i dont know if that would be the original pattern firebird.

I have some original killer bugs tied by Mrs Sawyer (she did all the tying, as a good wife should) I also have a couple of cards of Chadwick 477
Frank used a very fine almost red copper wire in the tying, no silk is used.

Pafpuff wrote:I have some original killer bugs tied by Mrs Sawyer (she did all the tying, as a good wife should) I also have a couple of cards of Chadwick 477
Frank used a very fine almost red copper wire in the tying, no silk is used.

Good stuff pafpuff.was the red copper wire a rib or was it beneath the wool?

I've spent years scouring boot sales and vintage fairs in the hope of finding some Chadwicks 477 without any success

I have used that pattern for years its a good fly.
Never had the proper 477 but it works well with grey dubbing over red copper wire.
Seen a card of the proper stuff years ago the guy wanted £35 ,most be joking I thought.

Match Aerial wrote:I have used that pattern for years its a good fly.
Never had the proper 477 but it works well with grey dubbing over red copper wire.
Seen a card of the proper stuff years ago the guy wanted £35 ,most be joking I thought.

£35,no chance.the subs not bad and cheap.

Ian wrote:

Pafpuff wrote:I have some original killer bugs tied by Mrs Sawyer (she did all the tying, as a good wife should) I also have a couple of cards of Chadwick 477
Frank used a very fine almost red copper wire in the tying, no silk is used.

Good stuff pafpuff.was the red copper wire a rib or was it beneath the wool?

The method of tying is use the wire to catch in the wool at the hook bend, then create a wire underbody, then wind the wool up to the eye and back to the bend, where you then tie off the wool with the wire creating a small tag.