Hi guys--Glad to hear of everyone's success with the Ray's Fly.
Thought I'd write in regard to the earlier Ray's Fly post(s) and respond
to some of the comments/questions made. First the patterns for
the Ray's fly and Bondorew Bucktail are incorrect. The pattern
and photo for the Ray's Fly can be found at :http://
www.reel-time.com/feature/books/bondorew/raybook.htm#Ray's Fly
It can also be found at http://www.osfn.org/~af602.
The hook used is an eagle Claw #254, a 1x short tinned hook
which is inexpensive an gives a wider gape than standard hooks.
I've never experienced any problems with cutting the tying thread
near the hook's eye because of rough plating finish. The thread i
normally use is pale yellow or light olive monocord. These colors
allow for the materials color to show through and blend the head
to the wing. Although i specify Bill's Body Braid for the body
any silver tinsel, mylar or tinsel yarn will do. The hardest
thing I find is proper colors of bucktail. The yellow I use is
pale yellow, actually it's a florescent yellow that seems more
subduded than a standard yellow. A trick to the proper yellow is
to get a florescent yellow bucktail and leave it on the dash of
your car and let the sun bleach it to the desired color. This can
be done to most bucktail colors to lighten them. The olive I like
is neither too green or too brown and looks to have a trace of
blue in it. Most olive bucktails look to have an overdose or
brown or green. I prefer ones that don't look brown, green or
blue. Sparseness and color blending are the keys the Ray's Fly.
When you get done tying it, wet it with fingers or mouth and hold
it up to the light, you should be able to see through it. You
should also notice a blending of colors from top to bottom, with
no banding or pronounced layering of colors. If while tying one a
little yellow bucktail covers the some of the sides of the white
or some olive covers a little of the yellow sides all the better.
Although this fly is effective is sizes from 2-6", I've
found that 3 1/2" to be about the most effective. Don't overlook
carrying some from 1 1/2-2" long as they do come in handy. Last
year at the Martha's Vineyard C&R fly Rod Tourney I took a 37
1/2" striper on a 1 3/4" Ray's fly tied on #1 254 hook. This size
also works well on False Albacore.
Don't know if I've clarified anything, by the sounds of the
succes stories perhaps none was necessary.
I'll be posting a very spase pattern in the near future so
keep checking Reel-Time for it in days to come.
Kind Regards
Ray Bondorew
af602@osfn.org
Author of "Stripers and Streamers"
http://www.osfn.org/~af602