Sunray Shadow;

Ard

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Colin mentioned it when titling this forum. I've heard of it before but never tied or fished it. The fly is quite popular with the European anglers and as soon as I made my first I could see why.


One half dozen to start things off because I can see this simple fly taking many rainbow trout as well as silver salmon :cool:

Gotta like that,

Ard
 

jabrowning24

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I dig this one Ard! Another month or so and that thing should be killer! I will be making some of them!
 

Ard

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Hi Josh,

It goes like this;

Pro Tube regular size, I made half with no weight for semi skater types & half with Pro Tube drop weights on them

I have some very old braided tinsel with a cotton core, you may have mylar braided tubing. Slide the mylar back until it is up over the junction tube, use your judgment for the stopping point. Then secure the mylar with red silk, make a nice butt and put a half hitch on it. Now coat with zap a gap.

Come forward and stretch the mylar toward the tip of the tube. Secure it with the red silk, apply zap a gap and then when it ets cut the silk with razor, apply a bit more glue.

The time comes in waiting for the glue to dry.........

Wing; sparse white buck tail - for strands tinsel, tie down and double back, secure and trim tinsel. Now top with black arctic fox or similar soft long hair.

Apply cheeks finish head area, I put a half hitch on the thread and then zap a gap it.

You can see that I kept the head small and neatly trimmed of materials as I went. Each step - buck tail & fox, I gave a dab of cement to hold the fort.

I am seriously liking the prospects of this simple tie. If you have never seen the video 'Sunray Sunray' which is a Hitler spoof, check it out. Don't have any children watching the screen if they can read :) All the audio is in German and it's funny.

I had never heard of the Sunray until a fellow sent me that you tube vid almost 2 years ago. It took 2 years for me to tie any :confused: Weird huh
 

cb

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Just a quick tying suggestion guys - layer the wing. (and use the softest goat hair you can find).

I suggest building up the hair wing in small bunches. Each bunch slightly longer than the last. You will create a lovely taper to the fly and its swimming properties will be so good you will see why salmon are so attracted. Promise! :)

Here are some being shown to me by a local expert angler on Norway's river Reisa. A big salmon river!



The longest I saw was 9in long!
 

pm287

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cb,

Is the stained water in the glass a requirement? That is a requirement for fishing or tying????......
 

cb

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Is the stained water in the glass a requirement? That is a requirement for fishing or tying????......
lol

Essential 'club-house' kit for Atlantic Salmon Fishing trips :)

Highland Park 18yo. Glorious!

Colin

PS> Contrary to popular belief - you can fish these flies very slowly across the current (i.e. no stripping at all). They move so seductively they can be irresistible. Or strip as fast as you can for heart stopping action!
 

jbird

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Ard, that ones a beauty. Simple and attractive. Should be deadly.

cb, I really like the looks of those. Its easy to see that they will have beautiful movement in the water. Could be a real nice plan for worm hatches like sand worms for stripers and Palolo worm for Tarpon.... Not to mention worms and leeches for bass and everything else.

Thanks guys! Keep it up!
 

jabrowning24

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Oh man. This is a great thread! Ards look great for tge smolt migration and these tied by cb are going to be killers when the lampreys are heading down to spawn! Thanks guys.
 

Ard

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Hi Colin,

I was about to order some Icelandic Sheep hair, will that be soft enough or is there a particular seller for the Goat hair you mentioned?

When the hair is that long, how far back do you trail the hook?
 

cb

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Hi Colin,

I was about to order some Icelandic Sheep hair , will that be soft enough or is there a particular seller for the Goat hair you mentioned?

When the hair is that long, how far back do you trail the hook?
Hi Ard,

I'm not familiar with icelandic sheep hair (is it not wavy?) - but I really suggest you use goat. The quality of the goat is critical. Most goat is too brittle or thick or too long- even from the same supplier that supplies really good goat hair. So mail order is very hit and miss I'm afraid. When I shop for goat hair - I open every packet and feel it! (I know I need to get out more!).

If you find a great supplier - let me know!

BTW I personally very rarely use goat hair flies longer than 4 in - so finding short soft goat hair is important too. YOU DO NOT want the long lank rubbish that is sold by most people! That is perhaps ok for 'Collie Dogs' but these are very different from the sunray type as tied by the Norwegian experts anyway.

The reason I say this is that the root of the hair is good for bulking up the head end to give the fly the needed teardrop shape which makes them swim so well. I never want them to be Eal like - I want them to more substantial than that.

Difficult to explain sorry!

Colin
 

Ard

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OK,

I'm thinking I've got what you are saying, I take it that my head is of the Eal type? The arctic fox hair I have is about 3.5" in length and I have quite a supply and have already dyed a couple good hanks to an acceptable black. I'm going to make up some olive green today and keep on the Sunray regime :)
 
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