| The inspiration for the colours of this
fly comes from a fly with almost the same name, " Chilli Pepper", tyed by an
American, Phil Strobel. His fly is much simpler, but I liked the idea of being inspired by
the colours of a small red hot chili pepper and to name the fly after it. The red/green
combination is successful also when it comes to the actual fishing. This fly has all the
characteristics of a "killer". What is new is the way I twist the silk. The technique of mixing different
materials or colours in the body opens up new doors for the imagination. The body of the
fly is not only more beautiful, but also stronger. The traditional way of using the silk
means that just one fish can spoil half an hour’s work at the vice, as the silk
unravels. With my technique, which means that the ends hold eachother in place, the fly
can easily be repaired with a scissors and some glue. The advantages are obvious and I
know many flyfishers will appreciate it. They can now start tying beautiful floss bodies
for their salmon flies again. Those who only tie their flies for fishing will no doubt
wave it off and call my method nonsense.
For me, it is important that the flies I
fish with are also beautiful. That is at least half the pleasure. The other half is the
fishing itself and being on the river.
Pattern description:
| Hook: Mustad 80500 BL size 2/0. |
| Tag: 8 twisted
yellow/gold thread. |
| Tail: Golden pheasant
red body feather. |
| Body: Two parts: Rear
half, 8 strands of braided floss - two yellow and six red; between the two halves, black
cock hackle and under/over three peacock sword fibres as veiling. Front half, 8 strands of
braided floss - two yellow, two black and four red. Over/under the front half, four
peacock sword fibres as veiling. |
| Front hackle: Black
cock and Guinea fowl dyed orange. |
| Head: Red |
Text: Petru Dima
©
Nyköping, SWEDEN
Mustad Scandinavian Open Fly Tying
Competition
Photo: OT. Ljøstad, Norsk
Skogbruksmuseum |
