Executioner and Arndilly Fancy

[altmor]

As a special request from Col (the White-adder master), I post pics of the Arndilly Fancy (on the left) and the Executioner (on the right).

Size 10 doubles on top, size 12 doubles below. These flies would I am sure do as well as the Editor which Col tied and used to such great effect on the White-adder (recent posting "At Last")

Dressings below the pic.



The Arndilly Fancy :
Tail - Golden Crest Pheasant
Butt - Thin flat silver tinsel (inner red butt as on size 12 optional)
Body - Yellow floss (or for a touch more flash yellow floss with clear holographic tinsel over as in the size 10)
Ribbing - Thin oval silver
Throat - Blue hackle tied as underwing style
Wing - Black squirrel or goat hair
Head - Red varnish with jungle cock cheeks (or clear varnish used over red thread as on the size 12 executioner. Use 2 if not 3 coats of varnish).

The Executioner :
Tail - Golden Crest Pheasant
Butt - Thin flat silver tinsel with an inner butt of red floss (no more than 3 / 4 turns)
Body - Flat silver tinsel
Ribbing - Thin Oval Tinsel
Throat - Black squirrel tied as underwing style
Wing - Black squirrel or goat hair
Head - Red varnish with jungle cock cheeks (or clear varnish used over red thread as on the size 12 executioner. Use 2 if not 3 coats of varnish).

These flies also do very well on the Spey (the Arndilly Fancy stemming from same beat on the Spey) and Dee in low water summer conditions - the grilse rising to boil the surface when fished with a full floating line.

Tie them on and "whang" them out, allow to drift round and be ready for the take !!

Happy tying and fishing for all those who fancy trying them.

Cheers,

Altmor

[splash]

Hi Altmor

What hooks are these tied on , Ken Sawada heavy wire salmon doubles?
cheers
Splash

[Sloggi]

Good summer patterns.

The Executioner is a good versatile fly attracting sea trout, grilse, and resident salmon. I've just tied some up, but I have a slightly different tying. I use Glo-Brite Fl red (shade 4) floss and make it about 1/2 the length of the body. I've done away with the yellow crest (I've also done so on Stoat's Tails). I like the red head - I use black - will give that a go. I occasionally use a yellow beard hackle instead of black for slightly darker water (after a rise on the Dee)

Will have a go at the Arndilly F later today.

Interesting - thanks.

[easky]

the Executioner is a great fly, I have caught quite a number of salmon on it and its also good for big Lough run brown trout (Dollaghan). I normally tie them on silver ED trebles which work well. They look good on the doubles as well, and I agree with Splash the look like Sawada heavys?

[tynetraveller]

My vote is for the Sawada low water hook

[salmonking]

Thanks again Altmor,nice looking flies ,ill tie a few up tonight for tomorrow.

[altmor]

Splash,

They're definitely Sawadas, can't remember though if the pack was "heavies" or low water doubles. I would think they are the low water doubles though as I have some fairly robust Partridge doubles and in comparison the Sawadas are a touch slighter in gauge and thickness. Hope this helps.

Cheers Altmor.

PS Lucky "B" out tomorrow Col - I've got four meetings and a heavy lunch to get through tomorrow !!

[salmonking]

Ive not been at work from thursday past ,if we keep getting water ,ill probably not bother this week ;D,tied a few variants for tmoro.
Tied the wee fella'S on a size 10 loop black nickel tube hook,as this hook is pretty heavy ill get away with a floating line,the water is in great order,and saw a lot of silver tday..here's hoping.

[altmor]

Looking good Col, you'll need to let us know how they faired.
Cheers,

Altmor.

[jt]

I've been working on an Executioner variant for sea trout - no idea if it works but looks the business:



Basically I found some Turrells peacock twist type material in a bargain bucket and grabbed it without thinking - looking through the T&S salmon and sea trout pattern booklet freebie I saw the Executioner pattern and thought "hmmmm"

[altmor]

JT,
That's got all the ingredients of a good S Trout fly - black, silver and a touch of peacock. The profile looks good too - I've no doubt they'll do the business.
Cheers,

Altmor

PS. A red butt tag might give it that "something special factor" too ?

[salmonking]

Agree with Altmor,bit ot red on the arse would add that little bit more...nice fly.

[rpsalmon]

Are they designed to be with such large heads? The two Arndilly's and the top Executioner seem to have unnecessarily large heads, the bottom Executioner looks fine.

[altmor]

rps,

Hi, I've been following a number of your recent posts on various topics - interesting.

The two arndillies and the top executioner are tied with black thread and red Veniard's "Cellire" No.6 varnish. The executioner on the bottom is tied with red thread and clear varnish for the head. Note my tying dressings under "head".

It does make a difference (to the appearance of the fly, not that I've found, to the fish's desire to go for it) - but as was mentioned in a post on this very subject some 3 - 4 months ago, the red varnish does tend to be thicker in nature to the clear stuff.

I would be grateful if you knew of red varnish that is as thin or of the same consistency as the clear varnish, if you could let me know, I would like to have it in my armory.

That said, and I restate, I haven't noticed a significant difference in the catch rate between slightly larger heads and smaller ones, I've used both with good levels of success, on a number of different rivers. There may be something in the theory of providing a "target spot" - similar to the red butt tag.

Anyhow, I enjoy the tying aspect, and would hope you can provide details of "thinner" red varnish than that which I currently have as, whilst the conclusion to the earlier thread on this was to adopt red thread and clear varnish, I think the red varnish is more substantial in its luster, as can be seen from the comparison of the bottom arndilly to the bottom executioner

PS - I've tried thinning the red No.6 down with thinners but it becomes very opaque and "dull".

Look forward to hearing on this one.

Cheers,

Altmor.

[rpsalmon]

Thank you for the reply and the info. I could see your standard of tying was sufficient to have a small head and wondered if you caught more with large heads. My only fear with large heads is the weight and aerodynamics (or "waterdynamics") factor.

I use red cellire varnish but always leave the top off until it thickens up, then it easier to to apply. I always use the clear as a primer. I have tried the Loon varnish but wasn't overly impressed. I'd tried nail varnish but couldn't help but think it would put the fish off in low water. A niece's toy makeup set had some great nail varnish that had a degree of flexibility and didn't stink, unfortunately the source of this has dried up.

Another way to obtain a bright head is to cover the finished head in fluorescent or luminous floss and then cover with clear varnish. It appears brighter if you lay the fluorescent floss over white, therefore in order to avoid a large head you would have to tie with white thread (or for at least the head area anyway). Using such floss you can be a bit creative and have it many shades of the bright fluorescent floss which is available.

[ibrox]

The Executioner is one of my first choice flies when fishing low clear water. I tie my own, using Veniards no 6 for the head, it matches the tag i use (Glow brit no 4) one hundred percent. Its a lovely looking fly and IMO i don't think head size comes in to it, as I've caught fish with this fly with big heads, that I've tied in a rush and small heads, that I've taken my time with.

how you fish a fly is the key, not the size of head and I'm speaking from my own experience.

Your flies are well tied, Altmor

Mike

[altmor]

Thanks rps, sadly though I've used the nail varnish myself as a thinner (not mine, my very dear wife's I hasten to add) - results not great as mentioned and as you say - it does stink a bit.

Haven't come across the "Loon" varnish before, but note your comments, so won't rush in ... as they say.

I also note your method of thickening up the red cellire, though I must confess this I think adds to a "bulkier head", correct that it might be easier to apply, but I do like 2 or 3 coats to finish a head, the first coat I find "soaks in" and helps bind the fly head material. Do you use 1 or more head coats ?

Latterly, I've stumbled across waterproof fishing glue (Fulling Mill), which I use as the first binding coat (or as you say, primer), you can visibly see it soak in to the head material, it's odorless and dries in seconds. I've yet to have a fly show hair or wing loss, even after extensive casting and catching. This allows one thicker or normally two top coats of varnish.

The alternative, if there isn't a "thinner" red than cellire No.6 might be the red floss and clear varnish, but wouldn't you think the manufacturer's could come up with something, thinking of the great number of flies with red heads ?

I would be keen to see a couple of your self tied flies, if you have the digital equipment to post on here, if you need assistance, pm me - it took me a while and with good forum advice, to find photobucket, which seems to be the easiest medium to upload pics.

AA, thanks for your comments, I too like the executioner, it's a good low water fly as you say, I've also found it an extremely good grilse taker in medium to even higher water. Further, if fishing into the gloaming, it never fails to attract a sea trout or two. I agree the head size doesn't seem to bother the fish too much, it's more the way the fly is presented and fished through differing currents, flows and pools that makes the real difference.

Here's an interesting thought, the executioner is predominantly a summer fly, would it fair dressed larger or on a tube for back end or spring fish ? I haven't seen it tied on tubes, or for that matter larger than a size 6/8 before - has anyone else ?

Think I'll rush off to the vice for a few Executioner Tubes - 1 or 2 inches ready for some experimental work this back end. Then I'll patent the idea and retire to fish my days out !!

Cheers as always,

Altmor.

[ibrox]

Hi Altmor,

I've tied these flies in 2"aluminium tubes and fished them for seatrout at night and i've got to say i've been well impressed with the results

[hornet]

Nice flies,

I particularly like the executioner.

Mike, how's about a pic of the tube version .

Hornet

[ibrox]

Hi Hornet,

I'm afraid I ain't sussed out how to post a photo yet
But the dressing is.....

Aluminium tube no body material, red tag no4 glo brite;
Wing; Black squirrel ( jungle cock cheeks.)A must IMO
Hackle; Black schlappen.
Head; Red

A very easy fly to tie and very efficient.

My good friend Dan has some of my Executioner flees if he would like to post them on my behalf ;D ;D