GRHE Swap pics 12_05

This is my go-to GRHE that I tie for fishing the basin lakes. An old-timer friend remarked once that he thought fish that see a lot of flies shunned patterns with bead heads, flash, legs or other 'decoration'. He tested his theory by going back to the traditional, thread-head GRHE and promptly began catching more fish. I tried his approach a few years ago and haven't looked back. On lakes like Lenice, Nunnally, Beda, Homestead and others, this particular pattern accounts for about 1/2 to 2/3 of all the fish I catch.

Hook: Mustad size 12 2X wet nymph or streamer
Thread: black 8/0
Weight: 5-8 turns of shank-diameter lead wire to build up body segment, ending about 1/8" behind eye
Tail: hare's ear or rabbit pelt
Rib: gold oval tinsel
Thorax: rabbit pelt underfur, mink, muskrat, beaver, or other fine-textured gray fur, tapered up to and just over the wire
Wingcase: Bustard or mottled oak Thin Skin, 1/8 to 3/16" x 1", stretched forward over body and tied off behind eye
Body: grey & light olive squirrel blend, dubbed heavy to completely cover lead wire and picked out for legs

Now, that's a classic beauty. Nicely done.