Author Topic: Black frenchie (Read 1353 times)

John Killinger · « **on:** January 26, 2010, 09:04:55 PM »

Just wondering if anyone has much success with black pheasant tail frenchie. To me they look real close to a zebra midge, except the body is a little more plump. I'm going thru my fly box and razor-blading any flies that are unnecessary, to make more room for newer flies. My box is getting very full.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:12:26 PM »

They work well. I some times make my frenchies very small and in that case thread works better for a body than PT. I also make some of my small frenchies very thin, in other words a zebra midge with a tail and a hot spot.

As far as the colors dark brown is my best producer but olive, black and tan all have their moments.

Jeremy Allan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:12:54 PM »

Have never used a black frenchie but I use black pheasant tail type flies to match our baetis and pmd's quite often and I think a black frenchie would be a good choice for a lot of western rivers.

John Killinger · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:38:50 PM »

Guess I'll keep a few black frenchie in my box. I just want to re-tie some with tungsten. Nick, have you noticed when they work, like what stream conditions?

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:45:57 PM »

I have tied a killer tailwater bug with a black thread body, seals fur collar, and silver tungsten bead. If it werent for the collar it would be very frenchieish. I tied intitially as a baetis pattern. I have tied several with black pheasant tail also and they seem to produce. I flatten them vertically so they sink faster in the water column.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2010, 10:02:52 PM »

John: Most of the time I use a frenchie its going to be as a dropper so the anchor sinks the rig. You might not have to re tie the ones with brass beads. As far as the colors I usually just experiement until I get results (I should really keep track of what works and when). I usually start with a dark brown one in whatever color hot spot I'm feeling that day and go from there. If there are olives hatching I'll start with an olive colored frenchie. In rivers where in the past I had sucsess with hares ears (tan colored fly) I'll start with a tan but for the most part I just go with brown and change every 15-20 mins if its not working.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2010, 09:27:35 AM »

Black is a good color I would keep them. I think they imitate a lot of possible food sources from midge larva to drowned terrestrials. I need to add a few more black nymphs to my boxes.

Tim Barrett · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:42:55 AM »

Black is good, Ask Mike Norton...

Ronnie Christie · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2010, 03:53:49 PM »

Has anybody got a picture of these frenchies are they any good on still waters?

Mike Norton · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2010, 12:35:09 AM »

black is a very good color ..even mix in some grey for the two tone look..catch a lot of fish on darker colored flys

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2010, 01:23:34 AM »

Ronnie: I have no idea if they work on still waters but here is a picture.

tying tutorial
http://creekaddict.com/?p=1293

Chris Galvin · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:27:08 PM »

Quote from: Paul Bourcq on January 26, 2010, 09:45:57 PM

I have tied a killer tailwater bug with a black thread body, seals fur collar, and silver tungsten bead. If it werent for the collar it would be very frenchieish. I tied intitially as a baetis pattern. I have tied several with black pheasant tail also and they seem to produce. I flatten them vertically so they sink faster in the water column.

Sounds interesting Paul, how about uploading a photo?

Ronnie Christie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:34:34 PM »

Nick,

That's a good looking fly its what we would call a pheasant tail nymph. We don't use any weight on our patterns but often use a bright collar as an attractor like on your pattern.

Ronnie.