Black Ranger
I tied this as a quick fishing fly with no material prep like forming crests. They will eventually take their place in the water so the prep is just for the show although I think it helps to achieve correct proportions and making sure you tied everything straight. Black Ranger a simple pattern with only few materials and fairly easy to tie once you master the back to back tippets. Probably my favorite of the Ranger series, although it’s a tough choice.
Used Dave McNeese’s Blue Heron hook which wouldn’t be my number one choice for Ranger style flies but I wanted to see if I could manage it. Fairly satisfied with the proportions, the trick is to select narrow tippets and try to set the wing as low as you can, at least that’s how I like it.
Here’s the pattern as per Kelson’s The Salmon Fly
Tag: Silver twist and yellow silk.
Tail: Topping and Indian Crow (I used a similar substitute)
Butt: Black herl.
Body: Black silk.
Ribs: Silver tinsel (oval).
Hackle: Natural black, from the second turn of tinsel.
Throat: Light blue hackle.
Wings: Four tippets, partly overlapping and enveloping two Jungle (back to back) and a topping.
Cheeks: Chatterer (I used Kingfisher)
Horns: Blue Macaw.
Head: Black wool.
