My compliments to everyone for some wonderful flies! It's really nice to see some new names on these flies. Hats off to Mark Kirchner for some excellent photography. Thanks Mark!

The purpose of this challenge was to put some creativity into the dressing, given a l(x)se outline. Tlhe variety of styles and variations in die constructions is the testament to success. I highly suspect that much of this variety occurred during the time of Kelson, Blacker, Pryce-Tannatt and hale. Besides, variety in stylings is good for the soul. It allows imagination and creativity to be free (within a given set of guidelines).

The next time you're at the vise, think about putting a little variation into that Jock Scott. Maybe substitute Seals Fur for the Black Silk Floss and omit the Black hackle. What would it look like with the Indian Crow being vertical over the tail instead of flat? Perhaps leaving out the butt in the body joint would give a different effect. If you wanted to go crazy, divide the wing up and put the colored fibers into a wing mounted at the body joint and the natural fibers into another wing mounted conventionally at the head. The possibilities are endless!

For those of you among us that religiously dress in the traditions and teachings of the old masters, please don't burn me at die stake. 1 can also appreciate the most classic of traditional dressings! Just sometimes you need a little variety to spice up life!

The photo is copyright Mark Kirchner, 1994. The dressers of the photo'd flies are...

Woe. S. Hrinko
Jon P. Harrang
Glenn Peckel
Paul Martin
Mark Kirchner
Nick Filonovich
Dave Paris
John T Flickinger
Greg Hamamjian
Paul Rossman
John Betts
Kent Helvie
Paul Rossman (also)