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Green Machine

Transformed from a bomber style pattern, this fly is fished as a wet fly

By Martin Joergensen

Twin engine
Martin Joergensen

The Green Machine is a renown fly in Northern America and Canada. This fly was originally tied as a bomber - a large hackled deer hair fly, tied to be fished dry for steelhead, skating over the water and stimulating some fierce attacks from these scaly silver bullets. The green bomber with brown tufts of hair front and aft was tied on the Miramichi river in New Brunswick for Atlantic salmon.

This version is tied to fish wet. Tied in the low water style with a small body on a large hook, it will dive under the surface in spite of its deer hair body and fairly large and dense hackle. This type of fishing also origins from the Miramichi and is sometimes referred to as "wet bug" fishing. The fly will oftentimes fish right under the surface or even in the film, but by using sinking line or leader, you can bring it further down.

Some tyers opt for a small gold tag rather than the tail, which we have tied here. The tag is less visible, and might be a good option for more spooky fish.

The deer hair body makes the fly somewhat a chore to tie, and we supply an alternative here: a simple, dubbed body. Since the fly is fished wet, the deer hair will have little impact on its flotation, and you can easily exchange the time consuming deer hair body with a quick and dirty dubbed one. If you want flotation, consider using a dry fly dubbing.

Materials
HookLow water salmon hook #10-6
Rear tagYellow floss
TailBright copper/gold crystal flash
Front tagRed wool
HackleBrown
BodyGreen deer hair
HeadTying thread


Tying instructions
See the images below
The flies in the pictures are tied by Ken Bonde Larsen.



Deer hair body
Martin Joergensen


Dubbed body version
Consider using dubbing for the body in stead of deer hair. The difference is difficult to see, and as long as the fly is fished wet, there is no reason to spin and trim deer hair to form the compact body.



User comments
From: Don · moroz2251·at·rogers.com
Submitted March 31st 2010

The addition of the hackle as described by Jerome Malloy allows the tying thread to reinforce the hackle as well as the body hair, making this fly very durable. The tying thread sinks into the deer hair body and vanishes.when wound under tension. Tying the hackle on after you trim the body means that you didn't cut it off WHILE trimming the body hair, or maybe not.

Also, this fly has also been made with Phentex yarn ( a polypropylene yarn used to knit bedroom slippers) and UNI-Yarn.


From: David Anstey · danstey·at·nl.rogers.com
Submitted June 24th 2009

This is one of the most productive flies I use for brook trout here in central Newfoundland and I couldn't wait to try the dubbed version this spring. I've added a little glitter to the fly by adding a small amount of diced crystal flash to the dubbing and it has worked wonders.


From: Lorenzo Swanson · lorenzo_swanson·at·hotmail.com
Submitted April 22nd 2009

This Web page has fantastic color images of fly patterns I have yet to discover. Can you tell me if the bomber style pattern or the green engine pattern can be purchased? Can it be purchased on from the internet? I found this page by acident, some perhaps I can get this fly somehow?

Thank you.


From: Jerome Molloy · jf_molloy·at·rogers.com
Submitted December 13th 2008

White goat or calf body are very good here in New Brunswick.Instead of tying the hackle in first at the rear I find it better to tie it by the butt at the front after the body is dressed and trimmed.Take one full turn at front and wind three turns to the rear.Chase the thread thru behind the hackle and return to the front.Whip finish and snap the hackle off by hand.Now your ready for the next and no waste.


From: Dwight · dwb.flytying·at·gmail.com
Submitted November 28th 2008

Adding stacked white calf tail for the tail instead of the Crystal Flash works well also.


From: Dwight · dwb.flytying·at·gmail.com
Submitted November 28th 2008

Nice pics, I tie and use these alot. I also use a tight micro chenille for the body which makes for a streamline body..



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