Just had a look in the picture archive and in the boxes as well, and it turns out there are none of my modern, Scandinavian Mickey Finns in there – so it seems I’ll have to make some and photograph them in turn – will probably do so tonight!

I’ll shoot one of my Daces as well – I really to love the original version, but it just looks so good and “fishy” with a small epoxyhead with eyes.

And indeed, on the morning of May 29th, we had yet another lovely and gorgeous little Viking girl :-)

Lars

I have not caught a sea-run on a Finn myself, but at least you are keeping the pattern’s legacy alive and well in that arena…

I don’t know how many Finns and Dace I tied in my younger years (and that includes a pile of variations), but I burned through boxes of those old, paper-wrapped Mustad streamer hooks (you know the ones, I’m sure).

I’d love to see your MF tube fly. I’ve been thinking about modernized variations myself, and perhaps I’ll tie a few updates, as well…

Edit: Did I hear correctly that there is a fresh, new Viking lass that has made a recent appearance in this world?

What a beautiful drawing!
When I began flyfishing 15 or some years ago, I began flytying at the same time and I remember that one of the first patterns that caught my eye was the Mickey Finn! I still tie and fish them – it’s go-to fly for me, especially when flyfishing the salt for searun browns – particularly in Novemeber the fly seems to take it’s share. I too use bucktail and silvertinsel, but I exclude the painted eyes.

And yes, even the Black Nose Dace has a place in my flybox. A very sparsely dressed version is killing in May along the Danish shorelines. I tie it with pearl tinsel for the body – otherwise as the original – with bucktail. I have on a few occasions added an epoxy head and eyes, and that version does well too, and looks really good!

I moved over to more modern designs many years ago, but these two classic streamers have always been in my box, and always will be. I ven tie a Mickey Finn tubefly Scandinavian style for seatrout and salmon when the rivers are flooding. I’ll send a picture!

Lars