Great work, Herb, and thanks for that post, Uncle.
Herb, i reckon that would be great as a bottom fly when you're jigging at Rotoiti - given it a try there?
I avidly read John S' book on Taupo when I was younger, seemed to be a guy who went his own way rather than following everyone else - flies included.
Uncle, Am i right in saying that his original fly was tied with possum tail though the body, rather than the main pelt that Herb appears to be using?
My best night ever at Okataina was using basically that fly but with lumo material in the body wraps. Possum tied sparsely. I outfished everyone on the main beach that night, nailing fish after fish when the others really struggled. I don't think i was doing anything different, other than fly.
I like tying a 'bomb' in Hare & Copper style, but substituting brownish possum - lovely translucency when wet, and i actually prefer it to hare fur. When I saw a differently coloured possum on the road in winter time that had just been donged and flung aside, i always grabbed it.