Flytying: New and Old: Griffith's Gnat

Griffith's Gnat

Hackle - Grizzly

Body - Peacock herl

From the Internet

Notes: The Griffth's Gnat usually is used to imitate clusters of midge emergers or mating chironomids. The origin of the pattern is often attributed to George Griffith, one of the founders of Trout Unlimited. However, according to a close personal friend of George Griffith, Mr. Bob Summers, this is not so. Bob says, "George did not invent the fly, he told me that more than once." The fly was shown to George in 1939 by a man named Walt Shaw. It became George's favorite pattern, hence the name. No one knows exactly who created the fly.

It can be fished as either a dry fly (mating chironomids) or subsurface as a cluster of midge larvae. A small amount of split shot may be necessary to get it down. Also use this fly in tandem with nymph patterns, using the Griffith's as an indicator with some floatant.

The original pattern uses peacock herl for the body. However, many variations exist which using either dyed peacock herl or dubbing in colors of gray, olive, black, or tan. There are a couple ways to tie this pattern either with a rib or without. The typical pattern is without a rib and all of the material are secured at the bend of the hook. The herl is wrapped forward, then the hackle is palmered over the herl up to the eye and secured. A rib can provide additional durability to the hackle and, if you add a ribbing, start the hackle behind the eye and palmer back toward the bend of the hook, just like bugger patterns. The ribbing is then wrapped forward over the hackle quill and secured behind the eye. This method not only provides for a more durable fly but the thread head will be much easier to finish.