Hywel

Harold Ray, Yes! I'm a big fan of using hot glue to tie 'egg-based' fly patterns. http://www.rackelhanen.com/eng/10215.htm Hywel

Gorgeous tying! Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think your flies would be even more appreciated and apropos on the 'Classic & Artistic' Forum. Hywel

Good vise, good value, good company. Hywel

Fly Box porn? I highly doubt a Glo-Bug will ever grace the pages of the 'Art of Angling Journal'. Hywel

Palli, Any flyfishing shop that has an account with "Fishhunter Enterprises" can obtain Neck Hackle in Royal and Electric Blue. Hywel

'Woody' The term 'true rotary' is just Renzetti fluff and marketing, IMO. If you want true rotary, consider a NorVise. Hywel

I own an Abel Supreme - probably one of the last Supremes actually machined by Abel since their buy-out. It's extremely smooth and well-made, and attractive. However, buying my Supreme directly from Abel was a customer service nightmare and one of the worse purchasing experiences I've ever had - and that greatly diminishes the 'pleasure' of owning an Abel Supreme. I also own several other vises - including a Stonefly Vise, a DK Ron Abbey Signature Model, a DanVise, a Petitjean Vise, a Griffin Mongoose, an HMH Tube Fly Vise, a Snowbee/Waldron Vise, and a NorVise. And for the record - I still dress 95% of my flies on the NorVise. It is a joy to tie on, and the ownership and customer service experience is second-to-none. Hywel

Veniard's 'Cellire' - No. 1 Clear 3-4 thin coats allowing 24 hours between coats. Hywel

You are comparing two different types of tyers without acknowledging the obvious difference. Ronn's flies are exquisite and every one deserves to be framed and hung on a wall. Dick ties for fishing, his flies are designed and tied to get wet. Just because you don't like his tying style doesn't mean that he is in any way an inferior tyer to anyone. I know Dick and have spent time tying with him and I can assure you that your opinion is skewed by your obvious ignorance on this subject. I never have or ever will acknowledge the difference between a 'fishing' fly and a showbox fly,...either a fly is well-dressed, or it isn't. I don't especially care for Dick Talluer's tying - and just because I don't share *your* opinion on the gentleman's work, it does not make me ignorant on this subject. Hywel

I never have been overly impressed with Dick Talleur's tying to begin with - there are many 'unknown' tyers whose work, namely the 'Classics', that make his tying look quite ordinary, and in some cases downright sloppy. I'm all for using a reasonable substitute for any pattern - some, in fact, are actually better than the materials called for in the original Rx. A great source of information and inspiration on tying full-dress and fancy flies using very ordinary plumage is Ronn Lucas. Just sayin'...

Oh, fer cryin' out loud. Just go buy a LAW vice, and be done with it. Hywel

Doc, Two Steelhead pattern books that I own and highly recommend are; H. Kent Helvie's, "Steelhead Fly Tying Guide" and "Flies for Steelhead" by Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen. Helvie's book has some wonderful step-by-step tying sequences for just about any 'style' of Steelhead pattern - and both books contain accurate recipes and great photos. While the color plates (of the flies) are lacking IMO, I'd also suggest Trey Combs's book, "Steelhead Fly Fishing". Despite the small photos which don't do the patterns much justice, it contains come great insights and history of many Northwest flies and the anglers who designed them. Hywel

'Tis not rocket science. Try Danville's #73 Dark Brown or #47 Tobacco Brown. Hywel

Kudos OLB! Now that the dust and fur and feathers have settled, how much money did you loose? Seriously, Congratulations - and I hope your commercial tying venture is more profitable than my initial venture in that crazy business. I had a very bad experience with an unscrupulous fly shop owner who is now out of business (to the delight of many customers and vendors) in the Seattle-Woodinville area. I was promised $18 a dozen for some rather labor-intensive Alaska-bou patterns and given a pretty tough deadline to complete the order. The flies (impeccably tied to-spec with my own hooks and tying materials) were delivered ahead of schedule. Not only did the owner screw me out of my profit margin by paying me $12 a dozen (instead of the promised $18), he added insult to injury by making me wait 3 months for payment. I've since learned that my experience was shared by quite a few local commercial flytyers. Live and learn, eh? Hywel

"Those prices are estimates of what I saw at our local Sportsman's Warehouse a few days ago. So, a total of about $20-$40 to get the tools needed. With a beginner, none of this stuff needs to be "top quality." The point is to just get them started." I've seen many a keen beginning tyer throw in the towel because of "Penny-wise, Pound-foolish" advise when buying tools to get started. With a beginner, especially a beginner, tying tools *should* be top quality. The $20 to $40 investment you're suggesting will only yield (IMO) a hundred-fold return in frustration. Hywel

Terrific news, Mr. Beatty! Hywel

flyfishpj, Experts on the topic agree that the Spey fly was originated on the River Spey in Northeast Scotland well over 150 years ago. At that time most major rivers had their own distinctive style of fly and the Spey fly was usually identified by its (relatively) simple dressing, somber colors, and long flowing appearance. Generally dressed on long-shanked hooks, the bodies usually consisted of blended Berlin wool, ribbed with tinsel (and sometimes silk) and wound with long-fibered flowing hackle - usually Spey-cock and heron. Among other distinguishing features of the early Spey fly was a collar consisting of Teal Flank and their (still prevalent) sleek low-set Bronze Mallard wings. Some of the best information you can get on tying both classic and contemporary Spey flies can be found in John Shewey's definitive book, "Spey Flies & Dee Flies - Their History and Construction", and in Bob Veverka's, "Spey Flies - How to Tie Them". Hywel

SH69, Actually, I thought the analogy I used was quite appropriate. Hockey is not figure skating, Italian cuisine is not Chinese, I wouldn't bring a deck of playing cards to a chess game, and Beethoven is not the Beastie Boys. It's just my opinion that a John's Jig is vastly different than a Jock Scott - and while I respect your point of view, I won't be convinced that jigs are mostly flies because they're fashioned on jig hooks, or conversely that flies are mostly jigs. I'm in no way put off by "seeing anyone tying jigs on this site". Again, I merely brought about the idea of FTF starting a separate forum for people who have an interest in tackle-crafting and lure-making. And, while I don't have your years of fishing experience or status as a fly innovator and published writer, I hope you can appreciate my perspectives. Hywel

gsummerlin, What type of pattern are you tying? Hywel

SH69, I appreciate your point of view. I hope you can appreciate that people might be chagrined when they vist an Italian restaurant for Veal Scalopini and get Moo-Goo-Gai-Pan instead. *g* Hywel

SH69, No offense, but I think you're reading fa-aa-ar too much into my post. I've no problem or 'beef' with jigs. And, I've no problem with anyone chucking a Krocodile Spoon with a 5wt or using a Lamiglass Drift rod and Ambassaduer level-wind to swing a Willie Gunn. Though, it's not my cup of tea. I merely broached the idea of Fly Tying Forum starting a separate board for people interested in tackle-crafting. Hywel

Hmmm, With all the interest in tackle-crafting, you'd think that FFF would start a separate Forum dedicated to fashioning lures and jigs. People could share their experience and expertise on everything from Flash n' Glows and Kwik Fish to Corkies and Yarn. Hywel

I own and use several vises including an Able Supreme, a Dyna-King Signature Barracuda, a Stonefly Travel vise, a Griffin Montana Mongoose, an HMH Tube Fly vise, and a NorVise. All are marketed as rotary vises, yet out of the entire lot the only one I'd consider to be a TRUE rotary is the NorVise. Because of that, and due to the nature of my tying, the NorVise is my day-to-day vise. Hywel

steelie, The MSO is held in Elverum Norway. While I don't know the exact dates for judging the entries, participants are usually notified of the results of the MSO prior to the Hunting and Fishing Days festival. This years festival is in August I believe. I'm certain if you e-mail the event coordinator at the Norwegian Forestry Museum you'll get the anwers to your specific questions. The e-mail addy is: [email protected] Did you enter this year? If so, which categories? Hywel

Unless the genetics at Whiting Farms has improved dramatically I'll never buy one of their Spey capes again. The last two I purchased were completely worthless and are residing in a land fill somewhere. The best investment I've ever made for Spey hackle has been a B.E.P. cape - spendy to be sure, but worth it. Hywel