Arkman

Thanks for the feedback! Thats kind of what I figured. I really dont like the idea of spending the time to snell hooks before hand! I'll try and report back with the results.

I am getting ready to go steelhead fishing in a couple weeks. Long story short the only hooks I have available to me are some Gamakatsu Octopus hooks. I have a friend that fishing for steelhead much more than I do and he told me that those would work but I'd want to snell the hooks instead of tying a egg pattern like normal. I asked him why and he just said with the upturned eye it works better. Can someone explain this to me? Will there be any issue with tying a standard egg pattern yarn fly on that kind of hook?

Anyone have any feedback on their hooks? They are on sale right now and fairly cheap. Just thought I'd see if anyone had any reviews.

That last post reminds me...These are nice looking too. You should do a step by step sometime too. I like both your guys flies.

I realize this is an old post but I'm interested in this article. Is there anyway to get it, the magazine is sold out online. I just want to see how to tie this fly.

That is to bad. I should have bought some when I saw it at first. Dang it. Does anyone have any idea where to get some hackle to tie some musky/pike flies? I know its still hard to find and you pay a bunch for much of it.

I'm more with you Kodiak. I think one could argue both ways for hours on end and not get anywhere. In my opinion is it a fly? I don't care. Does it make you less of a "Fly Fisherman"? Who gives a rip. Is it fun as hell? That's all that matters to me. On a side note. How do you think the blade affects the castability? I could see that the blade would offer more resistance during the cast. That would be the one reason for me to avoid it...at least for now. I'm not the best at casting the giant wet sock type flies.

Yep that's the one. Maybe I'll email him again to see. Could be he just lost my email or something.

Do any of you guys know about Spencer's hackle. The guy from "The Fly Tyers Dungeon" used to have page about hackle from this guy. It's no longer on the site where you can navagate to it but if you google spencer's hackles you can find the FTD pages still. Anyways, I've tried emailing this guy a couple times to see what he has but I haven't heard back. I was just wondering if any of you guys know if he's still selling hackle. I wouldn't be surprised if he is but he doesn't have any, you all know what thats like I'm sure. Basically I'm looking for some saddle hackles to tie up musky and pike flies. I'm afraid I can't get anything without spending a fortune. Thanks!

Rocco- This video is pretty good. He tells you what material to use and how to tie it all up. A good resource for sure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=466P-Uyorm0

Awesome. My grandparents live in Brainerd so I know the area well. If you are ever in the area and want someone to fish with let me know. I'd love to head out. I'm not too far away from brainerd. I'm waiting to see some step by steps too!

Kodiak- Where are you from. I recognize that sticker on your desk. I shop there whenever I can. I know a few guys at the shop. Have you ever thought of doing a step by step or video of your flies. They look like winners to me. I'd like to learn more. I had my first run in with a musky on a fly this year. Had a blast, I didn't hook one on the fly but I did wet my pants! Well, not really, but close I think.

Technical issues are causing problems getting Part II up. Editing has been done since 9:30AM. That was 7 failed file export attempts ago. I'm about to go postal on my computer. Clearly I read that wrong. You are still exporting...not importing. Bummer man!

You could try vimeo instead of youtube. I'm looking forward to it!!!

How was that comment helpful or pointful? I would also argue that, yes it is a room. A small one.

I'd say it's most like a sting leech. All of those are about it though. I found a good video by Norm Norlander that he ties the string leech. Its close enough to the pattern I was talking about. He used a dubbing brush to do the body, but same idea.

I was fishing with a buddy the other day and he had a fly that I'd like to find the name of. It was basically a Popsicle fly. I think he said it was actually schlappen hackle instead of marabou or something similar. But it was a head of purple and a body of pink in marabou or schlappen hackle. Then had a tail of pink bunny strips. It also had a tandem hook tied to the bunny (and the original hook) the front hook was cut off. Does anyone know what this fly is called. I can figure out how to tie it, at least get it close to what I think it was...but I just wanted to know a name. Thanks!

Sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts in prayers

Haha, Thanks guys. I didn't realize that the photo was from AA. I'll give your tips a try. Thanks!

I've been trying to cut foam blocks for big popper heads and Im having trouble getting clean cuts. I guess not that it matters to the fish but it bugs me when I look at my fly and the foam looks like I chewed it into shape rather than cutting it. This is the type of thing i'm going for. (sorry I just grabbed the image from a google search. Hopefully that's not against the rules. If it is i'll edit and take it down.) Anyone have any suggestions on how to cut?

Great looking flies. I carved/painted my first poppers last week. They look about 1% as good as yours (if I round up). Can I ask how you paint them? Care to share your secrets? What kind of paint and so on.

I was building a few ice rods this winter and I think my epoxy went bad. I had that mix as close to 50/50 as humanly possible and it still didn't set. Talk about a mess. I said things that night I've probably never said before.

I'm assuming that you can't buy these head anywhere but I just thought I'd ask.

Try two.

I can't find a double edge razor blade at the stores I've looked. I'm going to go out and look tomorrow and hopefully clean it up a bit. The nose just killed me. I didn't think I could get any more in there but then I trimmed it. :bugeyes: I did another one but I haven't trimmed it yet. I'll try to do that tomorrow and post it. Thanks for all the kind words!