BHouk

I have a couple of hackle pliers, but they don't seem to work for really small feather or biots. I see there is something called a hackle tweezer. Does anyone have any experience with these? What do you think is the best hackle tool for smaller flies, feathers and biots? I searched the site and it seems to have been some years since this topic has been discussed. Thanks, Bill

Sorry about the size of the image. This is the Wholesale Fly Company bent shank streamer hook. The shank is bent, the hook point points to the eye of the hook. $7.00 per 100. I don't own stock or know anybody at the company, but I do buy their hooks. Only issue with the original question may be where the bend is on the shank.

Sorry. I was searching for orange lines for you and found some, but I can't confirm they are still available. Found this one... https://www.fishusa.com/Cortland-444-Classic-Modern-Trout-Floating-Fly-Line?quantity=1&L-Size1=1154&L-Color1=14726&msclkid=0f575c59a3671998a4780333f606ac7c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_PLA_All Products&utm_term=4585100931204538&utm_content=All Products

We were in Batachawanna (sic) Bay, north shore of Lake Superior, a few years ago and spoke with the chef at the "resort" restaurant (everything is a resort in that area). She said to make sure you take a moose in the fall. In the spring they all taste like turpentine having eaten pine needles all winter. She went on to explain the meat was green and there was no way to prepare it without the pine taste. Therefore, she was not fond of moose.

Ephemerella, thanks! I thought it was a bit sparse which raised the question. Some of the feathers have the red tips, but not all and I think this was a pretty scrawny pheasant and perhaps taken after molt. I appreciate the information on preparing the feathers and tying in. My flies are getting better and I'm working on the consistency. Thanks again for the information.

Found another possible match, this is a Dai-Riki 700 B crayfish hook with a bent shank. https://www.feather-craft.com/dai-riki-700-b-crayfish-hook

The last few days this one has been getting to me. You pull up to the stop light in the right lane to do a right turn (on red). Then some other person pulls up in the left turn or straight lane and pulls so far forward you can't see the oncoming traffic. They have to wait for the light to change no matter what, but you can't safely turn because you can't see the oncoming traffic.

Thanks for getting us back on track!

Not sure it's a match but this is a bent shank hook. Great prices. http://www.wholesaleflycompany.com/item/fly-tying-hooks/bent-shank-streamer-hooks-100p/lid=48300022

Thanks for the comment. It just seemed a bit sparse to me. Flytire, what's the trick on the throat? Your's is very clean. Do you tie it as a collar and then fold it down and under?

And fortunately, you can't remember what goes first...

Never claimed to be young... even when I was young. And now that I'm old I don't remember being young.

Not exactly a beginner question but seems to fit better here. I'm practicing a hair wing blue charm and the tail seems to be too sparse. For those who use golden pheasant for tails, do you use more than one feather? I'm thinking I just may have a poor quality crest... Comments and constructive criticism requested. Not quite satisfied yet. Thanks, Bill

There are three types of eye arrangement, down, straight and up. The typical dry fly like the Mustad R50 is a down eye. A lot of streamer or saltwater hooks are straight. The up eye is going to change the angle of the fly to the tippet. I have seen the up eye version used for wet flies. Salmon fly hooks are up eye. Your 18 and 22 would be a bit small for salmon flies (sic) but should work great for some small wets or sunken spinners. I'm thinking a sunken Trico spinner tied on an up eye hook might be a very interesting choice. Now, all of this is opinion as the only real answer is try some patterns and see if you prefer up, down or straight... You can look at this topic for a discussion: When to use hooks with straight, down or up eyes?

We've been to 18 (out of 32) Indiana state parks this year while maintaining social distancing. We take our own food and drinks, wear masks when inside buildings and usually stay 50 feet or more from people. If it's during the week we may be the only people in the picnic area. Helps keep us sane and some of these places have had very nice bluegill.

Here is an interesting article on the Universal Rotary Vice. http://www.mtfa-springfield.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Universal-Rotary-Fly-Tying-Vises.pdf

Glad to participate! I have a book, "Tying Nymphs" by Charlie Craven. I'm in with a Biot Emerger. (And count me in for the wet flies as well.)

Very nice. I like that you have used "alternative" materials. The squid are excellent! Where di you purchase the head bands?

Good to go. I'll list my pattern on the Nymph swap thread. Thanks (Envelope in the mail 😇)

Have you posted the other swaps? Please sign me up as you post them. I would like to participate.

Normally I would agree with you, but since you are using it to display flies it's a strike indicator. Very nice flies. And, a good alternative for displaying flies.

I rented a boat at the Stephen Foster State Park in Georgia. We arrived at the dock on Billie's Island in the middle of the Okefenoke Swamp. This dock is parallel to the shore. There was no rope on the boat to tie it up so I pulled the boat up on the dock to hold it in place. I pulled too hard and the boat hit me in the chest. I took one step back off the dock on to what I thought was dry land... I went in with a splash and I don't think I actually touched bottom before levering myself back up on the dock. The ranger heard the noise and came running. He wanted to know if I was familiar with the words "alligator" or "cotton mouth"? (He was not as polite as I have let on.) So, you are not alone in taking that long walk.

20200825_202436598_iOS.heicFatal Attraction Pumpkinseed tied for WWKimba's swap.

I just received an offer for a book by Blane Chocklett called Game Changer: Tying Flies that Look & Swim Like the Real Thing. These are tied on a series of shanks to create a spine. Kind of the extreme articulated fly pattern. Pbass, take a look at these if you are interested in articulated patterns https://flymenfishingcompany.com/collections/the-blane-chocklett-signature-fly-collection

It looks like it might be a Super Jerk. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=super+jerk+fly&docid=607993341475881062&mid=6E89B8DB2415020443F36E89B8DB2415020443F3&view=detail&FORM=VIRE Here is a link to an article on three articulated patterns: https://flymenfishingcompany.com/blogs/blog/47154625-3-articulated-streamer-fly-styles-that-simply-get-er-done One of them looks close to yours and it talks about the "Jerk" patterns. If you search for "articulated fly patterns" you'll get a bunch of hits.