JoeBillingsley

I agree with the idea that brookies arent particular. At least they arent picky here on the small streams in northern New Mexico. My favorite fly, I guess, for them is Jack Dennis Western Blue Dun. It seems to work any time and anywhere. http://www.fishingwithflies.com/images/Img268.jpg Joe

I have it, too. Lots of excellent information. Joe

I agree. Between the Murdich Minnow and the Staynor Ductail, they have caught probably well over 90% of my warm water fish over the last number of years. Joe

AK, I have used them and agree with GP, they are easy to work with. Some companies sell the “quills” that are tapered, which I prefer. The problem I have with them is their colors. To me, they are not natural looking. Joe

I agree with the washing, rinsing, and drying that tjm suggests. I think the problem that really old necks might have would be brittle stems. I don’t know if the cleaning process would soften them up. Joe

I can see that this might be a pain to those tiers who keep their scissors in their hands at all times. I put mine down after each cut and appreciate the larger screw because I put them on my desk with the screw on the underside and it makes them much easier to pick up. I guess thats why they make different types. Joe

This, maybe? https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-OLD-FLY-FISHING-THOMPSON-WING-FORMER-D-H-THOMPSON-FLY-TYING-ILLINOIS/312050564576?hash=item48a7a9bde0:g:EhwAAOSwndZaZRe2 Or? https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-OLD-FLY-FISHING-THOMPSON-WING-FORMER-D-H-THOMPSON-FLY-TYING/312050561934?hash=item48a7a9b38e:g:wnEAAOSwLUpaZRW3 I have no idea if this is what youre looking for, but maybe...... Joe

I have used the Dr. Slick razor scissors for a number of years. I bought the Dr. Slick tungsten carbide scissors a year or so ago to more easily cut the 30 denier GSP thread that I like to use. In the last couple of weeks, I purchased the Loon razor scissors because the Dr. Slick razor scissors were finally beginning to dull a little, but just a little. They work great. All 3 pairs are of superior quality and are excellent and I would highly recommend them all. Joe

Love the look of stripped hackle quills and stripped peacock and their ease of use for bodies, and with the addition of varnish or super glue or UV resin they are very durable. Barry Ord Clark just put out a video tying the Screaming Banshee made basically with nothing but elk hair. https://youtu.be/Kikg492WZV8 With my lack of ability dealing with hair, I can only imagine what mess I could make trying to tie this fly! Joe

My sister and brother-in-law have lived in Richmond for about 30 years now. Ive visited there a couple of times. Its beautiful. Being a visitor there and just driving around to see the sights, I found myself on several what I thought were just highways until I came to a mandatory exit ramp and realized I was on a toll road. Next time I visit, I will take a sack full of change with me! Joe

Interesting. I have used the air method with both natural, synthetic, and a mixture of both with excellent results. I cant say that Ive used only Antron, but the most important aspect of the method, Ive found, is to move the tube all around the inside of the bag while using the compressed air. Im sure you did that, so....? I will add that since you want the dubbing for the body, and La Fontaine used touch dubbing, you will want the fibers cut up in small pieces. You might look at The Book Mailer - http://thebookmailer.com/tbm/product/touch-dubbing-copy/ - and see if they still have some of his original dubbing blends available. Just a thought. Joe

I would suggest either mixing them with your fingers or using the baggie/compressed air method (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmCgKEg_Wtw). Ive never had good luck using a coffee grinder for purely synthetic materials. Joe

Very nice job. Many of his patterns, like this one, are tough to tie. Great patterns, but difficult. Well done! Joe

Competitive Anglers and White Fox Fur and Feathers are, as stated above, good sources. Google “dyed starling skins” and you’ll find a few others. You need to be diligent because the more popular colors go pretty fast. Joe

There are a number of places online that sell dyed starling skins. As I said earlier, I have a natural, an olive, and a dun and they cover most of the small soft hackles that I tie. But, you can get them in purple, yellow, rusty brown, gold, red, etc. The ones I have and the other colors that I have seen are beautiful. Joe