Curtis Fry

First foiling didn't go so well, so I'm trying again with this one. I found some nice thin foil from a Mexican restaurant that already had some embossing on it. I added a bit myself, but this is how it turned out. Still need to get it a bit cleaner, but it's getting there... Foiled Bass Diver by El Frito, on Flickr

Good stuff Paul. I can honestly say I'd never heard about adding nuts to Coke....good to know...

Very nicely done Matt! That's a great write-up.

Nicely done. Do you have the cutters? I'm gonna be working on some of these here soon...

Very nicely done Kirk. I tried one the other day....didn't turn out so well. I might try it again sometime...

I use CCG pretty much exclusively. I used to use epoxy (never had a problem with yellowing BTW), but the CCG is nice for the convenience. I use either the brush-on or the tack-free and then hit it with Sally's to cover the tackiness. You can also use hand sanitizer to remove the tackiness. Most of the poppers in this group are done with CCG and the Copic marker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritography/s...57622360363239/ Also, this tutorial: Also, I usually find that letting the poppers dry completely before doing the "goo" makes for a better end-product. Let me know if you have any questions.

Nice mess of bugs there! Great ties...

Wow, that's pretty dang creative, man. So if anyone is interested, here's an auction for a compressor that these work with: http://cgi.ebay.com/SPARMAX-airbrush-airbr...6#ht_500wt_1156 A little easier than the cans or a cool pump. I got mine for $30. Pretty hard to beat the convenience....

Ok, so what's with this "foil" thing you guys are talking about?? [edit: I googled until I found some more info. Sounds interesting...just need to find the right foil I guess. Assuming regular foil is too thick?]

Very nice tie!

I've used both quite a bit, but I like the Rainy's foam ones more overall probably. They have a different sorta diving action and chug up the water a bit differently, but the idea's the same. Foam's quicker to tie but both can be used to exercise your creative outlet... El Diablo, the fighting chicken...

Nice looking poppers! So I bought a cheap compressor off of ebay for $60. Came with a damaged compressor valve, but still works, so he refunded me $30. Not a bad deal. I've used both the 60 and 180 cans -- both for going mobile to shows etc where I won't take the compressor. My 60 lasted longer than 25 poppers, but it wasn't by a lot. The 180 can has lasted two tying shows and a few demos, tutorials etc. I'd prob start with the 180 and see how far it goes, how many you're painting. Then if it doesn't last, just shop for a longer-term solution in a compressor. Rock on!

Yeah! Nicely done!

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Curtis Fry: JM Key Lime Damsel

For me personally, I get a good portion of my overall enjoyment of the fly fishing/tying pastime, hobby, etc from tying. I spend a lot of time "prettying up" poppers, nymphs dries etc, knowing full well, the fish don't give a crap. "I" give a crap -- that's all the matters. I really don't know anyone who thinks a pretty painted popper makes you catch more fish, so I guess I find the topic here a little like "duh". I think we often spend too much time worrying about how many fish others are catching or what they're using or what rod they use or what waders they wear and then compare to what we're catching, fishing with, wearing etc. In the end, to each his own. If you like painting poppers with elmer's glue and some glitter from your kid's school craft box, then have at it. It's about each person's enjoyment of a sport that has many facets and levels of enjoyment. That's the beauty of our sickness... "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." ~Henry David Thoreau

Nicely done. What's the hook on that guy?

I'll have a tutorial for it on my Youtube channel here in the next couple of weeks. But the body is UV Chewy skin (brown) with wire ribbing. The thorax is part Senyo laser dubbing with hun feather legs and then the bead is the other part of the thorax. Skinny skin with holographic tinsel for the wing case and then finished off with more dubbing around the 50 lb mono eyes. Fun ties...

I love to target the 'gills. Like mentioned before, they're not too finicky. I have found, however, that sometimes the early season bite is a little tougher. Since most lakes and ponds have healthy populations of Chironomids, that's my go-to pattern style in the Spring. I also like this style of pattern based on my buddy's "Damsebaetis", which can imitate damsels, dragon flies and callibaetis. Again, all 'gill food: Then once they start to get aggressive, it's topwater!

Excellent tie and great shot!

Yeah, my guess is your blades must be dull. I usually get 1 maybe 2 flies out of each side of the blade. I usually use scissors to clean up stuff in tough angles or tight spots. They also work well to rough "mark" a path or contour and then the blades come along and clean it up. With a tight pack job and a good blade, those hairs will just pop right off all uniform. Check out the master as oakta suggested. He's got it down "pat"!

The head is a "Turbo Poppin' Head" from Rainy's. It's fairly lightweight and hollowed out, so casting it won't be a problem. I tied the fly, leaving a tapered "snout", which fits very nicely into the hole on the rear of the poppin head -- so yeah, very much like a tube fly. The poppin head would be slid onto the leader first and then the fly tied on and fitted into the hole. I'm hoping this will handle situations where the fish are on buzz baits.

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Curtis Fry: Turbo Popper

Cool. So what makes these guys land with the hook-point up? Or does it land hook-point down?

I bought a used Sparmax compressor on eBay for $60. Ended up costing me only $30 when it arrived with a broken pressure gauge (the compressor still works). Also, the cans will last you quite a long time. I'd suggest getting the 180 and then see how long it lasts you. I use cans when I'm doing shows and demos etc. The compressor stays in the man-cave at home. I saw this today: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Pro-Airbrush-Kit-A...b3#ht_770wt_905 Comes with airbrush stuff, but the compressor alone is worth the price.

Hehe, yeah, I think the preferred method would be the light it and shoot. Much more accurate at close range...