Jaydub

I've been using a bore brush for years. It works great for aggressively picking out fibers. Velcro works fine for smaller flies.

I would define dubbing as natural or synthetic fibers applied to tying thread by various techniques. It can be anything from animal fur to antron.

Yarn is useful in tying and I prefer it in certain applications. One problem with yarn is the bulk created where it is tied in. Most yarn is too large for really small flies. And it is harder (but not impossible) to create nicely tapered bodies. Yarn can also be chopped up and blended with other fibers to create custom dubbing blends.

I don't know how Cottonwood fibers will work. I know Kapok and Milkweed fibers have been used in tying.

What Mike said. From the full-sized picture, it looks like you used chenille for the body. Dubbing would allow a slimmer tapered body and probably not absorb as much water. I like a reverse-palmered body hackle, but it's a personal preference. The body hackle might also be just a bit short.

I noticed that if you zoom in on the stuff in flytire's link, it has an embossed texture. That might provide an interesting effect.

If that's not enough it's also available in a 1000 yard bag. Enough for at least 3000 dozen flies.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-Yards-Clear-Elast...m-/290397820702?

These feathers are also called "aftershaft". Include that in your search. The term "filoplume" is commonly used in flytying circles, but is probably incorrect (according to the bird nerds).

Great looking fly! I love the gills.

Loon Hydrostop and Watershed are applied differently. You don't need to soak the fly for 5 minutes in Watershed. You just apply a drop or two, as you would a regular floatant, and let it dry 24 hours, hence the bottle.

I would like to hear from someone who has used both products. Do you think one is more effective than the other?

Thanks guys. It won't be long now until the big bugs are flying.

Nicely done Troutdogg!

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Jaydub:

Foam Salmonfly

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Jaydub:

Foam Golden Stone

I don't know what it is but it's not any of the TMC hooks mentioned.

I like it bit It takes some getting use to. The biggest thing for me was remembering to pull out 14 inches of thread after cutting it. If you don't it gets sucked back in and you have to re-thread it. Now I find myself pulling thread out of my other bobbins without thinking.

I haven't had mine clog from waxed thread, but I don't use 3/0 in it.

Thanks for doing this experiment and saving me the trouble. I have thought about doing this many times but never got around to it.

I measured some UTC wire with a Mike-Rite leader guage. Accounting for the enamel coating here is what I came up with.

UTC size = Diameter (inches) = AWG for enameled wire

Extra small = .004 = 38-40

Small = .007 = 34

Brassie = .009 = 32

Medium = .014 = 28

Large = .017 = 26

I'd also recommend that one.

Man can you believe how young Dave looked in the picture in Trey's book.

Ha, I saw that too. He still has approximately the same amount of hair on top though.

I think you are both right. McNeese also has a pattern called "Spawning Purple". It's listed in Trey Combs "Steelhead Fly Fishing" and Mice's fly looks like a version of that pattern. Shewey's fly is more well known. Notice a pink version in my avatar. It's bugged me because Shewey worked for McNeese and you'd think they could they could agree on different names.

Great looking fly by the way.

Jay

Thats new to me. Very creative use of chain. Thanks for posting it.

I saw a crawfish I liked (might even have been on this site), that had eyes made from the bristles from a hair brush. One of those brushes that has bristles with little balls on the end. I searched around and found a suitable one at the dollar store.

Question - Is this a variation of Bird's stonefly nymph? For some reason I though the original used a red rib instead of the orange one. Just curious.

Good question. The rib is just what I had handy. I think I used to tie them with a darker orange, more like the color of the head. I checked checked Kaufmann's "The American Nymph Fly Tying Manual" (where I first saw it) and it just says orange thread.

I probably hadn't tied or fished this pattern in 20 years. I remembered I used to catch a lot of fish with it, then put it aside in favor of newer patterns. I decided I should tie a few this year.

Nice work on the Stimulator.

Nice flies and photo. Also a good tip on painting the hook shank white.

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Jaydub:

Arctic Dragon