British mike

I dont use wax either but often will use the Davy Wotton technique of splitting the tying thread with a dubbing needle and inserting your dubbing, well teased out into the thread, then spin the bobbin and there you have it, you can apply as little or as much dubbing as you wish to achieve your required body and no hassle with dubbing by hand or sticky wax. Mike.....

I tried newspaper once for a body............but the trout spent all their time reading the headlines........ :hyst: Just kidding............ Sounds like something to experiment with. I had some luck making individual body segments using a carpet fixative called "Copydex" in the UK. Not sure if it available in the States. Mike

Thanks Steelie the product looks very interesting, I was worried when I first went into the site as it was showing 1 Gallon tins.........!!!!!! Its ok I found the small cans...phewwwwwww!!! Thanks im going to give it a try Mike

That looks fantastic Graham and its inspirational to us all to see the effort that you put into your work. Its clear that your passion for realistics is strong and hey?......................how do you keep your tying desk so neat and clear ..... :dunno: Seriously Graham you are a example to us all. Thanks for sharing Mike

I tie lot of extended bodies using deer hair bound onto a sewing needle with tying thread to make a segmented body then slide it off and attach it to the hook. Another good method is the "furled" yarn which is a short length of material like polypropelene yarn, twist it into a tight rope then fold it in half. As you fold it the yarn furls/curls together and tied onto the hook makes a great extended body and it floats like a dream. Both of these methods can have tails inserted before being made. Have fun and lets see some of your results posted............ Mike

That looks awesome Graham.........have to make sure they are kept in an aquarium....you dont want them running over the house do you? As soon as i have finished building this damn house I will get back to the bench and hope to post some pics.

I have to agree with Graham, I have been tying flies for a long time and like Graham have never been what I acll artisic, that was until I tied flies of my own design. I tie hundreds of flies that I know will catch fish and then will have days when I just want to tie a realistic, true to life insect just for the hell of it and to "be artistic" I am the same with classic salmon flies I find nothing gives me more pleasure at the vise than building a classic fully dressed salmon fly from my own design, wether it ends up on the end of a leader of in a frame on my wall is imaterial to me. Mike...........The Brit has spoken......

Hey Fatman, Guess what...................I am in Montpelier.......well Middlesex to be correct Mike

Welcome Milo and and ditto what Ashby said about the people in the forum. Mike

Welcome to the forum and to a great bunch of fellow fly fishermen /women. I hope that you have a sense of humor......... you will need it with some of these guys.......... :hyst: ......... :j_k: Mike

Welcome Brian, I am a newcomer as well but Im sure you will enjoy the forum and the great guys / and ladies that are members. Mike

I have been tying for 42 years after watching John Veniard at a show demonstrate fly tying, I stood there for hours mesmerized and at the end of the demo he looked at me and said.........."your interested right"? I was for sure, John began to clear up his table and lent over to me with a handfull of packs of materials. That was it for me I was hooked. I still have some of those packs that he gave me and since that day have met with John many times when he has autographed his books for me. :yahoo:

Yes Graham and Ulf, Oliver is truely a very nice guy and will always stop what he is doing at the tying bench or in the river to give help and advise. I was lucky enough to video him during a two hour demonstration that he did for a fly fishing club where I was a member.

Being a friend of Oliver Edwards and having sat next to him and watch him tie a realistic pattern was in my opinion the best experience that I have had as a fly dresser of some 40 years. His flies which I am sure you have seen or read about are not only realistic but made for fishing.........and yes they catch loads of fish. Oliver is a very experienced fisherman and a amazing tyer of flies. Tight lines...and full fly boxes for the season.............

hi Day 5, Yes the salmon should be fine to eat after the dry brine (cure) as far as the amount of liquid to expect from the fillets it depends on different fish types, strength of cure etc. I usually expect about half a pint from two sides os salmon after 7 days. Hope this helps. Mike

Hi Joe, Well Foie Gras is the liver from fattened geese or ducks. The birds are force fed by having grain forced down thier gullets 2 or 3 times a day. This makes the liver grow very quicly to 4 - 6 times the normal size. It is a cruel exercise to be sure. A pate is made from the livers or it is served cooked. It is VERY expensive by the way so if you are thinking you will try some................what were those lottery numbers again? :hyst:

I thought that as a chef and fanatical fly fisherman I should share the odd recipe with you guys. It might give you some leaway with "her indoors" if you come home with a trout or salmon and a recipe Ok here we go: Trout or Salmon Gravadlax, this is an old recipe given to me by a Swedish chef years ago and its fantastic and easy to prepare. Ingredients Salmom or trout, must be fresh caught 1 bunch of fresh dill A mixture of two thirds salt and one third white sugar Wholegrain mustard Fillet the fish and take out all the pin bones (these are the bones down the lateral line) I find tweezers are best for this. Lay the fillets onto a piece of tin foil on a tray, liberally sprinke with the salt/sugar mix. ( you need to have an even layer over the whole fillet) Finely chop the dill Spread the mustard over the top of the salt/sugar (just a thin layer) Finally layer the chopped dill over the mustard. Cover with more foil and palce another tray on top and place a weight on it. I use large cans of tinned food, tomatoes etc. Place into the fridge for a week. After 3 days turn the fillets and replace the weights and put back in the fridge. When the time is up take out and carve thinly and serve with a mayonnaise mixed with wholegrain mustard and a little brandy. Enjoy and let me know how it tasted. If you gained some points from your better half then I want a swap..... :hyst: .............. :j_k: Tight lines all. Mike

Yes i have a great use and a great fish catching fly. If you have light and dark mane hair then use it for dry fly bodies and for chironomid patterns gives a great segmented effect and glistens in the water. Someone gave me some zebra mane hair once and I tied some killer dries with it. Happy tying........ Mike

Well this post has made interesting reading.............. I just wanted to let you all know that in England before I left that sunny isle across the pond there was talk and I mean heavy talk from the animal rights groups to get a ban on all fishing. Having won the battle to ban fox hunting through the government they had started to act in more ways than one against us fishermen. There were reports of lone fishermen being attacked and their tackle smashed Not sure how far this will go over there but with millions of British avid fishermen I suspect it will not happen. Interesting to note in the USA Peta has fought and won the battle to ban that culinay delight "foie gras" and San Fransisco restaurants will not be able to serve this food item after 2010. So Peta do have some following it seems!!!!!!

Thanks sawcat..............but I think your better staying out of that one........ if you know what I mean As for the bench........its all set up but not in the kitchen.....YET !!! :hyst:

Well what can I say to you guys that are trying and succeeding in kicking the habit. Makes me feel that maybe i should join this merry clan of a support group. Have been thinking about it for a long time...but you guys know how it is........:headbang: Stopped once for 4 years and pressure from the kids etc got me back into the habit again. Your getting me thinking guys.......

Thanks ULf for the really superb stonefly pattern using shrink tube. I have not heard of this product until I read about it in your article, can you let me know where I can purchase the tubing so that I can start to experiment. Thanks again Mike

I brought one of these and had a few problems with putting it together and am now fighting with the other half it seems it would make a great kitchen work table !!!!! :crying: .............. :help:

Well all I can say to help is everything that has been posted and a great help is to hold the fibers firmly and stroke them in place and together to enable the hooks on each fiber to interlock, as you do this also slightly bend and curve them at the same time. Wow I just read that ....does it make sense? As with a lot of fly dressing techniques I think that practice makes perfect. The Brit has spoken....

Like many of you I have worn out a few vices in my tying life (40+years) But have been very happy for the last 4 years with the Dynaking professional. I have had a few probs with fine hooks breaking in the begining but so far so good :rockon: The attachment for setting the vice at different heights and angles is a real help.