KevCompton

Mike, Don't know if this question applies to only "warmwater species." If not, I tie a series of emerger patterns with foam. Here's two midge pupae and a midge emerger. Oliver Edwards, from England, ties a great emerging dun pattern with foam. If interested, I can really get into it. There's also a guy in Toledo, OH who is the master of foam. When I find his site, I'll send it along. He ties all kinds of (extra-)terrestrials. Tight Wraps, Kevin

Sorry, don't remember. Back to the vise -- tying sculpins for Windy Hill Flys Cheers, and Tight Wraps, Kevin

What were you tying -- maybe I'll remember.

Hah! So much for plugging a friend. Was the show worth coming up from Columbus?

Bite the bullet or you'll end up with a lot of split nails (I mean the eyes of each feather, not your fingernails). Jeff "Bear" Andrews of Michigan has the best, I've found, in that same price range. They're from Scottish skins. He can be reached at: [email protected]; and his website: www.BEARANDREWS.com. He'll hand select each cape, unlike a supply house that would send the next one on the rack. Kevin

Forgot, are you fishing streams or stillwaters? I agree -- BHs are great. For example, Phil Rowley's single best "go-to" pattern for lakes, and probably for moving waters, is the Chromie, a beadhead pupa: http://www.flycraftangling.com/flies_arc.html?a=6 Cheers, Kevin

Striptease Midge Pupa Submitted By: WindyHillFlys Materials Used: Hook: Nickel Plated Partridge K14ST, #14-#20; Ashima F-50; or Daiichi 1140 #22-#28; or any scud hook Thread: 12/0 Benecchi Thread (#14-20); or Gudebrod 10/0 Lower Abdomen Gills: White Chicken Poop Feather Tips Weight/Rib: Extra-Small Ultra Wire (optional) Abdomen Underbody: White Floss or Tying Thread Abdomen: Stripped and Dyed Peacock Herl; or Stripped Goose Biots (Black, Red, Green, Olive, Yellow, and Tan/Cream) Thorax: Dyed Peacock Herl wound with Fine Silver Oval Tinsel; or Davy Wotton’s SLF Stillwater Midge Pupa Dubbing (blend of orange #22 & red #20) Thorax Wingpads: Open Cell Foam 1/32” Thorax Gills: White Chicken Poop Feather Tips; omitted with indicator. Indicator: White or Hot-Orange Snowshoe Hare’s Fur; or CDC bundle Tying Instructions 1. Bend the front-most part of the shank, two widths of the eye of the hook, down forty degrees; 2. Attach thread and tie the lower gills (marabou) to the base of the bend of the hook. (Best way to attach the gills is to tie them in long and then drag the tips to length.) Tie in wire. 3. Form a slightly tapered underbody with the working thread. 4. Wrap the stripped peacock herl (or goose biots) up to the thorax and rib the wire. 5. Tie in two narrow strips of foam on either side of the shank and crush the foam back to the abdomen at the base of the thorax; 6. Tie down a clump of snowshoe hare’s fur atop the thorax with the tips out over the eye of the hook; 7. Dub the thorax and pull the foam strips around the dubbing and clinch down; trim the ends of the foam and leave a foam “bubble”; 8. Now “post” the indicator and tie off at the eye. Here's an emerger one with a post; note wire ribbing and dubbing instead of peacock herl (the eyes were just for fun): Best of luck, and Tight Wraps, Kevin

Duckydoty, Here's my most productive midge pattern, a midge pupa. It can be tied in colors to fit your naturals. The foam works great (it simulates the silvery glisten of rising pupae and aids buoyancy). You can also tie the body with wrapped goose biots. Instead of the front gills you can also post CDC or snowshoe hare's fur to keep it in the surface film as an emerger. If interested, I can send the recipe, instructions, and some additional info. I've tied it down to size #22.

OLB Please send address, thanks Kevin

Thanks, Will. They're there, except the Most Creative is upside down -- not shot hook up, just upside down. (I can see you in one of the beadhead beads -- your image looks better than my poorly tied flies!) Kevin

Crotalus, Will have them for the 15th Kevin

OLB, New to the forum -- what do I need to do for the swap if I'm still in? Thanks, Kevin

If there's still room, I would like to be in on this, thanks, Kevin

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by WindyHillFlys: Striptease Midge Pupa (click link for more info)