Gene L

This may not be the proper place for this, but no other place seems to fit. I'm getting out of fishing because I can't wade w/out falling in the water. And I mean ankle deep water. There I go. But anyway, I'm selling some high-end rods. I'll put them on Ebay if no one here is interested. So if you're in the market for some good rods (Sage, Winston, Orvis) at a good price, let me know. In Classifieds, now is my first deal on a XP: It's a $650 rod new, and the condition is excellent.

I realize this is a zombie thread, but I just came upon it yesterday. I am (or was) an archer who made his own bows and arrows. I recently got rid of my recurves because I can no longer pull them so I gave them to some people who can. A 21st Century (Super Nova), a Kodiak 45 pound. What I have left is a yew 6' bow of about 40 pounds, an English style bow. I've made several bows in the past out of Osage and yew and hickory. Got a 6' stave in yew I was working on until I broke a hip.

Found the Classified topic. I don't know why I didn't find it at first.

I've got a few things I want to sell. Where do I post these items? Is there such a place?

The other day I was searching the web can't remember what specifically, now, but looked into a source from the late 19th or early 20th century. I believe it was from a book or magazine and dealt with hackle. I won't quote what I read, can't remember, but the article referenced hackle. It said that to get a hackle, the author called on another source who had a rooster. It amounted to the author and possibly other friends cut hackles from the rooster. I inferred the rooster had this happen before as it said "...a visit to his long suffering rooster" or words to that effect. It was written in a familiar tone, as if anyone reading would know what was going on. In other words, not a formal tone. I never thought about it, but hackle back in the day was precious and not harvested as necks, but a few feathers at a time. I think this was before Indian necks and way before genetic hackle. I'll look and see if I can gin up the original article if anyone is interested.

My first up grade vise was a Griffen Patriot. I wish I had it back. Trying to find another but no luck so far. It was top notch back then. I like the way their cams locks into a hook.

I didn't examine the vise. I was seated next to the owner and it looked fine to me. I did notice the pedestal was a bit small compared to others I've seen A little taller than I'd want personally. I agree it's strange and probably costs more to thread the stem and the pedestal than a straight bore thru. As noted in the on-line review, the manufacturer has two different titles from the same address. Strange and stranger.

Matt O'neal (Savage Flies) did a review of the Nirvana. And in fact I saw one at my last Sip and Tie meeting. What I and Matt found objectional about the vise is the C-Clamp. It attaches to the threaded vise stem with a nut whereas most C-Clamps are bored through. Which means you're stuck with almost no height adjustment. This is odd in my view. The stem is threaded and you have to screw it in the C-Clamp. For me, this would be a walk-off, as I depend on the C clamp and prefer it (generally) for the ability to adjust the height of the vise. Also, from my personal observations, the pedestal is not heavy enough for me. Oneal wasn't a fan of the vise, but you can google his review on Youtube if I've not explained it clearly.

Angler's Roost made copies of the No. 1 back in the 90s. Called the Roto vise. I would like to see a review on them, but have never seen one. The No 2 is a bit simpler, draw collet (IIRC). It was simpler and cost less to copy, I think, but doesn't have the panache of the No 1. (So called the No 1, but it didn't get the No 1 status until the No 2 came out.) About a month ago I saw a No 1 on Ebay. It sold for $36 more or less.

I've got several vises, including a Regal, a Ren Traveler. This doesn't indicate my ability to tie flies, however. I just enjoy having them. Got an old Universal vise, a Universal 2 and a Maxcatch which I referred to in a post on this board. Guess I'm just a collector.

I like the vise very well but I thought it would be a better if it had a turning handle (probably not what it's called). A few years back I called HMH and the owner answered and I asked him about the turning handle. I thought it was an option since I hadn't seen one in vise reviews that didn't have the turning handle. He said he didn't make one and gave me the diameter and thread pitch. I forgot the diameter/pitch so when I began to think more on it, I called HMH for the necessary information. Again, the owner answered and when I asked him the specs he told me that they had started making them. A fact I missed somehow. So I ordered one, a nice brass rod with a neat button at the bottom end. Not excessive cost wise and makes the vise a whole lot easier to rotate.

Yeah, the jaws are very accessible. The vise angle is adjustable. It's not a wonder vise, I prefer it to a Thompson, A which you're stuck with the angle. Not to knock the A vise, It's good and a classic, but a lot of water has gone under that bridge and development has advanced. It rotates so you can tie on the other side of the hook.

maxcatch fly tying vise - Search (bing.com) Here you go.

That would be a Magcatch rotating vise. It works well, and priced at $45-50. Holds hooks very well and is lightweight. Make a good travel vise. I can't link to it because I temporarily forgot how to post a link. It's at least as good IMO as a Thompson A vise and probably about the same cost.

I don't think anyone is being condescending. here. I question the OP and the way it was posted. I doubt anyone here can relate to a $1000 vise.

I can't find decent pheasant tail feathers. The ones I bought are too small for a PT nymph. Takes two bunches for a size 14 and even then, it's not overly long. Does anyone know a good source for mature Pheasant tail feathers.

Got Helen Shaw's Fly Tying the other day. It's pretty basic technique but without a bobbin. So I decided to give it a try with a rubber gasket from Ace Hardware. It's not all that difficult so long as you keep in mind that you don't have a bobbin to deal with. I was rather surprised. I'm not an accomplished tier with a rotary vice so any small degree of success makes me happy. I tied a dry fly, found that I need about a foot or more of thread to keep tension on the fly...I ran out the first time I tried it, half-hitched my thread on the hook and tied back on. A worthwhile experiment. Now that I have done it, I don't plan to retire my bobbin.

Matt Oneal has questions about 1950s thru 1970s on fly tying methods back then. He has a youtube site, "Savage Flies". His question basically is how many feathers did it take on average to hackle a dry fly. I assume all the necks were Indian.

I'm not interested in 2022 tools or techniques as I'm pretty up to date on those. I like the history and books about the history of techniques. Fly Tying is all about 1970s methods, although they're dated if looked at in modern terms.

Today, I got my copy of Helen Shaw's Fly Tying. I got it used for $5, It was advertised as "Good" with perhaps notations in the margin and spine may be a little loose. So I was prepared for that. What arrived was a new book that probably had never been opened. Cost on the cover was $26. Interesting book so far.

About a month ago I was at a fly tying soiree where levels of experience varied. One newbie member was wrapping the thread in a counter clockwise fashion when the leader of the room told him he was wrapping backwards. The neophyte then asked "Why?" No one in the room could tell him why. I know a left handed tyer who raps the thread in a 'c-c position but no one in the room had an answer. Probably it would be just as easy one way on another with practice. So what are the reasons will you recommendations.

I read the one suggested by Chugbug. My impression is Thank God for where we are today. I wonder where we will be 50 years from now. I would think that flies back then were less expendable than they are today. Today's flies are less imitative than they wanted them back then, IMO.

I don't mean like Medieval fly tying, something more modern like in the 20th century. Does anyone have any references where I can read up on procedures in the not so distant past? Like the evolution of fly tying vises, for example. Or the origin of the bobbin. (holder). I would like to see any sites that have information for those of us who can't tie that well, hence we read about those who can. My interest was stimulated when I saw a reference on a site by a guy who collects fly tying equipment. He was enthusiastic when he found a C clamp for a Thompson vise* that had a provision for holding the working section of the thread. Prior to the bobbin holder. It had a round rubber gasket (for want of a better word) affixed on the C clamp so you could put a half hitch on your tie and keep some tension on the thread instead of it being loose and going elsewhere. I'd be grateful if anyone has any recommendations. *I assume it was for and made for a Thompson A vise and made by the Thompson company, which may have been stated. Not a whole lot of choices before 1950 on fly tying gear.

Thanks, Chugbug. Unfortunately, after a youth of shooting guns w/out ear protection, I couldn't hear it snap. I hardly ever use silk and can't remember why I bought it.

Does it degenerate in storage? I've got spools of Persall's, haven't used any lately; just wondering if it's lost most of its strength. I suppose I could test it for tensile strength but I don't have a control example by which to test. I don't even know if strength is something to worry about, but color is. How fast is the color?