Warren_G

This doesn't even get to the "Wet Fly" vs "Dry Fly" hooks. This must be something that is so universally understood that it does not seem to be documented anywhere. I was into fly tying for a year or two before I knew the difference, which is basically wet fly hooks are generally heavier wire. Try and find a website or fly fishing book that explains it that simply, I had a facepalm moment when I finally figured that out.

The spring design makes this basically impossible to adjust. Pressing the ends together, even overlapping them, they just spring back to their original position.

Here you can see how much slop there is with a thread spool loaded. It is so loose that it does not provide any tension, even pops out when you set it down on the table. I am beginning to think that I have been punked by a joke on fly tyers just to see who will buy a useless tool.

Here is the other side of the label, as well as a normal role of Uni thread for scale. The small one is too small and must flex really wide to hold it, while the large one is too large and the spool hangs loosely in it. The Falcon Tackle site has no info, and I am very puzzled by its purpose. Thankfully at only about $6 each, I thought it was a safe bet to buy them to see if I could solve the mystery.

I have no idea what its for, but that didn't stop me from getting both large and small. If its a fly tying tool, I must need it....right?

I have not noticed a color bleed on any of the flies I have tied with koolaid dyed fur, however I do tie all winter and fish in the summer so any flies I fish have been sitting for many months before I get them wet. They may bleed if the dye was a little fresher, and my red isnt as bright as some of the very bright colored fur I have bought, YMMV

I have dyed deer hair using koolaid, and the vinegar step is crucial with it as well. After the hair and hide have been in the dye solution for a while, adding a small amount of vinegar seems to force the dye to adhere to the material. So much so, in fact, that the water almost turned clear again as the color was all forced onto the fur. I had quite good luck making a patch of bright red deer hair using strawberry koolaid.

I bought a used HMH Standard for about that price, excellent vise. I did end up buying the shorter stand rod to put it on a pedestal base, and a set of the midge jaws, so I have already let it go over $200. Adam, the rod used in a C-clamp will fit into a pedestal base like this one: http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/fly-fishing/fly-tying/tools-vises%7C/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104340780/i/103884480/cabela-s-pedestal-base/743575.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftools-vises%2F_%2FN-1100441%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103884480 The only snag may be that it will stand up fairly high if the stand rod is a long one used to mount on a clamp style.

I am seeing that it may not be common or needed. I had just found a really nice pattern for a black chironomid, and when winding black moose mane around the hook shank it created a really nice segmentation effect with a very iridescent shiny body. I am one of those guys that has every color of every material and when I encounter something that I cant find, it gets under my skin. I will likely order some of the colored moose body hair from a local guy that should be able to get natures spirit, if not I can order from your link cheech, although I may wait until the canadian dollar isn't in such bad shape. Thanks.

Well, it is rare to google something and not get any meaningful results, but I am looking to find some moose mane dyed black, and for the first time in a long time I have not had any luck finding any online. Does anyone know of a source, or should I consider getting a patch of natural mane and dying it myself?

I never seem to have enough. I am a fly fisherman and tier, but also into spinning, baitcasting, trolling, downrigging, and ultralight tackle, so I have many rods and reels around the house. It is the same with tackle, I will never run out based on what I already have, but I still look at the shiny new hooks and rigs every time I am at Cabelas. I have often said that I could lose a hook on every cast for the rest of my life and never run out. At this point, the sport has deeply hooked me, and shopping for the newest piece of tackle is almost as much fun as being on the water.

Pinch every barb. Those pics of barbed fish hooks deeply stuck in people's flesh always make me cringe.

Looks like a nice pack. I own a William Joseph Exodus, which can be found on sale for the same or less than the LL Bean pack. The advantages to the WJ are that it is modular, so you can wear it as a combo of a chest pack and backpack, or take it apart and use it as either one on its own. I also love the zip-no mag closure system on the Willy J, and own the Current and Confluence chest packs as well. Worth a look if this is the type of gear bag you are looking at.

Similar texture to Flexament can be had by diluting some clear silicone with mineral spirits until it is thin enough to brush on. I use this to waterproof the stitching on tents and would work just fine to brush on a turkey feather to make it sturdier without losing its appearance or flexibility.

Lol I knew he was a rapper, but I am so white that is all I knew about him. Someone (much younger) than me jokingly called me Warren G at work for one summer, and it just sorta stuck as my forum name.