dawgvet

Ok, so where do you order the 'real thing' from?

I could use some tips on what to look for when buying Coq de Leon feathers. I am mainly interested in tailing for nymphs. I have read about so many folks using these feathers for tailing material so I thought I'd buy some. Then got to looking and saw a lot of different types available: roosters vs hens, necks vs. saddles, tailing packs from Whiting Farms, etc. Also not sure about all the different colors and speckling patterns (light pardo, med. pardo, etc.). So, what specific feathers am I looking for? Where are the best places to buy it? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Jed

I checked pics of Presentation bases and that looks exactly like what I got! Very nice surprise as I contemplated the Presentation for that very reason. I am curious if this is new standard or just ran short on Traveler bases. Overall, I really like this vise and am glad I chose it over the Peak and Dyna-Kings. I tie mainly small trout flies and the smaller jaws and better access to the bend of the hook we my deciding factors. Also like I can tie from really tiny to really big on one set of jaws.

I just purchased a new Renzetti Traveler 2200 vise from Cabelas and was pleasantly surprised to see that the base was different from the ones I've seen on Travelers before. The base I received is a two-piece unit with a wider flatter base and a stem collar that is held on with an Allen screw up from the bottom. The previous bases were narrower and a one-piece unit. The new base was a welcome sight as the narrow base on previous Travelers was a drawback. Just wondering when this change took place? I like the new base better as it seems much more stable than the one on friends' vises that I had tried before. Thanks Jed

Help! I bought some Span-flex (aka- Sili-legs, etc., the Spandex flat leg material) and was wanting to tie some Girdle bugs. My problem is most of the material is curled when I take it out of the package and the legs look goofy. Has anyone found a way to straighten this stuff? I tried ironing a couple strands but that didn't work. I know this is a pretty geeky concern, but hey, we're fly tiers! Any help appreciated. Thanks Jed

Help! I bought some Span-flex (aka- Sili-legs, etc., the Spandex flat leg material) and was wanting to tie some Girdle bugs. My problem is most of the material is curled when I take it out of the package and the legs look goofy. Has anyone found a way to straighten this stuff? I tried ironing a couple strands but that didn't work. I know this is a pretty geeky concern, but hey, we're fly tiers! Any help appreciated. Thanks Jed

Here's my latest, a version of Ian Rutter's Rubber Legged Tellico nymph. I tie these with or without a tungsten bead. This is on a TMC 5263 3XL hook and I really like Senyo Laser Dub for the body in yellow.

Local shops are the first stop, but if that doesn't work try Little River Outfitters in Townsend, TN. No shipping charges on anything and their tying selection is the best for a real shop I've ever been in. Most of their tying stuff isn't on their online catalog but just ask for Daniel or Byron and they will know exactly what to get you. No ties to the shop but I support good people and they are the best shop I've found in the Southeastern U.S. www.littleriveroutfitters.com Jed

So you guys are saying some lead tape has more adhesive than others, right? The one I'm using is from Wapsi and is labeled 'Zonker Tape' and has the green-yellow adhesive with white backing you peel off of it. I saw on some lead tape from Golfsmith that theirs has a 'clear acrylic adhesive'. Don't know if this would be better or not but you do get more tape for the price. Any info on what type of lead tape you all use would be appreciated. Thanks, Jed P.S.- Anyone know Davie McPhail's email and I'll ask him what he uses!

Nice review, musky. I have been thinking of a new vise as well and have considered the Peak, along with a Dyna-King. Regards, Jed

I had this same problem as the OP. I am going to try less tension to see if this helps as I really like the tapering of the bodies with lead foil but the adhesive bleeding through has to stop! Thanks Jed

Been looking for any blogs that are updated fairly regularly. I love Tightline Productions videos that get posted regularly by Tim Flagler but was wondering if anyone knew of fly tying blogs, especially about trout flies, that were good? Any input appreciated. Thanks, Jed

Silk, Those are some truly impressive pieces of work. I am drooling over the LAW-type vises as I doubt I will ever own an original LAW. Great job. Regards, Jed

Just wondering if anyone had any tips or links to helpful videos/tutorials for making Comparadun wings that won't start to lay forward over time? I try to build a nice thread dam and wrap tightly against the hair wing but I still get wings that want to lay forward sometimes! Any help appreciated. Thanks, Jed

I've recently tried to use lead tape, usually marketed as 'Zonker tape', as the weight under my nymphs. I have seen the adhesive coming up through my dubbing as little blue-green balls of goo. Any ideas on how to fix or prevent this? Should I use some kind of solvent to wipe the adhesive off? I have tried to cover the lead completely with thread but that doesn't always work. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a better lead tape/foil to use? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Jed

I was going to tie up some Tellico nymphs and couldn't remember what type of fixative was best to use on turkey tail feathers to keep them from splitting apart? Are the art fixative sprays still the best or some brush-on stuff like Dave's Flexament better? Thanks Jed

Just wondering what the smallest tungsten beads currently available were? I have been tying some smaller BWO nymphs and was looking for the smallest tungsten beads so my nymphs still look well-proportioned. Where do you all like to get your tungsten beads? Thanks Jed

Zelon definitely looks different than Antron. You can order Zelon (sometimes listed as Z-lon) from anyone that carries Umqua Feather Merchant stuff. It is listed as Bett's Zelon. Blue Ribbon definitely has Zelon but limited supplies of the old straight Zelon. Mostly the crinkled Zelon now but I was told by one of the guys that work at Blue Ribbon that it all comes crinkled and they just iron it to straighten it out. I tried it and it worked fine. I think the Bett's stuff comes straightened still. Regards, Jed

Thanks for the reply. That's the kind of info I was looking for.

Really impressive flies. Great job!

Been mulling over purchase of a new vise for a while. I want a true rotary vise and wanted to stay under $300. I like the simplicity of the Dyna King jaw adjustment and locking mechanism. I looked over the Trekker and it seems to do everything I would need a vise to do. Having hard time justifying the extra $120 or more for the Barracuda. I had thought of ordering the midge jaws later as I tie trout flies almost exclusively. Anyone have any input or advice? Thanks Jed

SilverCreek, That sounds like a great method but I would like a picture or two. Any chance you have that issue of FFM? I wonder if they still have back issues that far? Thanks Again, Jed

I was looking for tips on how to split microfibbet tails? Any good online videos or books that illustrate this very well? I've basically read two methods: using the tag end of tying thread to pull up and divide the tails, or figure-eight wraps to divide them. I kinda get the pull-up-the-tag method but I've had difficulty with the figure eight wrap method I've seen on a Davie McPhail video. Any tips appreciated. Thanks Jed

Just bought my first pair of snowshoe rabbit feet and was wondering what all patterns I can use it for. I bought it to use as wings on emergers such as Rosenbauer's Rabbits Foot Emerger. I was interested in what all other patterns it was useful in. Thanks Jed

SilverCreek, Thank you for such a great reply. That is exactly the info that I was looking for. I would love to see a book or some literature on what hair from certain parts of deer bodies is best suited for. Also what are the diffecences in material when you see terms in catalogs like "cow body hair", "deer hock hair", "bull elk mane hair", etc. I would love to buy all my hair first-hand but my flyshops are limited on the hair they carry. I have called and talked to Blue Ribbon Flies so hopefully they are knowledgeable and can help. Thanks Again, Jed