Hardyrod1974

Thank you guys very much!!! I looked around at the various versions of that kind of epoxy on Amazon and it seems it is just what I want. I put some on my "list" for the future.

My currently under construction fly tying bench is built around a 2 1/8" thick white pine slab. I'm thinking about carving/ routing a 4" x 6" x 1" deep pocket off to the side somewhere and creating a small "stream scene". I'd like to line it with some pebbles and sand and sticks and also have a short length of leader with a streamer tied to it. I know how I'd set everything up but what kind of clear "stuff" can I fill this pocket with? It has to dry clear. I've seen some bar tables and counter tops coated with some sort of clear material (epoxy?) but I don't know what it was. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you Richard

Gentlemen, Thank you very much for your suggestions!! I started to go in Flytire's direction. I found several components online and was planning a trip to home depot to buy the rest. Then Tidewaterfly posted the picture of the C-clamp with the welded nuts. Right now I'm going to try that. A friend will weld a block of some yet to be determined shape of steel to a 3" clamp and I will tap a hole in the side for a set screw or bolt. A little back ground on my under construction bench. It will be in the Adirondack rustic style. A friend gave me a live edge slab, 2-1/8" thick which will be the bench top. I plan on using my Thompson A vice that I have tied on since 1970/71. I'm hesitant to cut a groove in the slab because that won't allow for any lateral movement of the vise. I don't want to go the pedestal route because the vise would be too high and I don't want to cut down the shaft of my vise either. So the clamp and welded block meets all my requirements for now. Again, Thank you all for your replies. Richard

Has anyone out there made (modified) their own C-clamp for their vise? I use a Thompson Model A and the clamp limits where I can use it. I'd like to be able to clamp on surfaces in the 2 -3" thickness range. I know there are clamps I can buy but I can't justify their price, $40 and up. Has any made their own or used some sort of clamp that was intended originally for another use? Pictures? Thank you Richard

I saw these on the J Stockard website. Are they useful? How big would a dry fly have to be to still float if you used one? Or are they intended only for sub surface use? Thank you, Richard

This seems useful. But how well would crickets hold up during casting?

Before stretch tubing entered the fly tying world, what was it used for? Thank you Rich

I just watched this video. What a great idea! I just checked out Harbor Freight's web site and they have two versions of those pliers, a 4" version for $3.99 and a 10" version for $6.99. Such a deal! I think the 4" pair will do nicely.

SILKHDH, If you would, please supply a few dimensions and some information about your hair packer. Thickness and width of the steel? About how long are the steel pieces after forming them? I've only seen pictures of the Frugly on-line, never saw one in person. When you formed the steel to get the ridges (bumps) did you heat the steel first? Were the ridges formed by just bending by hand in a vise in different directions or did you make some sort of die and press a sort rod down to form the bend? Thank you very much. Rich

Does anybody out there, have and use a Fugly Packer? I saw a video of Pat Cohen using one and wondered if it is worth the $30 price. I would be using it to tie #6- 1/0 bass bugs. Thank you

Byron, Yes about the chair/ desk info but also the tying tips he would have to offer. I've found I can still tie a decent fly but I'd like to go faster and there is a lot I still don't know. Videos have their place, however I like books better.

Please keep in mind, my desire is for a small can 3-4 oz in size to keep in my fly vest. The "Camp Dry" comes close.

flytire My concern is what more do I get for my $25 vs. $6. If it's only nicer pictures, I'll get the $6 copy and use the $19 for something else.

Way back in the 1970's I was able to buy a small (3 or 4 oz.) can of silicone spray for use on my deer hair bass bugs. Now that I'm back to fishing, I want to get another can to keep in my vest but my searches are fruitless so far, whether I search on-line, the hardware stores, big box stores etc. What do you guys use? I have some small containers of dry fly floatant but that would get costly on deer hair bugs. Richard

Gentlemen, I'm close to buying a copy of A K Best's "Production Fly Tying". Can anyone here give me some hints as to some of the differences in the 3 different versions that are available 1989, 2003 & 2015? I'll assume there are differences in the quality of the photographs but beyond that is there enough "new" information to warrant paying about $25 for the 2015 version vs. about $6 for the 1989 version or $13 or so for the 2003 copy? Thank you in advance. Richard

Good morning I'm in the planning/ design stage of my rustic fly tying bench. I could use some feedback on what works and what doesn't as far as a chair goes before I cut the legs for the bench. I remember when I was tying commercially back in the 1970's and sitting on a stool at my father's reloading bench and having my neck and upper back getting sore after an hour or so. I couldn't tell you now what the height of the bench or stool was. I prefer not to have that happen again. Thank you in advance.

Gentlemen, Interesting replies. I'll assume then, that fish, like skunks are unphased by bee stings.

I'm reading Norman Maclean's "A River Runs Through It", excellent book by the way. Slightly different than the movies version. Anyway, at one point he mentions that he comes across a dead beaver along side the stream and bees are swarming around it. At that point he selects a fly that somewhat resembles a bee and proceeds to catch some trout on it. Has anyone here seen trout take a bee off the surface or fish with a fly that resembles a bee and caught trout with it? Richard

Flytire, Thank you! Knowing that they are paintings and not pictures, is a game changer. The painting are awesome though. Thank you for the links to the actual flies! Bob, Thank you for your recommendation of the book as reading material. I still may buy it just to read. Rich

I'm considering the purchase of the most recent edition of Ray Bergman's "Trout", published in 2000. I would buy it mainly for the plates of the flies. I'm wondering how good are the photos in this edition? I know that anything in that book is probably online somewhere but I'm one of those that enjoy a good book in my hands. I'd like to hear from those that have this edition. Thank you Rich

Johnny, I still have my very simple fly tying bench from the 1970's, though disassembled. I need to put it back together and reconfigure the working area. Mr. Best's Production Fly Tying books seem very interesting. I've looked them over on Amazon but not in person. How much has changed in them over the 20 or so years they have been out? One reviewer mentioned the picture reproduction wasn't as good in the 3rd edition as it was in the 2nd edition, any thoughts on that? I'll take a look at the D McPhail videos on YouTube soon, thanks.

I tied a lot from about 1970 to 1980 and then put everything away (carefully). I recently got everything out again and I'm in the process of sorting thru it all and tying again. I tied commercially for several years for Eric Lieser, also some shops in NJ and Maine. I did OK but don't plan on doing it again, it's not as much fun as tying some flies now and then for some friends. The reason for this post is to get some recommendations on some books by A K Best. I'd like to learn more of the things that would take me to the next level. I see he has a bunch of books out there and they all look interesting but I can't buy them all. So, what would be the first two I should get? Thank you!

Mike, That looks like what I need. I'll check out our local store in a day or two. For the others that offered suggestions, Thank you very much! Richard

flytire, I tried Micheals and JoAnn's fabrics. Nothing close. Thank you anyway. Richard

I'm looking to purchase some foam in order to customize a Plano compartmented box for bass flies and large streamers. I need some material that is in the 1/4" to 3/8" range so I can cut it into strips. I would like it to be the self healing type or maybe the silicone material that has been showing up lately in the newer fly boxes. I'd prefer not to have to layer a thinner material in order to get the thickness I want. Anybody know of some sources??? Thank you in advance. Richard