July 2013 Flies From The Vise

[Piker20 0]

[utyer 0]

I have been on a historical journey of late. In the fifteenth century, your and materials would have been limited to what yarn you could collect yourself. Thread would have been standard sewing threads. Feathers in common usage would have included the Mallard, Partridge, and "bosard" (a lesser falcon,)

 

Two hundred years later, we find only one major addition to the materials list, and that was dubbing. All materials would still need to be collected by the tier. Various furs, hairs, and yarn fibers would have been blended into the dubbing.

 

All hooks would have been "eyeless," and most would also have to be made yourself.

 

The only tool would have been a pair of scissors.

 

I took a few "liberties" first with body colors, to more closely resemble flies on this continent. I have obviously used modern hooks, and added tails, (they were not commonly done 400 years ago, but those are the only "liberties" I took with these patterns.

 

First pair is simply mallard flank, thread, (Toldi-lock) and wool (separated into a single strand.) Similar in style to flies from the 1500s.

 

Second pair is simply a dubbed body, tied in the style of Charles Cotton.

 

The last fly is my interpretation of Charles Cotton's first pattern for January. All done "in hand."

 

 

[tctrout 0]

Here's a recent fly I tied, Doug Swisher's Madam X (color: Royal). This is such a fun fly to tie, especially with the deerhair bullethead! Enjoy!

 

 

TC

[mikechell 0]

Nicely done, Utyer. Those flies look great! BUT ... That's an experience you can have. Next thing you'll be doing is living in an off-the-grid shack with no power or plumbing. We'll start worrying about you when you start writing your anti-modern manifesto.

I didn't get born into this era just to disregard technology. I'll take my vice and modern synthetic materials, thank you.

[utyer 0]

Mike, I'm not planning on living in a shack on an Island in the St Johns, and eating road kill; but maybe in the woods of Montana. This is just a fun exercise. Tying in hand does give you an appreciation for the modern tools. I have over $1000 tied up in vises, but every now and again I just like to see how it was.

 

My second objective (really my first,) is to fish these (I have tied about 5 or 6 dozen,) and see how they do. They worked then, there is no reason they shouldn't work now.

 

[Piker20 0]

I agree well tied and tidy for a vice fly never mind in hand. Look forward to hearing how they fish.

[rolsen 0]

Damn rodents, they're all over the place...

[sunsignarcher 0]

Goddard

[DUBBN 0]

 

[Christopher K 0]

Damn rodents, they're all over the place...

These are really your firsts?!

[rolsen 0]

Damn rodents, they're all over the place...

These are really your firsts?!

 

Yeah..I kinda always hated deer hair, but now I bought whole roe deer pelt and planning to overcome my hatred It seems to be all technique and right thread. Packing with different colours is still very hard, at least to get decent results.

[wayne offord 0]

Damn rodents, they're all over the place...

this looks perfect tyvm for sharing! perhaps I will get a deer and force myself to do the same!

[rolsen 0]

Bumble Bee - just for fun & practise

[Rocco 0]

A tip from my fly shop guru. ( He sells me my Gurus anyway.)

 

For the Fish Spine series trimming is really critical to realizing the ultimate action potential. Try an electric mustache trimmer on those hard synthetics that slip away from the scissors.

 

Rocco

[mikechell 0]

Cute face on that bumble bee, Rolsen. My wife wants me to tie one just like it ... without the hook point ... and make an earring out of it. I hope it catches fish as well as it caught my wife.