rolsen 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 Hi guys, Brassie packers look simple enough for a simple man, no moving parts etc. Are they good? They are more than affordable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 I've got one I used once ... didn't like it and haven't tried it since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whatfly 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 Yes, they work fine. There are a lot of ways to achieve the same goal, but I've always found the Brassie useful. Get the larger one, which is good for all sizes really. YMMV. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 probably not as good as the fugly packer. serious packing! http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/Hatches/2012/08/22/sf-fugly-packer-by-super-fly/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mvendon 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 Hi rolsen, They do the job OK. Like flytire noted, they're not as good as a fugly since they aren't made of heavy stock brass and tend to bend a bit when you're packing the hair back. They're not as expensive either. I made my own way back that's a lot like the fugly, only smaller. I have at least two sizes of the Brassie that I don't use any more. I can mail one to you if you want it, just let me know. Regards, Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2013 I like mine but want to try Pat Cohen's Fugly packer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rolsen 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 Thanks for the answers guys, I knew some of us had to have some experience! mvendon, thanks for your kindness But I think international shipping will cost more than just getting brassies for 5 euros from my dealer. This helping attitude is what I love in this forum! Fugly packer seems to be a real monster Surely they don't bend, but look at the size of that thing I think I'll give Brassie a change and give them to someone if they aren't good. Thanks once again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chefben4 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 I thought I liked my brassie...until 2 days ago when I was trying to pack some hair and the tool collapsed and bent wayy out of shape. Unless of course it was just my super human strength. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 I used a Brassie for years because it was recommended by the hair-spinning-and-packing master Chris Helm. I liked it okay, but if you apply enough pressure to really pack the hair tight, there's a better than even chance that your fingers will lose their grip on its smooth sides, sending your thumb directly at the hook point at approximately Mach 3 -- ouch. Big time. When I discovered Pat Cohen's Fugly Packer, I was initially a little put off by the size of the thing, but boy does it work, and it has the little guards behind the jaws to protect against the situation described above. I haven't touched my Brassie since I brought the Fugly home. I would still use the Brassie for smaller flies like hoppers with deer hair heads or small muddlers, but for bass bugs the Fugly is definitely the tool. If you don't like the big one, he does make a Fugly Packer "Junior" model now that is about half the size of the original. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rolsen 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 Fugly Packer Jr. seems to be the thing. I ordered one instead of Brassie. Thanks for the tip Bryon! I think that packer will last a lifetime, so solid it seems to be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bugsy 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 Re Fugly Jr: It's 5" vs 6" for the standard. Not 1/2 size. Both are "hand size" tools. The Brassie still has its place for smaller flies; the Fugly's overall dimensions and larger notch make it most practical for large flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 I use my Fugly on flies down to Size 10 deer hair bugs for creek bass. I have a Brassie that was a fraction of the cost, and I can honestly say it's not even worth the small amount I paid for it. Fugly is the real deal. All of my deer hair flies have turned out better since buying it. $20 well-spent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mvendon 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2013 If anyone is interested, this is the packing tool that I made quite a few years ago. It's made from a reverse action tweezer. I cut the tips off and bent them to a 90 degree angle. I filed a small groove in the center of both front ends so it would stay on the hook shank better. The neat thing about it is that you squeeze it to open it. Once it's on the hook shank, you just release the grip and it will stay right there. If you don't tie super sized bass bugs, this works really good. Regards, Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2013 Nice home-made tool, mvendon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaybird 279 0 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Brassie packers have their place, like with smaller sized flies and easy to pack hair. When pressure is needed to get a tight pack, you should be looking for a stronger tool. A friend of mine, back in Jersey, made his own packer from a piston used in small engines/ He cut a notch in the piston head wide enough to slide over the thread. I could add a photo of the one he did for me if I know how to add photos to a reply. I should add that my friend ties some outstanding deer hair poppers and was even recognized for his skills by Carl Bradley. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites