Redfish flies

[ditz2 0]

There are several senior citizen types here. Actually some are beyond that description.

[Guest]

Don't hang your ace on da door as you leave fellow....

[tidewaterfly 0]

Hey Aces, sorry you feel that way! There are many of us here that are senior aged, but that doesn't mean we can't joke around & have a good time. That's what friends do sometimes. We all respect one another too although it may seem otherwise at times. There's no malice in any of what's posted here.

 

Not sure what your expectations were, or why you posted your comment in the first place, but as said there's a wealth of knowledge here. And, yes as Mike pointed out, some of us are rough, but everyone's heart is in the right place. We all enjoy this sport & enjoy sharing & contributing to this & other forums on this site. If you came here to learn or contribute from your experiences, if would be a shame not to stay.

 

There's also some newbies & youngster's here, like Fisherboy & August. Hopefully they're learning something positive here, even with the off topic & "colorful" posts.

 

Everyone is welcome! There's been some misunderstandings, perhaps due to age differences but those get worked out. You couldn't hang out with a better group than you'll find here!

 

You're certainly welcome to stay & contribute, or just hang around, read & not post at all. If you're out of here, so be it, that's your choice.

[FlaFly 0]

Tidey

I've got a question that has nothing to do with the discussion of courtesy, etc., but rather has to do with the streamer pix you posted long ago at the beginning of this thread. I've just now started of tying some streamers... never have before.... to use for crappie fishing, and am just learning all I can about it. I would PM you but I figured maybe some others might learn something worthwhile too.

 

In several of your pix, it appears that you have used something that looks maybe like polarflash in much the way a hackle might be used. How did you do that? Did you take a handful of flash and spin it link bucktail? Is there to your knowledge a good video showing the technique?

 

BTW, I really liked several of those flies and might try to copy them myself. Thanx for any help.

[FlaFly 0]

Tidey

FYI the second one (Green) and third one (Copper) are examples of what I'm asking.

thanx

[tidewaterfly 0]

FlaFly, that "material" is a couple of different materials. Not sure how different, but they're sold under different names & most are products marketed by Cascade Crest. They're all basically a long fiber type chenille, similar to Estaz.

 

Hackle Flash, Crystal Tri-Lobal Hackle, & Holographic & Tri-Lobal Fibers are what I used in those flies. The back sections of the body in that second pic are these various materials, and the front sections are Estaz Grande. That copper material in the third fly is the Holographic & Tri-Lobal.

 

Frankly, after tying the fly, other than the holographic, I can't tell which is which, but don't feel it matters as far as the pattern is concerned or the fish!

 

I've been buying the Hackle Flash from JStockard, & the other ones I got from an Ebay seller. Hackle Flash is the least costly, but I tend to buy when I can find this stuff on sale.

 

Hope it helps!

[FlaFly 0]

Yes thanks. I looked hackle flash up on Stockard's site. I wish some of these sources would pack a selection of colors in smaller quantities of each for guys like me, who don't intend to tie hundreds of the same fly. Couple more questions:

 

Do you spin it onto the hook like fur?

 

Would Spey Hackle do the same job? (they have an assortment on Cabela's site).

[tidewaterfly 0]

You wrap it like chenille or like a fur strip (Zonker strip) if that's what you mean. Spey hackle is different, but could be used in the same manner. Spey hackle won't give you the flash, or, since these materials are synthetics be as durable. Depends on what you want the fly to look like which one you choose. You could use a saddle hackle if you so desired.

 

I chose this stuff to try it & because I wanted the extra flash & movement it provided.

[FlaFly 0]

Thanks again. It was the sparkle I was after, just couldn't figure out how you put it on. Those are cool looking flies, whether it matters to the fish or not, it looks good to me.

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

FlaFly, how many colors are you looking for? Just think hard and figure what light color fly you pick out your box when you want a light colored fly and what dark color fly you pick out your box when you want a dark colored fly. For most, it's white and chart for the light and black and purple for the dark. Sure there are times when you want yellow, tan or brown but be honest, what are your light and dark go-to colors and just order those for now. Just a thought.

 

Kirk

[tidewaterfly 0]

I agree with Kirk! I like trying different things, but probably black, white (pearl), chartreuse, olive & purple are what I would use most.Then add the metallic/holographic's, silver, gold & copper.

[FlaFly 0]

I was thinking first of White streamers or Clousers with other colors added on top. I have a light blue-greenish duster that I could steal some bits from. I understand some folks use magic markers to color other white fibers, and thought that might work, so I could have a variety.

 

I'm always preaching about economizing by using stuff from Michaels or JoAnn's, but you can't buy small quantities of stuff there... have to buy a whole skein of yarn of a given color for example, even assuming they had something that did the same trick.

[tidewaterfly 0]

Yes, we are often at the mercy of those selling these items as to the quantities they're available in. Most such materials are manufactured for other purposes, such as the crafts industry. Very few are actually produced specifically for fly tying. I would bet these materials are available somewhere other than from fly tying materials suppliers, but I haven't found such a source yet.

 

Personally, I don't mind buying in bulk when I can as long as it's something I'll use a lot.

[FlaFly 0]

I did manage to find an assortment of hackle throats from Cabela's that contained roughly three dozen throats, at a very reasonable price. Not professional quality hackles, but then I'm not a pro... just a hobbyist that wants to tie an assortment of different flies. I have more hackle than I could use in three lifetimes. But most of the rest of their stuff is NOT assorted colors. And I don't want to buy big quantities of anything, since I'll only use a small amount for whatever I want to tie. It amazes me to see guys post pics of their fly boxes containing 30 or 40 of the same identical fly!

[tidewaterfly 0]

Certainly some folks fish a lot more than others, and some may lose a lot of flies so I can understand having so many of their most productive patterns. I'm sure some simply like to tie the flies, so having a bunch of a single pattern is not unusual.

 

I like variety, and often tie at least 3 of a pattern & size, but I'm more of a hundreds of different flies type of person. Didn't used to be, I guess I got it from when I tied commercially. At one time I was a bit intimidated by all the different patterns, but not now. About the only type I won't try now are full dress feather wing Salmon flies. Primarily because I don't have the materials & otherwise I tie flies I'll fish with. I'm sure I won't ever fish for Salmon. Besides, not sure I could tie them very well!

 

I may never use some of the flies I do tie, but if I get the chance to use them, I have them. Besides, I like to tie too. I get bored with tying the same patterns all the time, so again, that's another reason I like the variety.

 

Everyone of us is different in why we tie & what we tie. That's one of the great things about tying, we can all do our own thing!