salmobytes 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2015 #12 Beading Needle ...now swing the thread under the fly, from its tension point at the eye back to the bend of the hook, underneath the body, loosely basting a clump o Zelon to the bottom of the fly in the process. Then back up to the eye. Whip finish. Glue the bottom side of the fly to fix the hackles. Any glue will doo. The small short shank hook (#20 DaiRiki 125) reduces the overall weight of the fly, which makes it a substantially better floating fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salmobytes 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2015 And then, if you grab the resulting Caddis with one hand pinched firmly onto the end of the tail and the other at the eye and then pull outwards hard enough you can stretch it out into a Golden Stonefly....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barrytheguide 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2015 I think you are on to something using beading needles. Today I managed to find a couple of catgut violin strings, tomorrow it's off to the store to find beading needles! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2015 Barry, I find the beading needles a little long and too flexible, You can get a really fine quilting needle that is more rigid and shorter. Same, or at least similar, size wire. Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jokey 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2015 Great looking flies. How durable is the extended dubbing body? J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoebop 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2015 I've been using regular sewing needles...large ones about 3" long. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
