Bimini15 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 To be clear, I used the word acceptable in quotes, knowing that it was probably not the best word, just the one that came out at the moment. There is no real line but the one we set for ourselves, and even that one I am sure is flexible. I use dumbells. The difference to me is that dumbells are multitaskers. You can use them just for weight alone or they can double as eyes, but that involves paint and epoxy. I don't buy prepainted dumbells. Skullz are heads and heads only. Don't know of a fly that uses skullz in any other way. I feel the same way about cone heads, but that is just me. Bottom line is that fly fishing for me is finesse top water kind of fishing. If I have to go real deep, real fast, real loud, etc. I go to a different kind of tackle. In a way, I guess I am saying that I am a lousy, monodimensional fly fisherman, so don't look at me to be the authority on what is acceptable... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSzymczyk 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2016 whether or not the price is reasonable is only a matter of if someone is willing to pay the cost. I have a few -allegedly- highly desirable, collectible, hardware lures that I have offered for sale to collectors. On the web research has shown these lures are "worth" anywhere from $50 to $150 each.... and I've offered them for sale for much less than that to people who seem to be the authorities on the subject, as well as to collectors at large- for much less than that. No one is willing to pay 2/3 to 1/2 of what they are supposedly worth. SO the fact is, they aren't nearly as valuable as one would think. $10 for a fish head, hand-painted or not, is ridiculous. To be "worth" that much, take time and effort and do it yourself. $10 for a fish head that might get cut off in an instant on a pike, or be irretrievably snagged on a log... it's just stupid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saltybum 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 That's not that bad, go check out Charlie Bisharat's Pole Dancer fly. Fly Fishing Fly Shop wants $19.95 for one and they really are not that hard to make if you are used to working with foam and lead wire. I've made a couple and lost the first one to a saltwater beast that slurped it and disappeared with it before I knew what happened. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 $20 for a pole dancer seems cheap to me, but I would not know. A friend told me, who goes to such places. Not me... Seriously, though. I have said before in the forum that I don't tie to save money. But when I see simple clousers for $5 online, I feel even better about tying my own. $20 to me is unthinkable unless that fly hooks them, gaffs them and fillet them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene L 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 I ain't gonna pay $10 for a fly head. Or a finished fly, for that matter. If Picasso would have painted it, maybe, but then it wouldn't look like a fish. God love anyone who feels like paying that much for a component, but it ain't me. I don't think it's even necessary for catching fish, since we've been catching fish for centuries on feathers and hair and sometimes lead eyes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSzymczyk 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 for fear of going off topic.... re: Pole Dancer fly- why is it that any time someone makes a "fly" with some sort of feature which makes the fly wiggle or wobble or rattle it is looked at as revolutionary? Making one which casts decently and also has some action is not black magic. Hardware fishermen have had lures with built in action for about 200 years. Flies with action have been around for a long time too, but are generally sort of obscure. We get to the point where these flies become a major chore to cast on fly tackle, and can easily be cast on spinning gear... or better yet, hardware versions which are tried-and-true and do the job better and cheaper and more effectively. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we fly fishermen are not overly bright most of the time. Versions of the "Stealth Bomber" fly can be tied to do the same thing as that pole dancer- I've done it many times - for a whole hell of a lot less trouble. Oh well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 Don't have an answer, but it does annoy me, this culture of hype and marketing, the "have to have the latest" in EVERYTHING. BTW, did you see the new 2017 Orange Wapsi Marabou? Soooo much more orangy and marabouy than the 2016. (I hope the irony comes trough). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2016 To be clear, I used the word acceptable in quotes, knowing that it was probably not the best word, just the one that came out at the moment. There is no real line but the one we set for ourselves, and even that one I am sure is flexible. I use dumbells. The difference to me is that dumbells are multitaskers. You can use them just for weight alone or they can double as eyes, but that involves paint and epoxy. I don't buy prepainted dumbells. Skullz are heads and heads only. Don't know of a fly that uses skullz in any other way. I feel the same way about cone heads, but that is just me. Bottom line is that fly fishing for me is finesse top water kind of fishing. If I have to go real deep, real fast, real loud, etc. I go to a different kind of tackle. In a way, I guess I am saying that I am a lousy, monodimensional fly fisherman, so don't look at me to be the authority on what is acceptable... That makes no sense to me, but OK. Dumbbells multi task because they are weighted and look like eyes...but a Fish Skull that looks like a head and weights the fly is not multi tasking? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2016 That makes no sense to me, but OK. Dumbbells multi task because they are weighted and look like eyes...but a Fish Skull that looks like a head and weights the fly is not multi tasking? Here is my logic: Skulls are always weight and eyes. It's a one trick pony. Dumbells may be just weight in some patterns. Think about a Crawfish with dumbells at the bend, hiding under the wing. They may be weight and eyes in others. Think clousers. It's a one and a half trick pony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 That makes no sense to me, but OK. Dumbbells multi task because they are weighted and look like eyes...but a Fish Skull that looks like a head and weights the fly is not multi tasking? Here is my logic: Skulls are always weight and eyes. It's a one trick pony. Dumbells may be just weight in some patterns. Think about a Crawfish with dumbells at the bend, hiding under the wing. They may be weight and eyes in others. Think clousers. It's a one and a half trick pony. Weight (1) and eyes (1) is two tricks. Dumbbells as only weight (1) is one trick. Maybe my logic is broken. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deerhairdan 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 LOL this thread is hilarious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elusive.fishing 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 What on earth did I start..... It was such a little question. Haha. Yeah, I was more just looking at peoples opinion on the heads. I would agree that $50 for a streamer is a lot. They do hand paint each head, so i understand the $10 price point for the head, i was mostly just curious if anyone had used them. Haha. Don't get me wrong, I totally get the whole, "Here's what I think about using "X" on a fly, or Holy *$*% those are expensive. I understand that. But has anyone actually used one? They look cool, and could be a nice addition to a display fly, or i just may want to try them out to see how effective they actually are. I am sure not claiming to be some "purist" or guy whos in fishing to save every penny I have, (Lets be real, this isnt a hobby where you play for free) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 I think your answers, Elusive, are in the replies ... no one's tried them because no one is willing to pay that much. I truly do NOT believe they'll attract more fish. It's along the lines of the, "do-eyes-attract-more-fish" question. And the answer to THAT question is, it depends on who you ask. Opinion questions will always get multitudes of answers ... and the general consensus of this thread? Money's worth more in hand than hand painted bullet sinkers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 Yeah, I was more just looking at peoples opinion on the heads. I would agree that $50 for a streamer is a lot. They do hand paint each head, so i understand the $10 price point for the head, i was mostly just curious if anyone had used them. For that price they better hand paint each feather. "do-eyes-attract-more-fish" Well Mike, that is a resounding YES. But not in every situation and condition. Dang fence straddlers...LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kudu 0 Report post Posted June 14, 2016 If I tied flies like some of you on here I could see spending the coin for display, elusive. I do think they are very cool but I wouldn't spend that much to lose them to a tree or rock on my second cast. I would like to see a display fly tied with them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites