Virtual Flats Swap

[Li'lDave 0]

Something a little different maybe....

 

It's a bit hit and miss with postage between here and other parts of the world at the moment...  As evidenced by the recent gift sent from the States that spent 4 weeks in Chicago before spending another two or three in the ether....  

 

So why not try a virtual swap?

 

The theme is FLATS FLIES, and rather than tying a dozen flies, sending them to the swap master and having them delivered I ask this....

 

First, tie one fly, then... post your photo here with the recipe.

Once full, the other members of the swap will then have 4 weeks to tie and post a version of everyone else's pattern, sticking as close as possible or practical (some of us might fish deeper flats...  some might like to fish mid water etc, and some might not have access to some materials).

 

Does it sound workable?  I hope so...  we'll start with 6 participants and if it works we can expand for the next one.

 

1.  LI'lDave (fuzzled pseudo hair shrimp)

2.  CPhubert (cinder worm)

3.  Chasing tails (kwan) 

4. utyer (a way cool minnow!)

5.

6.

Here is my fly.

1/0 mustad C70SD

3/16 brass dumbell eyes

Tan thread

Epoxy eyes

Marabou

Sili legs

Fuzzled pseudo hair with an arctic snow hotspot

Finn Raccoon

 

[cphubert 0]

I'll give it a go, but the "flats" I fish are the salt ponds of New England so I'm tying a cinder worm (palolo worm in tropics)

[Li'lDave 0]

No problem 

[Li'lDave 0]

It might not work, but I'm hoping we'll be able to learn a few new skills out of this. 

 

Anyway, thanks for playing

[Li'lDave 0]

Looks like it's just you and me @cphubert...  I'm still keen if you are.

[mikechell 0]

Sounds like an excellent idea, Dave!  I don't tie those kinds of flies, so I'm not "in".  But I don't know why you aren't getting more responses, seeing as the concept is pretty cool.

Good luck, I hope you get more participation.

[flytire 0]

i got rid of all my saltwater tying supplies many many years ago so i'm also a "not in"

[WWKimba 0]

Here in central NY salt flats are kinda rare - we have Great Lakes and Finger Lakes but no salt water.  And yet Syracuse, NY is known as the Salt City!  Who can figure!!

Good luck with your swap though.

Kim

[cphubert 0]

sure i'll post the fly and instructions this coming week .

[Li'lDave 0]

No problem man. Take your time.  We can keep this going as others get interested....

 

Flats don't have to be the clear saltwater variery either...

 

Backwater flats for reds or snook....

 

Muddy water flats for carp feeding in the floods.....

[Chasing_Tails 0]

I'm in. 

Let me look at some patterns that would have common materials for anyone that fishes fresh or salt. I'll post the recipe and a SBS of the pattern this week.  

[Li'lDave 0]

You're more than welcome mate

[Chasing_Tails 0]

Here is my submission:

The Kwan:

      Is it a shrimp, is it a crab, it is a baitfish? Don't know, don't care, it catches fish. The original pattern is credited to Patrick Dorsey and was designed for bonefish. But through the years the versatile pattern has been used to catch a wide variety of saltwater species. By changing the proportions you can tailor the fly to imitate one type of creature compared to another, but in the end it is still rather non-descript. 

Materials:

Hook: Short shank saltwater 

Thread: Uni-Thread, 6/0

Tail: Select craft fur

Flash: Krystal Flash

Legs: Sili-legs

Collar: Saddle hackle

Body: Antron yarn

Eyes: Bead chain

Markings: Sharpie marker

For the pattern here I am looking to imitate a small shrimp. the fly will be fished on shallow mud flats so I opted not to add a weedguard and used bead chain eyes to reduce weight. 

Step 1:

Attach thread and add bead chain eyes at eye of hook.

Step 2:

Select craft fur attached for the tail. Allow butt ends to extend to bead chain eyes.

Step 3:

Add flash.

Step 4:

Add legs (optional).

Step 5: 

Add collar and form to the rear.

Step 6:

Cut antron yarn into 1" segments and secure on top of the hook with "X" wraps.

Step 7:

Trip yarn body length and profile to match creature type.

Step 8:

Mark fly as preferred (optional) and apply head cement to head and along body attachment wraps.

The finished product:

[Li'lDave 0]

Nice!

[Li'lDave 0]

I'll do the same for my fuzzled shrimp when I can.

 

Still think that is super @Chasing_Tails