Jump to content
Fly Tying
Bryon Anderson

The New and Improved Fly Swap

Recommended Posts

Everyone knows that fly patterns are not sacrosanct. Every fly has an "original recipe" that almost invariably starts getting altered the moment someone other than the originator gets his or her hands on it. (Even the originators can't help themselves from changing it up sometimes!)

There are lots of reasons to "tweak" a fly recipe -- maybe you think a different material would work better for the wing or tail or whatever. Maybe you hate working with one of the materials called for in the original recipe and refuse to use it. Or, if you're like me, as often as not it's about what you happen to have lying around when you go to tie something up. Whatever the case, I think we can agree that fly tiers are, by nature, tinkerers.

With that in mind, I propose the following: Pick a well-known (or at least somewhat established) fly pattern, and tie up both the original recipe and your own version of it. "Your own version" is open to interpretation within reason--the only rule is that your "tweak(s)" must cause the fly to behave differently from the original in some way. Examples would include (but are not limited to) things like using a synthetic over a natural material to improve durability or floatation in a dry fly, adding weight to cause a streamer to jig or to swim with the hook point up, tying a streamer as a bendback, etc. You don't have to re-invent the fly, but whatever you do to it should "improve" the fly in some way--if only in your own mind. smile.png Things like changing the color of a material, adding markings with a marker, or other changes that don't affect the fly's behavior would not count as a new version of the pattern.

Since everyone will be tying two versions of their chosen pattern for each swapper, so I'm going to limit the swap to no more than 9 participants plus the SM. That means--assuming we have a full swap--that everyone would tie 18 flies (9 original recipe + 9 variations). Make sense?

Normal swap rules -- toe-tag each fly with your screen name and pattern name (plus either "original" or "variant"), placed in a crush-resistant container (Altoids tin, etc.) and mailed to me along with a return envelope and return postage.

Since we'll all be tying more than the usual number of flies for this swap, I am suggesting a due date of October 15 -- that's a little over 6 weeks from today.

 

I am going to be ambitious and do two original patterns /two variations for this swap -- see below. smile.png Who's with me?

 

 

SWAP IS FULL!

1. SM - Double Bunny / Improved Double Bunny ; Humpy / Foam Humpy DONE

2. rockworm - Muskrat Nymph / Muskrat Nymph variant RECEIVED

3. vicrider - Woolly Bugger / Woolly Bugger Variant RECEIVED

4. Trouta_Control - Yellow Sally / Improved Yellow Sally RECEIVED

5. Bruce Derington - Adams / Adams Variant RECEIVED

6. EuroOrBust - Son of Sexy Walt's/ Son of Sexy Walt's Variant

7. Mike West - Stimulator / Warmwater Stimulator RECEIVED

8. Vicente - Sierra Bright Dot / Sierra Bright Dot Variant RECEIVED

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Vicrider I'm assuming you're in with pattern TBD? Trouta_Control you're in with the Yellow Sally/Improved Yellow Sally. Thanks for joining guys!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I want in! I will tie up the Son of Sexy Walts and my variation on it, hope the recipients like fishing tiny hooks

What do you call small? I found some packs of hooks that have been missing and just done tying a half dozen each size 32-30-28. These were just basic grizzly tails, dubbing, and hackle collar. Then I just finished a run of half dozen each 24-22-20 Griffith's Gnats on standard hooks and yesterday I ran off several parachute Adams in size 24 Mustad Ultra Midge hooks in 1x short. Tomorrow I plan to do some 24 and 26 Adams standard flies with grizzly wings. I haven't tied smaller than a 16 for about a month and a lot of bigger stuff so I just got a bug to get out the jewelers goggles (5x) and do a few runs. When I send out your EuroOrBust swap flies you'll see an idea I have for the small stuff since I can't see to tie it on the stream.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know this doesn't sound like a very exciting choice but I personally don't like the Wooly Bugger. With that in mind I'll soil my hands and tie everyone a Wooly Bugger, but then tie a variation I personally like a lot more which combines elements of a couple of different materials and I personally like more than the bugger. I need to tie some of these anyway to replenish the Bugger box for the White River next month.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been watching this and I'm surprised it hasn't filled up faster. I think it's a great idea.

 

I'll jump in with the classic yellow body/orange thorax Stimulator and my own warmwater version of The Stimulator which uses foam,rubber legs and some other non traditional materials.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...