Jump to content
Fly Tying
The Mad Duck

Waste Not,Want Not

Recommended Posts

Do you have a bag that looks like this on your bench?

 

post-64325-0-38771900-1577915057_thumb.jpg

 

I've been re-teaching myself how to tie hair bugs,so I have a ton of this in my collection bag and was lamenting on the amount of material that gets wasted when learning to spin deer hair. I also had some maribou scraps from some Jigs I have been constructing. Such a waste.

THEN, an idea popped into my head. Why not try to recycle the materials is some way.

I dropped a SS #4 hook in the vice,because thats what I had out working on. White thread in the bobboi,so I used that too.

I grabbed a maribou scrap and tied it on as a tail.

post-64325-0-63662400-1577915319_thumb.jpg

 

I grabbed a big wad of scrap har and rolled it around in my hand until it was the general shape of a bundle of deer hair. I made the first bundle small to see if it would work,

post-64325-0-36986600-1577915390_thumb.jpg

post-64325-0-84792800-1577915413_thumb.jpg

 

I clipped the ends off of the bundle.

post-64325-0-90360600-1577915494_thumb.jpg

 

This stuff is NOT going to spin like premium deer hair fo you have to twist and finesse it until it sort of spins

post-64325-0-51717100-1577915585_thumb.jpg

 

Keep adding scraps

post-64325-0-98721500-1577915625_thumb.jpg

 

Trim to whatever shape you want.

post-64325-0-70112300-1577915660_thumb.jpg

 

And now you have a "Junk Fly. This was a lot of fun messing with. Have some fun, get creative...Waste Not,Want not!

 

post-64325-0-89715500-1577915565_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I never started saving scraps. I don't tie enough at a time to have more than a tiny pile of scraps, so they always go in the trash. I also can't keep anything "loose" ... since I can't guarantee the cats won't get into it.

 

Looks like a good looking fly, as much as I can see.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I never started saving scraps. I don't tie enough at a time to have more than a tiny pile of scraps, so they always go in the trash. I also can't keep anything "loose" ... since I can't guarantee the cats won't get into it.

 

Looks like a good looking fly, as much as I can see.

 

I normally dont have this volume of scrap either. I have been tying a lot of spun hair flies as I re-learn how to do this again. Anyway, thats all I've bee tying and it builds up fast,so, thought I would see if I could use it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a couple of clear small parts boxes that I got at the dollar store. If I have something leftover but still useful I'll throw it in which ever compartment already has something similar in it. I don't get too crazy about saving scraps but if I end up with a leftover 2" piece of tinsel or enough of a wood duck feather left to tie a tail I'll toss it in. What ever the next fly I tie is I'll take a look at my scrap boxes to see if I have anything I can use before digging into my main tying materials.

 

I use the same boxes for hook storage.

 

https://www.dollartree.com/tool-bench-hardware-plastic-compartmented-storage-cases/206348

post-63811-0-02980700-1578060190_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tend to just throw out the small amount of scraps I generate per fly

 

I guess you could chop up the scraps, add some synthetic or natural materials and make some dubbing

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...