Henry

Hi McRad, If you haven't tried it yet, after each wrap of hackle...groom the hackles back with a pinch of your fingers away from the hook eye. Even moisten your fingers if you have an unruly feather. This procedure creates room for the next wrap and trains the previous wraps to stand up straight. Four or five stacked wraps done in this fashion will give you the effect you're looking for I believe. Beyond this suggestion...I'm at a loss as to how to help you. Henry

I knew an angler once that could take a hook and put it in their mouth...then take the tag end of a tippit and do the same...out came a perfectly tied "Improved Clinch Knot" on the hook. "She" gave me goosebumps every time she did it!!! he he!!! Okay!, now that the joke is over...I truly think you're onto something here. Such a convenience would not only help amputee's...It would also help a wide group of folks such as those visually impaired. I'm really interested to hear what folks come up with. Henry

Hi SmokeyM, Your flies look just fine to me...real fish catchers IMHO. If you really want to cut down on the flair and thin the profile of the fly...tie looser wraps on the trailing end of the bucktail (tightening it as you move towards the hook eye)...this should reduce flairing. Also, you might try a few flies tied much sparser, with perhaps 1/2 as much material as you've used in the flies in your pics. Regards, Henry

Hi Piker20, Mustad size 6...fly is about dime sized. I tie them as small as size 8. Henry

Hi Kirk, Yeah!, the flouro v-posts with glass beads are my play on the Avalon Crab. They give plenty of rattle...cause the fly to sink upright and stand on bottom in the "defensive crab posture". When dragged along the bottom, the fly nods and walks like crazy. They also tend to act as a weed guard aswell because the fly straddles the grass instead of sinking down into it. Good observation about the furry foam. It's a very easy pattern to tie. Once the legs are tied in "merkin style"...the furry foam cut-out (I made my own cutters)is glued on top of the fly , poked over the hook eye, then doubled back along the bottom of the fly which is exactly how a real crabs shell is..."not just on top" (note: the eyes are burnt mono stems crazy glued to the underside of the furry foam vs. tied-in on the hook shank...too easy!) I call the fly a "Castanet Crab" and I also tie Merkins the same way...the "Moracca Merkin". I also have a shrimp pattern done the same way aswell called the "Castanet Camerone" Regards, Henry

Hey Picker20, Agreed!...no need to create a "hardshell" on any crab pattern you tie. Likely alot better off without it and fewer tying steps and materials involved. A good crab fly should "look" and "act" crabby...not "feel" crabby. I believe the hardshell idea only pleases the fisherperson not the fish. Besides, what crab do fish love to eat better than hardshells? Freshly moulted softshell crabs...yum! Here's a crab pattern that I tie that you may be interested in. The shellback is furry foam. Regards, Henry

Hi, why not get some "Q-tips?". They're available in plastic-tube...and rolled paper construction so you have to be carefull which you get. Henry

Fantasic "Tie" Paul!!! You likely don't know me from Sam, but I've been a member here since 2004. I just prefer to lurk and take in all the going's on without throwing-in my 2 cents...that's just me I supose? I'm certain that I can tell that you spent alot of time on this one...well worth the effort and time you put into itI'd say. I love the detail and colours!. Certainly seems fit for "National Geographic magazine". Funny though "Fred" didn't reply?...Okay, well? mabey he did in his own unique round-about/self-serving way 10 days later?. He posted pics of his own "inferior" though be it "correct in his eyes" "Tied" version... I like your's better! His lack of respect for your creation re-enforces in my own mind his determined resolve to be regarded as the "King of the Hill" in respects to Realistic fly tying/modeling he he!!! Fred can attack me all he wants, I have thick skin and don't tie "super-realistics" anyways!. I just know when I like a fly. Good work and keep up with your superb art. Henry

None taken Fred!...bye bye for now! PS...I like your flies...just not your agenda!

All great tips. I'll add that the job is also alot easier if the hairs are densly packed. Aswell, I use a small electric "mustache/beard" trimmer for stubborn/tight areas on the flies. Does a clean/neat job of it. Henry

Hi Trey9123, Thanks for your interest in my pattern. You can find more pic's of the flie(s) at the following link... http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/200436806XynoCI Though originally tied as a Saltwater pattern, it's also proven to work quite well as a small Crawfish imitation for Trout. Just add two splayed hackles (ala Del's Merkin crab fly) to represent the Crawfishes claws. Good luck with it. Regards, Henry

Hey Fishkill, I think a suitably descriptive name for your creation would be "Bucktail Biter". In the case of the fly pictured I'd call it the "Neon Bucktail Biter". Your pattern lends itself easily to create numerous colour combinations...ie) Tan Bucktail Biter, White BB, Black BB etc. Nice fly, I like it alot. Regards, Henry

Hello Fred, I Voted "as an Art form", but as a long time forum member, I reserve my right to give an explanation why. I have a two-parts to my opinion..., The first part of my opinion takes into account the roots and/or foundation of the "Arts" as a whole. In the artistic world of Painting, there are basically three main Genre's an artist or art lover can persue. Those being the "Abstract or Surreal" ie) Pablo Picasso or Andy Warhol... the "Impressionistic" ie) P.A. Renior or Claude Monet..., and finally the "Realistic" such as the works of Robert Bateman and Glen Loates. These three Genres apply not only to Painting but to virtually every other art form or media one could possibly imagine...including "Marble Sculpture", Wood Carving" and even "Fly Tying". The second part of my opinion is a little more complicated and deals with what comprises "tying" (as opposed to sculpture and/or modeling) and how that may or may not apply to any perceived definitions of "Classical, Realistic, Impressionistic tying or otherwise. For example, 50 or a 100 years from now, a number of newly innovated flies today will joiin the ranks of the Classic's tomorrow. It's likely there will be then, or perhaps is already now, the sub-definitions of "Modern Classic's" and "Olde or Original Classics" ...I for one believe there is room in our hobby for that. What will separate the two?...Original Classics will allways be in my mind, creations tied using feathers, fur, silks and threads etc. Modern Classics could be determined by (in addition to fur and feathers) the use of modern synthetics and may include tying steps (that aren't acutally "tying") that call for the use of adheasives, epoxys, inks/markers etc. That said, It appears that many "Realistic" fly patterns make heavy use of synthetic/modern materials. The advent of these modern materials has allowed tyers to create patterns that well surpass olde tyme materials in realism. It's an evolution of the hobby, an evolution that is bound to continue evolving. Bottom line, it's going to be fisher-folks and hobbyists or artists that determine what's acceptable...what's fly tying...whats classic and whats not. If a pattern survives the years and is still around...still being used...and still catches fish, well, its a fly, and may well one day be a classic...god forbid even if it's a Gummy Minnow. Best regards, Henry

Hey Gang, I'm all for supporting our local fly shops...but...there are indeed a few things that I frequent craft and fabric stores for. Here's my list... - Sharpie permanent markers - Google Doll eyes - Glass/Plastic beads - Craft Fur - Furry Foam for Turneffe Crab patterns - Aunt Lydia's type rug hooking yarn for Merkin crab flies - Craft felt (for cutting out crab bodies) - Plastic flower "staimens" SP? for Dragon/Damsel Shrimp and Crab patterns - Craft foam (both 2 & 6 mm thicknesses...2mm for crease flies and 6mm for replacing worn foam in fly boxes) - multitude of colours of plastic lacing (similar to oval or D-ribbing for Crazy Charlies and such) - Super Glue - Acrylic air-brush paint for custom crease flies - LePages high-tack spray on adhesive (for attaching various mylars and/or materials to crease fly foam) - Glitter (for adding to epoxy flies) - Feather Boa (bought an 8ft black one about 5 years ago and have tied 100's of flies using it) - Assorted spools of tinsels and mylar - mono sewing thread (500yd spindle for $8.00 at Fabricland) I'm sure theres a bunch more things but I just can't think of them right now. Best regards folks, Henry