CasualAngler 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Came across a damaged fly in the box today. Don't know how he got so beat up; neighbors in the row, late night with those unruly Jerkbaits, whatever. Body wrap undone & garbled, threads everywhere. Question is, does one just prepare a Burial detail, or does the fly go through Metamorphosis & become something new? (toss it, or strip the Hook & tie a new fly?) Just curious... Alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Just remove it from the box and cut evertevery off the hook. Tie another fly and put it back in the box Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualAngler 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 I figured as much. Being frugal, I just couldn't toss the poor thing away! Better to resurrect it. Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng2 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Single edge razor blade works well. I buy the 100 pack. https://www.homedepot.com/s/single%2520edge%2520razor%2520blade?NCNI-5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 If you have fished that fly a toothy predator probably busted a thread or two and it unraveled in the box.i agree, strip it re tie. It will never be the same to fix it up and not worth the pain in the butt, time etc.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 I use just blades from the sheetrock knife, seem to last longer and rust less than razor blades and as a carpenter I've always had 50 or 100 handy. Sometimes strip a fly right after tying it, if I decide it looks wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Cummings 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 I just stripped about a dozen this morning. Been putting it off and a dreary rain day seemed perfect for the task. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualAngler 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Yep, have had lots of practice cutting thread off of hooks this Week! There was no way to rejuvenate the fly; much of it was mangled & missing. I thought there might be some kind of solemn ritual to retire such a fly. Guess it will be like a Borg drone, the Nomad probe, or a Cylon... re-integrated & reborn into something new. Alan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Strip and check the hook. The only ones I have ever thrown away are rusty bugs and some “armored” types built with superglue, epoxy, UV, etc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 23, 2018 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j8000 0 Report post Posted September 27, 2018 I use flies like that for backyard casting. normal flies get snagged in the grass on occasion, so I straighten out the hook and/or break the tip off. Works well after that. In fact I did just that two days ago fitting a new rod with the best matching line/reel. Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flicted 0 Report post Posted September 27, 2018 I use them first. I am convinced that fish sense a damaged insect or baitfish as an easy meal. A fly that looks "a little off" is just as likely to get eaten than a healthy one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salmobytes 0 Report post Posted September 27, 2018 Perhaps it's not really damaged. Just squashed. Give it a hair do. Use pliers to hold it in front of a steam plume, coming from a tea kettle perhaps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monk57 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2018 Frame it in a shadow box and display it with a plaque "Job Well Done Little Fella". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualAngler 0 Report post Posted September 29, 2018 Stripped down to the quick. Bare hook laying in the hook cup until I decide what to tie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites