Jump to content
Fly Tying

CADenali

core_group_3
  • Content Count

    24
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Community Reputation

0 Neutral

About CADenali

  • Rank
    Beginner

Previous Fields

  • Favorite Species
    Trout, Smallmouth, Panfish
  • Security
    22

Recent Profile Visitors

765 profile views
  1. Scott, My dad helped me bring my ideas to fruition 43 years ago. I still use it to this day. I have several other containers for storage and I sit at this bench at least once a week and sometimes 4 to 5 evenings a week depending on the season. While it is heavy, large and cumbersome it was portable, I could close it up, put it in the truck and head off to the next port of call. At 59 I believe it has found its long term home, my work & hobby room. Over the holiday my youngest son, 24, needed a portable tying bench. He is a chef and a guide and moves about the high country as the seasons change. I put my past experience and some common sense to work and this is what i came up with. He is happy, he is bigger than me and younger than me. The last text he sent from Leadville was a picture of a fly box that he is rapidly filling up and he said all was well! can't ask for more than that. CADenali
  2. All I can add is that a good chair should fit the person sitting in it. I am 6'5" 265lbs, a proper chair eluded me for years. My wife's company did an office remodel about 10 years back and employees got first crack at the office furniture. I picked up a couple office chairs made for big folks that adjust for height and seat depth and have arms that have about 6-7" of height adjustment. I have one at my tying desk and one at my office and are very comfortable. The seat depth and height adjustment are key for me, legs bent at 90 degrees and thighs parallel to the floor and supported by a deep seat. No back fatigue. A tying session for me will be 2-4 hours 3 to 4 nights a week in season. Charlie
  3. I have been tying streamers this month for my sons, one in the upper midwest and the other in the Roaring Fork valley. I have to get imaginative at Christmas to keep it interesting. This is a variation of a dubbing brush minnow. I have been staring at a small pack of olive emu feathers trying to imagine different ways to use them. I had seen a picture somewhere recently of them used in streamers and the texture they contributed was unique. These pictures are a bit lacking, my apologies. #2 TMC 8089 Stinger hook 3/0 black monocord thread light grey or white baitfish flash 3/4 length of the saddle feather two shad grey saddle feathers undersides facing each other emu feather tied in between them on top of the flash grey icelandic sheep on bottom / olive icelandic sheep on top 2-3 strands of Krystal flash Bright red rabbit dubbing bump in front of the sheep, picked out and swept back grey & olive IS again over the previous layer dub remainder of hook shank to eye/brushes wrap and grab easier EP 1.5" Foxy brush dk olive EP 1.5" Sparkle brush lt olive Glue on eyes of choice
  4. All of the flies this month are great!! Have been tying in earnest this month to fill holes in my fly boxes and put Christmas presents together for my boys. Charlie
  5. Better pic of vise mounted on extension. Charlie
  6. Herbbr, I have had great success with brass threaded inserts for 1/4-20 and brass bolts if your base/stand is wood, hard wood is best ie: maple, oak, bois d'arc etc The inserts are available at at wood shop supply or Ace, True Value etc. as are Solid brass closet bolts (2/pkg) are 1/4-20 thread solid brass bolts won't scar the stem. The bolt can be cut to length easily and then a black hard nylon handle (Ace again) can be threaded onto the bolt for tightening/loosening. I have several of these over the years for different variations on my tying cabinet. My vise base is removeable so I can close and my cabinet when not in use. The picture shows the latest version, the two brass finger screws lower center go through brass inserts to anchor it in place. The SS stem left of the vice base is the vise extension stem which is anchored into the base with the same hardware. I also use them on the maple rod holder (2nd pic) for rob building so they break down into a stowable package. Charlie
  7. My dad and I built my bench 39 years ago. I'm on my third vise, fourth chair, have added additional light and several storage bins for materials but other than that its my work space several evenings or more a week depending on the season.
  8. Thursthouse, Thank you! Umpqua C200BL 12,14,16 Blk 8/0 Uni-thread Silver oval tinsel fine Body - Black Rabbit / black SLF squirrel nymph mix Thorax Mid- Orange nymph dubbing Thorax Front - Black Squirrel w/ "bench trash" sparkle mixed in Wing - Lt Dun CDC feather tied in bubble style Bench trash is left over tinsel/dubbing that I set aside when tying. When i have a small tray full I toss it in the spice grinder and give it a whirl or two. I have found it comes in handy for things like thorax dubbing, beetle & grasshopper under bodies etc. a little sparkle but not too much and coarse texture.
  9. Emerger patterns, anything that rides in the surface film. Mayfly, caddis, crane and midges - I have has more consistent success over the years whether it be still water, streams and rivers, especially seams and eddys.
  10. Do you use a brush for the heads? Yes I do. It make for a quicker, cleaner tie. I use Pantone pens to apply shading as needed.
  11. Barto Minnow variants Woolhead baitfish
  12. Jake, I started as a teenager 40 years ago with an Orvis pattern book. The frustration for me was technique and understanding and following the material list. With time it got easier and the flies looked better and better as skills improved. We are now blessed with YouTube and magazines and places like this forum that provide far and away more information than was available previously. My boys are in their early twenties and have become very good fly tiers in a much shorter time without much input from me thanks to that information and really great fly shops here in Denver and Wisconsin. As mikechell eluded to, fish are not nearly as picky as fisherman and the best thing I can say about early attempts - fish with them, you will be pleasantly surprised and it will provide good information to enhance and improve your techniques and confidence. And remember, fish don't laugh but they will fight which is the desired result.
×
×
  • Create New...