rfsup

Depends on what you're going to tie. Fly Tyer's Dungeon is a good resource for fibers, dubbing, eyes, hooks, legs. Great quality and incredibly inexpensive. I don't think he (Mad Scientist) carries hackle. Most other online places are priced pretty equally, the support-your-local-fly-store slogan notwithstanding. Cabela's stuff is as good as anywhere else, you have to be choosy about picking decent stuff.

Got back from vacation last night and flies were in the mailbox. Very nice!

Attention all Pike Swappers: Progeny, who knows everything, has informed me that my yak streamers require a trailer hook. Despite the red yak cheek, serving as a strike spot for Esox sp., progeny insists short strikes will ensue without said trailer hook. So, feel free to insert aforementioned trailer hook into the otherwise pristine yak streamer when it arrives. PS: What galls me most is that he stole all my old tying stuff, and now he's better at it than me!!

There's a place in Ishpeming, MI, that sells dyed Nutria. http://www.hycreek.com/Nutria-p/nutria%20body.htm

Yak streamers are in the mail!

Sorry, didn't see the hammerhandle as the ultimate bait. Found one washed up on shore once with a smaller northern wedged sideways between its jaws. They are greedy! I see I'm now a beginner, so I'll shut up.

Looks like a sucker minnow on the hook. That may be obvious, but I'm posting only to get out of the "bait fisherman" category!

I agree with Gene L. After going through the old Thompson with the rotary wheel, the new Thompson (which still works), I bought an inexpensive rotary vise by Terra (made in India). It has the wood-clamp style jaws, which may be fine, but these never held a hook tightly. Lasted about a year before the screws on the jaws stripped. I looked at the Renzetti traveler, but I thought the base was too light, plus it has a similar style jaw. So,for the same price, I bought the Peak rotary at the local Nebraska-based sporting goods store. Nice heavy pedestal and a firm cam-activated jaw. So far so good.

Settled on yak streamers with Fish Skull heads. Should be done next week.

Same story here. I tied a ton in college years, then reality reared its ugly head and I had to pay mortgage, kids, kids college, etc, and tying fell by the wayside. Then my oldest found my old Thompson in the closet with all the stuff I inherited from my brother-in-law, stole it and I had to start over. But, the stuff he purloined wasn't worth much, so I'd say keep your material, start tying again, and save up for another guitar!

The Loon Fly Finish I bought a couple years ago seems to have thickened with time. Anybody know of a suitable solvent for this stuff? Actually, the new bottle could use a little thinning, too. As an aside, the $5 buck UV flashlight I got on your advice cures the stuff just fine.

Thanks for the responses. I don't mind paying the fly-fishing tax on most stuff, but when you can get a 5 buck flashlight that does the same thing as the 36 dollar one from the fly company... (PS:I know they're not epoxies, it was a generic term!)

Anyone tried an off-the-shelf UV flashlight for curing epoxies? Anyone know if the wavelength matters? There seem to be plenty on the market that are considerably less expensive than the proprietary brands from the fly shops.

Sorry, Bill was still signed in to my computer. I sent his last post - see it for details. Glad I'm in.

Squirrel Tail Clouser. I was gifted a squirrel tail, and picked up a red squirrel tail at the fly shop. Just playing around to see what can be done with it.