Ribs1

It is a great day for all, I look forward to it each year

We'll see you there Bruce.

I would like to let everyone know about our fly tying show.

All are welcome if anyone is interested

More information can be found at our website

http://www.huronriver.org/symposium.html

Also check out our facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=126865947377748

Highlighted tiers this year include

Kevin Feenstra

Greg Senyo

Dennis Potter

Bear Andrews

Mike Schmidt

John McLain

Jerry Regan

And many others

Feel free to invite anyone who may be interested in fly tying via facebook or the real world

Thanks

Hey guys,

Please check out the 5th Huron River Fly Tyers Symposium. A great time was had by all last year and many FTF members were in attendance. This year we will have a few FTF members tying as well. John McLain "Feathers MC" will also be in attendance tying salmon flies and hopefully selling his wares.

We have moved locations this year to the Summit On The Park Conference Center in Canton, MI. This new location will allow us to accommodate up to 50 tiers.

Thanks

bump

Hey guys,

Please check out the 4th Huron River Fly Tiers Symposium. A great time was had by all last year and many FTF members were in attendance. This year we will have a few FTF members tying as well, including Mike Schmidt and Lloyd Whitfield on the vise tying classic wets. John McLain "Feathers MC" will also be in attendance tying salmon flies and hopefully selling his wares.

Proceeds from this event go to posting of Catch and Release signs along the Huron River from Mast Rd. to East Delhi Rd. a Michigan DNR designated catch and release area for Large and Small Mouth Bass. Last years symposium was a great success and we raised enough funds to post 15 signs. This year we would like to post 15 more.

Thanks for looking

Mark,

I just replied to your other posting and I actually like this fly even more.

This one is really something unique. Willowhead style applied to MOM proportions.

I hate to critique but the head doesn't look quite as nice as some of your other flies. (not bad but I have become used to seeing some really nice heads from you. Did you run out of Sally Hansens?)

Artistically you are going were no one else has gone and that is the point of art isn't it?

Thanks for posting this one.

Mark,

I really like this one. I have been sorta following your latest experimental stage and this fly seems a little more artistically refined than some of the others (not that your other flies aren't very nice). This fly has very nice proportions and an interesting color scheme.

That bead really goes well with the other components.

Thanks for posting it.

Fun IS what it's all about.

Hopefully you will be coming to our symposium again?

This fly is interesting.

That wing is something else and I think this is probably your best bead fly yet. That bead really looks nice with the other colors of this fly.

Great fly Mark,

Love the improv style. It's the most man.

(Interesting to see the response on this section of the forum compared to other sections)

Oh man,

Those Woodrow's are beautiful

Every last feather on a duck is useful.

Skin and scrape the bird, rub with borax and repeat every couple of days. (duck skins are greasy.)

As far as technique goes, everybody should own Dying and Bleaching by AK Best.

Tie at least 6 of the same fly when you sit down at the vise.

You will never get any better by skipping around and tying 1 of each different fly.

Standard practice for hackling parachute dries is to use 1 size too big.

Hooks. I can't live without them.

I don't tie shitty flies.

Mark,

I've been busy tying flies and getting ready for fishing season.

I will probably take you up on the offer and get down there some time. I'm thinking late next fall. Fishing will be too good here pretty soon to leave.

I'll holler at you soon.

These guys are right. Every single bird alive has feathers suitable for soft hackles.

One overlooked bird for softhackles is the pheasant.

Check out this article by Jack Gartside for insiration

http://www.blueribbonflies.com/howto/flyty...asantskin.shtml

Up near the neck on any species of pheasant there are tons of smaller feathers suitable for soft hackle flies.

I try to collect every type of skin I can for some unique feathers.

Dip the whole thing in spar varnish. Works great.

Sulfernut,

You are correct. They are Mustad 3366 hooks. Why are they a secret? Price? They range between $3 - $4 per 100. Not bad! The hooks were sent to me by Chris Stewart to try. Now, If I've let the cat out of the bag--I apologize to Chris and all the others that have kept the secret. I share what I know with others.

 

The only drawback is the smallest size they come in is size 14. The Leisenring spider is a size 12, the Olive soft-hackle is size 14.

 

I regularly use Mustad 3399A for most of my wets and wingless wets. They are a standard wire and are also reasonably priced. The 3906 and 3906B are both good wet fly hooks. The B is a bit longer in the shank. They are heavy wire hooks and good for getting deeper, but at roughly $9.00/100, are somewhat more expensive.

 

Is your prediction the price will go up on the 3366s if the number of purchases go up?

 

Your turn, Sulfernut,

 

Mark

The price on those 3366 is unlikely to go up if the number of purchases go up. In fact, the higher the production, generally the lower the cost. In the case of this hook, they are cross marketed to bait fisherman and are one of the highest production of all mustad hooks.

These hooks are so cheap that I try to find as many uses for them as possible.

I am trying to tie them in on the body of the universal nymph pattern that I found on this site a couple of weeks ago. They are goose biots on a size 14. I tried cutting them off of the quill but that didn't work so I tried putting them on with the quill attached but they still don't look very good.

Goose biots are a little small for size 14 hooks. Turkey biots will be much easier to use. (or bustard biots)

You will be removing them from the quill. I just rip them off.

I'm assuming you are using these for biot bodies and not tails etc.

I take a moist paper towel and lay the biots down and fold the towel in half to moisten them for a while before tying them in.

You are the man.

I want one right away.

That thing is sweet.

nice fly.