narcodog

If flies with trimmed hackle will not float, please explain to me why many highly reputable dry fly fishers of an earlier generation recommend trimming the hackle FLAT on the bottom of the hook to get the fly to ride lower on the water. Is it not the bottom hackle that is in touch with the waters surface, as opposed to that on the sides and top of the hook? The "V" cut for this purpose is a relatively recent variation on the theme! This trimming was apparently typically done streamside, on an 'as needed' basis, rather than when the fly was being tied. This explains why it is never seen in the 'recipe' for a pattern, as well as why they all recommended carrying a pair of scissors when going fishing. One needs to read the 'classic' fly fishing literature to find these recommendations, as opposed to the pattern books.

 

perchjerker

Hackles were trimmed short by some as their fly style to get the fly to float in the film. Similar as to how sparkle duns are tied today. I think it was Eric Leisure who expounded on that method. Somewhere in my library there are printed patters that call for "V" trimmed hackle. Again to give it a different style of float.

The OP asked why not trim hackle on dry flies. If you want to get the classic dry fly float trimmed hackle will not float as well as an untrimmed properly sized hackle.

If you too large a hackle the fly will not sit on the water correctly. It may flip over, land on it's side. A Catskill variant spider or skatter has hackle that is, I thing three to four times the hook gap(e). They are designed to skate across the top of the water. If your hackle is too short it will again not sit properly in the water. A properly tied Catskill fly should sit on the tail and hackle not the hook.

If you trim the hackle tips they will not float as well as a natural hackle. What will happen is that the trimmed hackle will not have the float ability. The trimmed hackle will penetrate the waters surface and sink.

You can use thin plastic bags, cut to the size you want then color it with a water proof marker.

Is it fine or course, How thick is the hide.

Two thumbs up!!!

Ha, flies went out today. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's flies.

I have some of the flies tied by the man himself and some of the bodies. I bought these at the Yellow Breeches Fly shop back in the late '70's. Although they work they are not very durable. They do look neat. He had them in red and yellow jacket both of which I have.

If you could post some pictures that might help. Coyote will look and feel somewhat like fox only with longer fibers and more gray.

The Traveler is right there about the same price as a lot of other rotary vises. If you want the best look at an LAW, $500.00 and a year waiting list or the Marc Pettijean about the same price.

yup

Small streams in the Park are the Slough, upper Lamar, the Gibbon in the meadow. The upper Gallatin, Soda Butte.Most of the water in the Park is relatively small. Even the Yellowstone and the Madison are not that bid and very wadable.

I said OK as to it would work for a beginner, although I'm not. It held the hook well, it did not rotate, and that's what I thought I needed, which I use very seldom now. My thinking on buying the best is ok if you are going to stick with it. My suggestion is buy a vise for under $100.00 then up grade. You can sell or donate the first vise if you want. Another suggestion is get a non rotating vise and learn the basics on it. I still have my Thompson "A" vise and still use it from time to time. I got that vise in '73 and it has tied hundreds and hundreds of flies. I would venture a guess that there have been more flies tied on a Thompson "A" then any other. There were two sets of jaws available regular and midge both worked well.

The biggest thing you will encounter is the wind. I would suggest two rods both 9ft one 5 and 6 wt. All of the streams in the Yellowstone are are user friendly after run off. That varies from year to year, depending on the amount of snow, when things start to warm and when the last big snow fell. The last couple of years some of the rivers were still in run off into July.

If it turns out to be a dry year some of the rivers close to fishing do to high water temps.

If you go in the summer hoppers and PMD's are two of the most productive flies.

I use the Dorian along with several Matarelli. I have a Rite but I use it very seldom.

 

 

Narc,

How has your experience with the Dorian been?

 

It has been my favorite for over 20 years and I've tried most others

 

What has been your experience concerning "it being a thread shredder"? I haven't found that to be true. One guy who apparently hasn't even used one claims that!!

I like my old Dorin very well and I have purchased a "Wishbone" and it works just as well. It has never shredded any thread including some silk.

Most traditional wet flies are 8 through 12. S/H's are 14's and 16's usually.

When folks ask me about kits my answer is usually don't. They usually have stuff you will not need. I would just pick out flies that you want to tie and go from there.

I used one of those vises made in India for awhile and it did ok.

Coot makes awesome s/h's.

so is seal illegal to have... say you have a bag of dubbing?

I have purchased seal from France, Canada and GB. I have also bought some off evilbay that was old.

Yep Polar Bear. I tie with it a lot. I got some last month that was dyed with picric acid. A beautiful yellow olive. Use a hair rake to get the under fur out then use the guard hair for wings. I tie a spruce moth fly with it. Which looks like a elk hair caddis. If you don't want it send to me.

Through the years I have found that all PB is not equal. What you have is a piece from a rug or something like that because it is sheared. In '75 I bought some that had not been sheared and it has loooong guard hair. That is the stuff streamers were made of. PB and seal are two of my favorite materials to use. The have a translucency that is not duplicated with any man made stuff.

Go for it. I fished with some flies last week that were at least thirty years old. They have just been sitting in my box for that long. Lost a couple and scored on a couple.

Well my wife and I don't exchange gifts and we have no children nor any family so we buy what we want. So to get to your answer I turned on evilbay this morning and found a BIN New Regal rotating vise with brass base for get this $100.00. Merry Christmas to me.

With a good quality neck,cape, you should be able to tie down into the 20's very easily. You also need not need to get a $100 cape to do it. Whiting bronze, Collins number 2 or 3 Metz 2 or 3. If you want to tie a lot of 26's to 32's then you might have to go to a better grade.

1/2 doz tan caddis pupa.