Futzer

Hello Hellgrammite, Good advice from Arkansas Mike and Whatfly. I use both, and maybe this will help.

Synthetics Pluses and minuses:

Pluses: easy to use and store, abundant colors, cheap, mothless to store, long lasting, even fibers, consistent thickness of fibers, easily mixed for other colors, takes floatant well, lasts forever.

Minuses: color too even and less natural, smells like chemicals, not biodegradable, no natural oils in it like fur, so sometimes hard to spin onto thread, holds human scent, does not absorb water.

Natural fur Pluses and minuses:

Pluses: very natrual colors and textures, masks human scent, nautral oils make it easy to twist to thread, Guard hairs and variation make it buggier in general, Biodegradable, oils make it float well, absorbs floatant well, absorbs water for good sink, thinner fibers so more movement, traps tiny air bubbles well, Some hairs are hollow so they float great.

Minuses: biodegradable in the fly box, Moth/bug storage concerns, the natural oils may do the opposite that you want, Bright colors are not as bright as synthetics, Dying hair and fur degrades its durability, Hard to mix different animal furs takes longer to dry out before putting flies back in fly box.

Hope that helps. Cheers, Futzer.

Great advice so far, Just be honest with yourself on how into tying you want to get. If you feel you have 200 flies a year in you dying to jump out, then buy the best you can. You will be happier longer. If you just want to see if you like the craft, then try taking a tying class at a local shop, they usually supply tools and you can get your fingers wet, so to speak. A kit has it's place, I personally am skeptical, you will end up with some stuff you will never use. If there is anyway you can demo the tools in a kit at a shop, by all means see if they feel right to you. Make sure the vice holds a hook snugly, cheaper tools will end up frustrating you and you will probably lose interest in the hobby.

Welcome and enjoy, if you have questions we are plumb full of answers, opinions, and theories; mostly of good quality too.

Cheers, Futzer.

Thanks Jeff. Try here: http://www.flytyingboutique.com/store/Deta...&category=9

 

Phil's your man. Super service, prices and a good guy. Tell him I sent you his way

Thanks Dave, I was pulling your leg about Sheer. Are you kidding me. Futzer not having every cool material on the planet. I have about 30 rolls at the moment. 4 colors strung up in bobbins on the bench. I use it on 24 to 32s, mostly. Anyway, I am glad you posted such a nice bug! I will send some future business Phil's way.

Cheers, Jeff.

I use a lot of different hooks, now I have Scierra, Fulling Mill, Partridge, Mustad, Tiemco, Kamasan, Knapek, Hanak. Kamasan is my favorite now, but theres no barbless hooks. :wallbash: . Thats why i'm moving to Knapek.

Hanak has a great hooks, but they're so weak.

 

When using small hooks, i use hanak dry hooks. They're so strong, that i haven't had to search anythin better.

 

In pupas and larvas i use only Fulling Mill heavyweight grub(seldom), and kamasan grubber, b110. Not b100!

 

Streamers, the most kamasan b800, b830, and b840. Easy to crush the barb, and they are good for all kinds of streamers.

 

Dryflys, from size 14 to size 10 usually kamasan b400. Enough strong and light.

 

For pike tiemco 811s, or 911s, kamasan b840, or partridge ad swier hooks. From those i find a hook for all pikeflys.

Hi Juso, Can you get Gamakatsu hooks? For Pike, and other large toothy creatures, I just love them. They are very strong, and very sharp. Just be careful stroking materials backwards. Did I mention they are very sharp. If you cannot, PM me youur address and I will send a few your way to demo.

Cheers, Futzer.

Nice Dave, I may have to try this 14/0 you speak of, you got my attention with it. I do a similar pattern, more deer hair natural color with some rubber legs, just like a madam X, only tiny 14, 16, 18. Thanks for the post on the great photo.

Cheers, Jeff.

Shoot, you can get right up next to Yellowstone Buffalo or any of the wildlife for that matter, you just have to use Yellowstone Rules. Cheers Futzer

Hi BocaGrandefly, Good advice so far, but I will add my 2 cents.

1) Demo the ones you are looking at, at your local fly shop. Everyone is a little different and you need to know if it is comfortable, durable and what you like.

2) Buy the best you can afford, you will be happier longer!

3) I recommend getting it at a local fly shop, the info they will give you over the years will way make up for the few dollars you will save at a big box or via the internet.

4) If you do not have a local fly shop, still find a way to travel to one to demo vices, at least buy some materials from them to offset the free advice.

5) If you do not have that local connection, check with Day5, Matt about HMH vices, or Dhise, Dave for other types. Dave ships free. Or our fine sponsors, J Stockard, they stand behind everything very well.

I tie on a Dynaking Professional model, but it is out of your current budget.

Cheers, Futzer aka Jeff.

Hi Roby, Bruce is trying to help, and someone to keep on your short list of great teachers/mentors. Along with Flykid. IMO, lose the marabou for the extended body on a dry fly. It won't float. Try a needle body method with some Z-lon (like a Bett's poly extension), a dubbing shell extension or a furled body with synthetic yarn. Tie the wing only 2X the gap dimension of the hook. Get your hands on "The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference" By Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer. It has a great section on extension body techniques.

Keep tying and posting. Cheers, Futzer.

Colorado is not the Walleye Mecca. Where you headed? Then Think Chatruese and deep, full sink line. As for wire leaders, I would have a couple just in case, and light wire, short ones. Heavy Mono should be fine, a 8 inch section of 30 to 40 pound will be plenty. Cheers, Futzer.

Hi Gage,

#1 Catching more fish or more fishers to buy your bugs, than your favorite best friend tyer. Cheers, Jeff.

What about fishable realistics?What I mean is a fly tied with many but not every realistic quality.I tie some flies that will never touch the water.But the flies I fish get just as much attention to detail.I try to give the fish the most realistic bait and presentation I can without sacrificing ,castability,durability and fishability.In order to do that sometimes you have to sacrifice a real looking material for a durable one.

 

Down here we have a saying :" everyone 's an expert when the fish are spawning"but it's thoose who can catch fish when they don't want to feed that are the real fishermen.

Hi Fred, I think we need a clarification as to what a realistic bug means to you. I do not think that everyone is thinking the same way here, as I suspect you truly can tell.

Cheers, Jeff.

PS. I realize the age of this post, just keeping it going.

Well JimmyBoy, If the craft of wood working is as much of a reason as having a John boat, keep the sides low and good luck. There is nothing worse than pushing a high sided boat over frog water with an upstream wind. If you just want a boat fairly inexpensively, post a message at a couple fly shops with guide services in the last week of August, for "boat wanted to buy". There is always one fed up guide, usually a rookie, that now hates his summer profession. They tend to sell cheap and quick. I would still go for a low side fiberglass one. Fiberglass is the most quiet for the weight.

Also get a long list of friends that can row, fairly well. Or you won't be fishing all that much.

Cheers, Futzer.

The four biggest trout I have taken on dry flies smaller than 24s were 2 Yellowstone Cutty's, a Snake River Cutty, and Greenback Cutty. I love stalking prespawn Browns sitting off the bank a few inches with big meaty streamers. And I also love any big Brookie especially taken after a good hike at high elevation. Grayling are fun cause they are weird, hard to find in the lower 48 and they shimmer a purple hue right out of the water, I have landed a 15-inch grayling in Utah. I have never landed a Bull trout, but they are on my list, or a true Muskie. I have landed a 47-inch Tiger Muskie, and a 50-inch Pike on flies. Never gotten to fish Atlantic salmon, I think they are out of my fun coupon range. Steelhead are way too cool, and I have had a few on my line, but never to hand, any fish that can swim up hill, 1200 miles and 1500 feet of elevation has my respect. Golden trout are fun, but all I have landed were at night, so I never got a really good look or ever kept one. Splake are fun and weird in a Brookie humpback kind of way, I have caught a dozen or so of them in Colorado.

So how did I vote, Cutthroat all the way, so many different types of Cutties, and so little time. The innocence of the cutthroat take on a dry just got me.

Cheers, Futzer.

PS, I want to meet the member that votes Whitefish, that is someone to share a beer with.

Hi Horseshoes, I agree with Oatka. Great photo though and nice of you to share it. Cheers, Futzer.

Nice Bowlover, good proportions, personally I make my rear legs a little longer and tie a joint in them more maximum twitchyness. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Futzer.

That's kinda creepy that you got a statue of Futzer to keep in your bedroom. :bugeyes:

Thanks Salty, I am flattered that you think I look that good. I think I need Brian to give me a touch up. It is not the years but the miles, you know. You are very talented, Brian! Tied any bugs or caught fish lately? I have been working too much to properly harrass you lately.

Cheers, Jeff.

Just a heads up fellow terrible tandem swappers, My two Meatwhistles are tungsten cone heads, so add an extra ounce on your return postage to cover the weight. I am done tying mine, but I am snelling them up with maxima tippet, just so you can see what I do. Hope everyone likes that idea. I will send the recipe out as a PM for everyone.

Cheers, Jeff i.e. Futzer.

PM me your address and I will make a custom Whiting hundred pack for you, so you can give them a go.

 

Cheers, Jeff.

Can I get one too? Just wondering? :dunno:

Well STFM, I think I can part with a few, I do want to see some new patterns in the DB from you and Jan though.

Cheers, Jeff.

I will send them this weekend with some swap bugs I have finished for the terrible tandem swap.

Simple, Buggy, Tiny, good photo. Kid tested, Mother approved.

Cheers, Futzer.

Don't neglect the overall room lighting too. I have 3 four-banked fluorescent tube lights above my desk. I do use a magnifier with a halogen bulb, which I tie my 24s to 32s with. Getting used to tying with a magnifying lens is a little tricky, but practice solved that, I like it when I need to pick something up off the desk I do not have to peak over the cheaters. I do were a pair of cheaters for normal tying, post 45 years old and the eyes started to change. My main lamp is a desk lamp that architects use; It is 35 years old and uses a 65 watt small spot light and a fluorescent ring. I have wanted an Ott for a while, but the old one works fine. I do not know the total number I have tied under it, but it is in the 6 figures easily. Also take time to regularly blink, especially you young folks, it keeps your eyes moist. I learned that from working at a computer screen every day. Very important.

Cheers, Futzer.

Go get a brand new Visa card, $10k limit should do it. Call our buddies at J. Stockard and that should just about take care of it.

Cheers, Futzer

PS, only mildly kidding.

I've always wondered why Pike and Musky get lumped in with "warmwater" fish... The best Pike fishing I've ever had was right after ICE-OUT, and they live as far north as Alaska, and not very far south. Musky inhabit even a much narrower range.

I totally agree J. Cheers, Futzer.

Nice and buggy Rich! Cheers, Futzer.

I will take the last spot if some-one will explain to me how you tie them together. I have never fished tandem rigs before...actually i tried a couple of times and gave up after loosing the flies at the end because i couldn't figure it out.

I will do some foam beetles and some kind of nymph...maybe a Czech nymph since i have been trying to learn that as well.

 

What can i say? Untill i found this site i only knew some dry fly fishing...

Hi Dr. Vette, Here's how I do it, there are many other ways, as for say two dries, I use one size larger tippet between the two than the terminal tippet to the lead fly. It helps to keep them seperated IMO. I usually use about 16 inches, but that varies too. For say a large dry dropper to a tiny fly like a #32 I go a little shorter say 13 inches. It is an eyesight thing :-). I use an improved cinch knot in the bend of the gap of the lead fly to an improved cinch on the trailer.

For a dry to a small bead head or emerger I use longer separation about 20 inches to several feet, longer to get the trailer deeper. I like the bead head to ride in the top 6 inches of water, less on the end swing of the cast. That swing area is deadly as the bead head rises and simulates a hatching bug and it is a vulnerable point in time that fish really key on.

As for the Meat Whistles, I am tying for the swap, my leader is a straight piece of 0x or 1x typically and I use the same size between the two flies, I tie the lead fly with a loop to the eye, so the streamer has as much movement as possible, then an improved cinch to the hook bend on the lead fly and a loop or a Snell knot to the trailer.

When nymphing, I separate the two flies by 12 to 20 inches. The longer dimension typically for a larger nymph and I almost always use a larger nymph as a trailer not a lead. They usually are heavier bugs so it helps with separation and fish-ability. Nymphs I use improved cinch knots. Sometimes I tie a loop to keep the lead fly perpendicular to the leader especially in deeper water. It works better for me. I do not tie the trailer to the hook gap for this, but leave the tag end long on the lead flys knot. Ross, the Flytyingfreak turned me on to a great nymphing technique too, I will let him write about it.

I fish tandems anytime it is legal, in Utah it is maximum two flies, some places 3 flies are legal. I could talk a lot longer on this, so if you have any questions, PM me or add a thread here.

Cheers, Futzer.

Does one get a little mullet and plaid flannel shirt? Sorry, my bad, back to sensitivity training for me. Cheers, Futzer.

 

"Not that there is anything wrong with that"

 

:hyst: Im an HR nightmare too.!

 

Not at all! I can see it now! all those mullet heads rockin out to the Def Lepard/Poison soundtrack while totin bait dunkin rods down to the levy with a folgers can of red worms in one hand and a 6 pack of (insert your favorite cheap crap beer here) under there arm!

Hi Ross, I am going to let Ridleyffo send the clarification, it is his swap and first lipstick comment. I'll just leave it there. Now back on track for a fine swap topic, I am almost done with my entries, so let's get filled up here folks.

Cheers, Jeff.