Futzer

At the tie in point use a little copper wire, just slighly different color than the ultra Chenille, wrap it over the thread, a tight rib. it adds a little weigh and durability. I use micro chennile to make really small blood worms and grass carp green grass blades. Cheers, Futzer.

You know something I don't??? Futz.

Nope, only the standard tying spool size on the Rite, when you say larger, what are you actually using, other than a few Gudebrod spools, everything is standard other than sewing thread, which I would not recommend. Oh, and find a better gig than commercial tyer, we were outsourced to the 3rd world long ago. And unless you really like doing 4 red and blue tarpon flies by tomorrow for a local shop and then not getting paid enough to cover your hooks, pick a better paying career. I know there are a lot of tyers and guides that will second that. Glad we used our powers for good, not evil, once again. good luck. Futz

Thats under my budget, but I'd go a 6 or 7 weight, 9 foot rod, I like to keep the rod on the smaller side of normal, just cause landing a fish is more fun that way. Let us know what you get. I guess some one got a little b-day cash? Cheers, Futzer.

Size 16 or 14 red tailed wooly worm, peacock herl body, Brown webby hackle, red wire rib. Brookies like the red. Futzer.

Why not? I got to keep a couple things to myself, so you younger guys don't always outfish me. But since you mentioned it, I will give out one more. I dip glass beads in clear glow in the dark paint, let them dry then dip them in softex, makes for really cool bead heads, and caddis larva. Find a high alpine mountain lake and a full moon possibly one you have to hike into, and go out after dark, That is some big fun. Oh, and the added softex makes the beads easier to keep in place on the hook with less thread. Ok, #2, dip your strike indicators in GITD paint and when you are nymphing at dusk, us older guys, ok, 47 but the eyesite is finally going a little, can see our indicators real good. Ok, thats enough for now, Jeff

Shhhh Steelie, don't let that secret out. I use GITD crystal flash and GITD paint for eye backgrounds on barbells, and a few tricks that I won't mention. Good post, Futzer.

Hi Twist, I bet you never expected so much info on something as basic as a bobbin from all of us. First, buy separate ones for the larger and smaller thread spools; the holding tension on the spool is my most retire-able issue now. I tie with C&F Bobbins, they are on the expensive end, $40 to $45, they make regular and midge tube sizes, and I love the midge tube for 8/0 and finer threads. I have 6 bobbins threaded with various threads and colors at my desk. I tie a whole lot, 60 to 100 flies a week, and have tied many more per week on a commercial basis. I have not worn out the ceramic tube on a C&F and I drop them occasionally and have only broken one C&F ceramic tube. The smoothness that the thread comes off the edge of a ceramic tube is well worth it over metal. Metal tubes will wear grooves in them, especially with strong threads like Kevlar, but even Uni thread will notch them. I have tied with the Rite bobbins, and really liked the tensioning adjustability, however I had learned to tie using my pinky to tension the edge of the thread spool, and the open side of the Rite was not as comfortable to me. Again years of tying and I found I use some of the palm of my hand for tension on thread to hook where the Rite needed more just thumb and forefinger. Rites with a ceramic tube are about $30. It sounds to me, that at least for now you will never wear one out, so I would recommend getting one with a ceramic tube, I like that better than a ceramic bead tip. and get one that feels comfortable in your hand. Go to a local shop and I am sure they will let you thread a couple up, but maybe not tie with it, any way use it so you can feel the downward tension on a hook or something and see how your hand feels. keep that in mind as you try several, you hand size has a lot to do with the comfort. It is bad if it feels too small or too big to your hand. I also tie with my Wiss thread snips in my bobbin hand at all times for speed. Though there is not a lot of difference in sizes out there, there is enough of a subtle one to keep that in mind. Another subtle thing to think about, when I tie multiples of a pattern, I have all my materials laid out, so I do little cutting on the fly, so my bobbin is in hand nearly all the time. I get better tension and durability to a fly cause my wraps are not loose. Just a comment to help you improve your overall durability. Ok, Sorry for the book, cheers Futzer.

I try not to use dubbing wax, and if I do, it is a very sticky variety and I definitely avoid putting it directly on my fingers, since I twist my dubbing on with my left hand thumb and forefinger, every other feather you try to pick up or hold will stick to you and get wax on it. The two best things I think, Service Tech said, use a tiny amount; you can always add more if your body is too short and wet your fingers. I keep a little sponge in a dish that is wet on my desk and I can touch it to wet my fingers. Good way to pick up dropped tiny hooks too. Cheers Futzer.

Nice bug, and Dynaking rules...... Cheers, Futzer.

Welcome Oyey, I hatched in Littleton, long ago, but live in Utah now. The only thing I do for UV emergers, is take my favorite emerger, which is a simple Gold Antron tail for a shuck appearance, then the body and thorax are tied with glow in the dark crystal flash and I do them paralooper style with a olive grizzly or standard grizzly hackle. Usually in a 18, 20, 22 midge hook like Teimco TMC100. If you need an example I could tie one for the pattern Db, if you do not find what you are looking for. They add a little something at dusk, I charge up the crystal flash with my Loon knot sense UV LED light. Cheers, Futzer.

:bugeyes: LoL!!! Distinguished! Im sure the others in that list want to kick you butt for listing me along side of them!!! Id be glad to help..... How about asking your senator to enact a constitutional amendment for a civics exam for the right to vote? Oh wait he'd never get a vote again if he did that. Hi Matt, I can't afford my Senator :-) Futzer.

Hi Letumgo, great crawdaddy. I am tying mine similarly, but using black tungsten cones for the barbells, and I would draw in black eyes, take a small drop of Loon knot sense over each eye and cure it, for pupil dimension. Let us know how they work on Steelies, too. and where? Cheers, Futzer.

I just heard back from our rep. SA is dropping them, but they are being picked up by Rio. So there will be a delay but hopefully sorted out next year. I am going to get a few bobbins just to be sure. Cheers, Futzer.

Hello HackleHoney, FishingBub's idea, I put up the first prize of 100 Nymph hooks and 100 Dry hooks, Tiemcos. and some assorted feathers, thread etc. About $50 of goodies. Enter as many times as you want, but you must declare one fly as your final entry, flies must contain either Pheasant or Starling feathers. The other rules are posted in this thread http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=39202. Have fun with it. Deadline to enter is the Saturday, after Thanksgiving, the 29th at 9 pm Mtn time. Cheers, Futzer.

Beautiful Kingfisher feathers, very nice fly. Cheers, Futzer.

Hi Wellman, happy spinning, get yourself a Bic pen and take the pen part out, so you have that nice heavy clear plastic tube to pack the hair back and tighten the hair. really really good hair spinners make it look like cork, it is to tightly packed. Oh and listen to Old Hat and Bruce, they know their, shXXXt. Cheers Futzer.

Hi Service tech, Gudebrod used to make a bobbin that held their long spools, in a vertical manner. I check their site and found they make a bobbin for their Kevlar thread, but it is a smaller spool, or atleast it looks like it from their pictures. Google got me this though, maybe that is a start http://www.johnnyspond.com/gudebrod-tools-...cessories1.html I have wound thread on spools before, go to homedepot and get a long 8X32 bolt, to give you spool lenght + 1/2 inch. get 2 large dender washers that have an O.D. about a 1/4 inch larger that the standard thread spool diameter, and a couple nuts to fit the bolt. Then use a hand drill with variable speed and a small dowel and clamp for the gudebrod spool. spin away. Cheers, Futzer.

What amount of bulk are you thinking? Cheers, Futzer.

Ceramic tube! well worth the extra cash. Cheers, Futzer

A++ Futzer.

Since there are few hard and fast rules about tying, sure, why not. However the buggiest slinkiest part of marabou is the fine tips. Post a picture, you are more than likely fine to leave it like it is, a fish will key in on the head of the fly, (why eyes are so effective). Cheers Futzer.

Post as many as you like, everyone, just keep having fun. Jeff

I need to replace the foam piece in the back of my midge bobbin and went online to 3M to see if I could get it there. They do not list the C & F tool line on their website anymore. I got a call into our rep, but I am worried, I may have to stockpile some if this is true. Cheers, Futzer.

Very interesting work Claudia. I like it alot. So do you tie without a bobbin? Cheers, Jeff