Whiskey Creek

Hi, Great looking Fischer. I'm hoping Jake and I go on some high mountain trips as well. he is now 3 months:

1 more lighting suggestion: take the photo outside during the day, in the shade. You should have plenty of light to handhold the camera in macro mode. The shade is important, the direct sun is harsh and casts shadows.

How could I forget the largest cutt that I've caught. Here is the fly:

Hi Lynn, Of course, how could I resist Henry's Lake after you taught me the secrets of fishing well there. We have a cabin near the outlet; I don't get up enough, but the family spends the summers. I'll be up again in a few weeks to winterize the place. Last year, we had a wonderful trip in the winter. John

Lynn, Outstanding shots! John

White Miller time is approaching

Time to lock away all my tying materials. The puppy has found them.

Hi, Good thread, and outstanding blogs. Here is mine: http://wcflies.com/blog/ Good luck! John

Hi, A note about spending $$, when I transitioned from film to digital, I kicked myself a bit for not getting a better camera at first. That first year, I took a couple thousand shots, and calculated what it would cost in film & processing fees (plus gas and time to the processor). I eventually upgraded to better equipment.

Pretty quiet, a relatively low hum/buzz. Another benefit, no cats come running during operation.

I used a Rotiessrie grill motor with success. A bolt through the foam wheel and filed the sides of the bolt flat to fit in the rotiessrie. Pretty cheap, I remember less than $10 from ebay for the rotissrise kit. Good luck! John

Soft hackle Adams

Cool. I like how you faced the deer with a foam disk.

Hi, Another supplier that I really like is Blue Ribbon Flies. If the full partridge skin seems too expensive right now, you can use a quail skin or hen back. Also, get on the Blue Ribbon Flies mailing list, they usually announce availability of "pro-tier" grade partridge skins in the winter. These are usually about $15, and have some cosmetic defect that keeps them from the retail peg-board. By the way, you will not regret getting a full partridge skin. That is the best way (and the best feathers). Good luck! John

Lately, I've been keeping it simple for photographing flies. These are taken in my backyard, during the day in the shade. The shade gives nice and even light. The deck rail is a good fly holder, as are wine corks. I'd rather drink a bottle of wine for this project than build a deck... Now the wine cork (well, it came from a wine bottle): For both photos, I used a digital SLR, with a 100mm dedicated macro lens. Other options are to use the kit lens that came with the camera with an extender, or with close-up lens filters (essentiall magnifying glasses that screw on the front). For these shots, I just handheld the camera and got as close as the lens allowed. Here are some links about fly photography, including a cool tutorial about using point and shoot cameras: http://wcflies.com/blog/2009/08/fly-photography-series/

I voted the original. I do best with the original copper color, but that is probably because I tie and use the original colors most of the time. I was surprised to see blue as an option. I thought blue copper johns were a bit unique. They can become the go-to fly on the Trinity for steelhead.

I received the flies a week or two ago. Awesome ties. Thanks everyone for helping make my summer more enjoyable.

Thank you for hositng! Hook: 3x long, size 12 Parachute post: white poly yarn Body: Tan antron/hare's ear blend Wing: Turkey Tail fibers Legs: Pheasant Tail fibers, knotted Parachute Hackle: Grizzly

Hi MontanaBound, This blog page shows a few video demos of tying soft hackles, mostly with partridge, but the technique is works with hen feathers also. Tie in by the stem, take a wrap or two, one wrap of thread through the hackle to secure it, a second wrap through the hackle to bring the thread to the head, then a make a head with as little as 3-4 wraps.

A couple of thoughts: - look at quail skins, these are less expensive than partridge - Call your supplier, they may have "pro-tier" grade partridge skins that have some imperfection (tear, etc). 99% of the feathers still usable, just the skin is less aesthetic for display on the peg-board. I usually shop at Blue Ribbon Flies, they have pro-tier skins each year. Also, please describe what trouble you are having with the hen? Maybe something we can help with?

Hi Sherri, I settled on tan para hoppers. After some difficulty in tying the legs, I'm starting to hope for 1 legged hoppers I have the flies ready, please pm the address. Hook: 3x long, size 12 Parachute post: white poly yarn Body: Tan antron/hare's ear blend Wing: Turkey Tail fibers Legs: Pheasant Tail fibers, knotted Parachute Hackle: Grizzly

Hi, I've been keeping it real simple with soft-hackles, fish mainly peacock body and partridge or starling hackle depending on hook size. Besides peacock, pheasant tail. Good luck, John

Please count me in as well. Thanks! John

Hi, I made my own version of a bugger barn out of a video game carrying case, made from brushed aluminum: The project is described on my blog. I like yours, I may even take up smoking to get a supply of those tins Did you cut slots in the foam? Or just stick the flies in the foam? Thanks, John

Really great tie. At first glance, I thought the body was some type of stripped quill. Thanks for sharing the info about the silk. Looks like I need to warm up the credit card...