FKROW

All CA adhesives are not created equal. Many are water soluble, Crazy Glue for example. My understanding fron Bill Hunter of Hunter's Angling Supply, is that a customer of his could not tie a knot in mono very well. He was a chemist and made up Zap-a-Gap, resistant to water effects. Use it on tippet/leader knots and the first widely marketed CA waterproof was introduced to fly fishing. A mono knot does not fail until it slips. Regards, FK

Very nicely done video,,, more please. One small point,, you are not using epoxy, as we commonly purchase,,, it is a UV light activated resin. Epoxy requires two components,, the epoxy resin and a liquid hardener mixed into the base to initiate the chemical reaction. Hope to see more videos in the future. Regards, FK

One additional technique for brittle feather stems. Soak the feather in warm water with a few drops of hair conditioner. This will soften the stem and allow easy wrap, I also use tying thread to reinforce. Regards, FK

Most of the CA glues are fine,,, select those that are not too thin,,, more gel consistency works best. Regards, FK

Agree,, excellent web site, very well presented. Regards, FK

Both....That is the answer. Regards, FK

Years ago I was a member of a club with shotgun trap shooting range. Some one complained about all the ground hazard the many years of shotgun pellets were having on the environment. The state officials came and took soil samples from downrange . One of the member requested they also take samples from areas 90 degrees and 180 degrees relative to the trap field. Results,,,,, lead hazard content in soil was identical (zero) from trap filed vs. other areas on the property. Regards, FK

Real Snowshoe Hare is getting hard to find,,,, most is fine print Jackrabbit or Hare,,, not Snowshoe. Shops have been told that the real deal is in very short supply. Regards, FK

Scott, That basic design with ostrich herl tail is my favorite warm weather smallmouth fly. Regards, FK

Cold, Great post, thanks for the detailed description on Double Bunny stinger construction. Regards, FK

Search Google Wiggle Tail Fly Fishing. Product developed by Paolo in Italy. Great videos catching pike in northern Europe. The Pat Cohen Creature Tails USA are very similar and very durable. We had similar products on the market approx 10-15 years ago, did not make it commercially and were discontinued. I have been experimenting with silicon grubs for about 15 years. Regards, FK

Well I understand many have never experienced the jaw chipping,,, Regal must have redesigned the jaws or backed off on the spring pressure. Many of us tried the Regal and gave up,,, the jaw chipping was a serious problem years ago. Regal would replace the jaws for the first claim,,, after that you were on your own. I owned the very first with rotating head design, cannot remember the year but most likely in the mid 1980's. Commonly it would happen when you pulled down on the thread in line with the jaw opening, the hook would pull out and if tethered it was not a problem however, the jaws would slam together. This chipping problem was not unique to Regal,, the early HMH Hunter vises would also have jaw chipping with small flies pulling out of the jaws, they would have much smaller chips and could be easily reshaped with a file. I am a vise junky,,, HMH from the late 1970's (4-5), Regal, Dyna King (several), Renzetti (about 6-8), Nor Vise, Xuron, Thompson,,, two custom made specials,,,,, and several others best forgotten. Regards, FK

I have used curly tail grubs for years on rivers with smallmouth and trout. This was shown to me by a friend who used spinning rods with grubs and embarrassed me with his catch rate compared to conventional flies. They easily catch more fish vs. conventional flies 4:1 most days. Mustad 3366 hook,,, tie in a small pc. of 30# mono on the shank for a barb,,, pointing towards the hook eye. This holds the grub onto the hook when casting and fishing the rig. You can also pinch on a small split shot near the hook eye,,, superglue,,,, and you have a fly hook with jig action. Thread on the grub,,,, fantastic action in the water,,, easily casts with 6wt or 7wt rod. I am using a fly rod with fly line and feel it is fly fishing. Silicone skirts,,, search Scott Howell, a west coast Steelhead guide who developed flies with skirts of mylar and silicone. Prom dress fly and Squidro fly,,, these are very effective in rivers. Regards, FK

Mustad 3366 or equivalent straight eye hook. Regards, FK

I owned one years ago,,, sold it off quickly. Placing a small hook in the jaws,,, the hook slides out - flies across the room,,, the jaws slam together and chip. Many of the Regal vises I have seen have chipped jaws due to this poor design. O'K for large hooks with the groove in the jaws to hold onto the hook wire. Regards, FK

mirend, Thanks for the link,,, I ordered one today. Neat design and will save cut fingers. Regards, FK

Cream, Your last posted bug. Articulated??? Very nice design,, the collar will set up a vortex and make the rabbit strip flutter in the current. I visited with Pat Cohen this past weekend at the Bear's Den open house. He also gave a one hour detailed demo on his deer hair stacking and trimming techniques. Regards, FK

Great photos,,, thanks for the SBS posting. Regards, FK

I have used razor blades for years with deer hair. Compare both the cheap bargain vs. the name brand expensive blades,,, the cheap stuff does not last very long and many will not even be suitable for fly tying work. Premium blades last much longer, unless you ding the hook which is rather easy. Regards, FK

The dark exposure on the fly is due to "auto" setting,,,, if your camera has "manual" or exposure compensation settings you can adjust easily. The "auto" setting is exposing for the light colored background,,, not the subject fly. Neat idea, thanks for posting the coffee cup. Regards, FK

Abel did not copy the Renzetti. Steve called Andy Renzetti and requested permission, for a fee, to use the design. When that did not work out, he made the jaws slide up and down to adjust center line rotation of the hook shank,,,, Abel is not a copy of the adjustable arm pivot that is the Renzetti proprietary design. Abel was in the business of making fly reels,,, not fly tying vices,,, that is the reason the product is not longer manuf. The fancy anodized colored vice version was all aluminum, the stainless/brass is more desirable, IMHO. Very rugged well designed fly tying vice. Sometimes regret not purchasing one when they were commercially available. Regards, FK

The Renzetti Master does have a midge jaw option available. I have several friends who use the LAW vise, tried it however,,, I much prefer the Renzetti Master. It is all about personal preference, changing the vice design is fun but does not make for better fly. Regards, FK

Mike, Outstanding flies, thanks for posting. Regards, FK

I have owned both Regal and DK,,,, the Regal does spit out small hooks very easily when tension on the tying thread pulls down on the hook. The then jaws slam together and chip out frequently. My DK is about 20 years old and still has the original jaws,,,, none of my friends who use the DK products has ever "worn out" any of the jaws. Regards, FK

Many thanks for posting the link. Excellent site with outstanding photography. Regards, FK