notenuftoys

Back on topic, I started out with CCG. Wanting something very thin and seeing good reports about Loon Flow, I picked some up. Now I just use Loon UV products.

Flytire, where are those from?

I bought some Firehole hooks on their original presale when they launched, and have been very impressed. If I didn't have such a massive hook collection already I'd be ordering some more from them. But I just can't justify spending the money right now. (I know, there's not really such thing as too many hooks, but....)

I reorganized back in the spring when my Dad built this set of shelves for me.

The only chenille I ever use is micro for San Juan worms and an extended body caddis pattern, and ice or krystal chenille. I rarely ever tie a wooly bugger with a chenille body. I use ice dub in a dubbing loop to get more movement. There are other materials just sitting in my boxes that I haven't touched since I bought them. I can't remember what they are because I haven't even looked at them for a long time. Early in my tying days I bought material like a crack addict, but over the past few years my buying as slowed way down as I focus on certain types of patterns.

Oh great. After spending more time studying yarn than a middle age man should, now I have to do this. It's a fantastic idea. Does Ace Hardware sell just a foot of different colors? I've bought paracord for camping and typically it's much longer lengths.

Just wait. Soon you'll be studying and shopping for yarn to make your own dubbing.

Perfect? Or consistent?

I have no issue supporting local fly shops. When I used to travel around the country, I would look up local fly shops and usually bought a few things from them whether I was fishing in the area or not. But this is a large, diverse country. Where I live we have Cabela's and Bass Pro, with their limited selection and a fly shop that caters to the high earner. Their primary clientele just buys all their flies for whatever trip they are booking through the shop. So tying material is lacking, especially compared to a J Stockard, Caster's Fly Shop or Caddis Fly Shop. So I buy 90% of my material online. When I run out of UTC thread, bucktail or craft fur, I run over to Bass Pro. But as of a few weeks ago, they didn't even stock ice dub!

Thanks for the underwater action. I've wondered about FTD's Water Silk, but never bought any. Looks like it has nice movement in the water, so now I need to order some. Is it so soft that it can foul on the hook on, say, a clouser style fly?

See, I'm already spending time. Take a look at these half-skin zonker strips. They have both barred and full color. http://www.chichesterinc.com/RabbitZonkerStrips.htm

Oh, that's a great site! I could spend a lot of time and money, mostly money, at that site.

Tying meat flies. At the top are a couple Low Fat Minnows, and a trio of articulated Monster Buggers.

I've never understood the fascination. I don't think they're very attractive, and give me cam jaws over anything else. But, whatever someone else is willing to pay. I once sold some land, and when my broker told me what we should list it for I told him the buyer would be crazy. A month later, a crazy person signed papers.

I haven't had any problem with ghosting. I use a couple cheap clamp desk lamps and upgraded to LED bulbs. Went with 5000k and 100W equivalent LEDs to get super bright. Having one on either side of the vice helped eliminate any shadow from my hand.

Yep! Although I drink whiskey instead and get proficient quicker.

I wish I had read this or thought of it a couple years back. I tied up 3 flies of a foam hopper pattern I come up with before a Reel Recovery retreat, and it turned out to be a great pattern. Unfortunately, a couple were lost and I gave the last one to my participant as a souvenir after catching a few fish on it. When I got home I realized I didn't have any more, but couldn't remember the pattern! D'oh!

I know you asked for specific videos, but it's hard to beat any of Davy McPhail's videos in pure quality of instruction. His videos always challenge me to up my game.

I've perused Bob Marriott's site before, but between J Stockard, Caddis Fly Shop, FlyFishFood and a couple others, I get everything I need. Unfortunately the only local supply I have is at Bass Pro and Cabelas, and only go there if I need just one or two common items I know they stock. Even then, half the time BP or Cabela's is out of stock. No single shop has everything, and can usually drive myself crazy trying to put a single order together from one place.

McFly's video pretty accurate? I think so... I mean there aren't any camera tricks or anything. Lol. Here is a video of a fly I tied with the home made stuff. I used both laser dub and the home made stuff so you can compare. McFly's video is where I got the idea, so full credit to him. I've started using it for a few colors that I use the most, like white olive and gray/silver. At $4 for a big roll of olive yarn, I can tie a ton of these bluegill flies.

Make your own. Seriously, it's really easy.

I saw the post and video McFlyLures shared a while back about making dubbing, and because I'm cheap and use a lot of Laser Dub, I had to try it. The ladies at Joann's must not always see middle age guys buying yarn very often, because I got some double takes. But I love, love! how this turned out. Here's the picture I shared on Instagram.

Small stream brookies are my favorite kind of fishing. Beautiful little streams like your picture are just so relaxing, so peaceful. Now I gotta get a coyote mask. That's a nice looking fly.

UV resin is so useful. I've used it for a few things around the house, just because I had it. So you're right, the craft stores should stock it.

Several years ago FTD struggled to keep up with the orders. But my recent experience (a year ago) was shipping was quick. I've bought so much stuff from him I could be considered a dealer. And so much is just waiting to be used. At the his super prices it's very easy to order way more than you need. At least that's my excuse.