burch

I hope I started this in the right forum. I`ve been hashin` the idea of making a turner for rod building,fly & lure drying, etc. I found an electric can opener for $2.00 at the thrift store and was hoping someone could point me in the direction of some plans or pics of one they`ve made.

I know this can`t be too difficult.

Many Thanks,

Burch

I coated a few with epoxy but haven`t tried `em yet. Some of the comercial poppers have a hard coat of something and i`d bet it`s epoxy. I`ll try mine this weekend and give ya a report.

burch

I`m still waiting for a reply from the administrator.

I know, I know, why make `em when ya can just buy `em. I was just thinking about ways to make hologram eyes. Does anyone make their own ? I would guess you might be able to make them out of epoxy but that`s just a guess.

burch

I just love their prices and they don`t try and rape ya on shipping either.

burch

For some reason i`m only getting some of the pictures on the web page. For example: on the Emoticons, some are there and some are blocks with a red X in the middle. Any ideas ?

Burch

I`d like to start tying some EP flies and was wondering if anyone has came up with a suitable material sustitute. You know, maybe something at the craft store, Wally World, etc. I just hate paying premium prices for this stuff. Some of these people act like their stuff came from another part of the world and has been lost in time for ever. Since i`ve joined this forum I hardly ever go to the Fly shop for material thanks to the many creative folks here.

Burch

Now this is some info. Keep it comin` fellas

I`m wanting to color some of my foam poppers and was wondering what type paints to use ? Also, what do I use to clear coat them with for a finish ? I tried a sharpie on one of `em and it just bleeds even after a few days of drying.

Burch

Including the Fly Logic rods that 2bonthewater mensioned what are some other good rods at the $100 mark in a 4wt.

I was wanting some opinions on Courtland rods. The Pro Cast kinda caught my eye. I`m looking for a graphite/med. action/5-6 wt. 8`-9` rod. I spotted these at www.flybass.biz Anyhow, I don`t have the funds for a high dollar rod so any recommendations will be appreciated. The Pro Cast is 100% graphite/ hard chrome guides/ anodized aluminum reel seats and run $100. Probably low/mid quality but not a bad price for the perks. I`m now fishing with a Scientic Angler that has a plastic reel seat ( that`s right I said plastic )so i`m looking to get something a little better to fish with.

Burch

Burch, it all depends on the hook size & bead chain size combination for Clousers when using bead chain, and they should be tied on the back side of the shank to invert the hook so the point swims up. It's just a matter of balance. A regular "J" type hook will almost always ride point down. The heavier the hook, the more weight is needed to invert it. Bead chain works, but you still have to use the proper size bead chain to have enough weight to invert the hook. Also keep in mind that bead chain is made with different metals (steel, brass, stainless & copper). So the same size bead will not be the same weight.

 

"J" hooks can be made to ride inverted without added weight, like a Bendback, but the materials used have to be buoyant, and tied in properly. There are some flats type flies used for Bonefish that are tied in this "blind eye" fashion.

 

If you use lead, brass or tungsten barbell eyes, even the small size eyes should invert most hooks up to about 3/0. However, you can counter act the balance by using materials that are too buoyant in the wrong place. If you're tying your Clousers with bucktail, don't use the hair near the base of the tail for your belly hair. Instead, use the hair more up towards the tip of the tail. If the hair flares a lot it's likely not what you want to use.

 

 

You can also use jig hooks, which usually invert due to the shape. A lot of guys who fish shallow saltwater here use tinned 60 degree bend jig hooks for Clousers & other patterns that they want to invert and use small barbell eyes, or even large bead chain.

 

As far as the white being on the wrong side, they'll still work. Wounded, stunned or dying baitfish often swim belly up in their struggling, making them appear as an easy meal. Saltwater fish are accustomed to seeing belly up baitfish, especially around schools of bait that they're attacking & feeding on.

 

I add weed guards to some flies. I use 30-40lb test Mason Hard Nylon, and tie in a two prong type weed guard. Here's a link to a previous discussion about weed guards. Scroll down the page, there's a picture of a fly that Kirk Dietrich posted in that discussion that shows the the two prong type very well. http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=56403&st=0&p=443569&fromsearch=1entry443569

Your always willing to pass on good knowledge Tidewaterfly and again I thank ya. I went to the fly shop yesterday and they hooked me up with the right bead eyes for 1/0 & 2/0 hooks so i`m finally good to go their. I found out the bead eyes i`ve been using will work with flies on the crazy charlie level. The ones I bought we`re the large ones and the guy said they`ll work fine for the size hooks i`m using. I`ll check out your link on weed guards and many thanks.

Burch

Well I tried my luck this morning using a Clouser, Crazy Charlie and a streamer. I didn`t have any luck but the flies i`ve tied seem to swim pretty nice except the Clouser minnow. I used the bead chain eyes with the hook point swimming down. I tied white bucktail hair over the eyes and a dark bucktail hair under the eyes and over the hook point. The problem is the fly swam with the white up. Now i`m no rocket scientist but doesn`t the white represent the belly of the minnow ? I`m guessing the Clouser minnow is suppose to swim hook point up and the bead chain is the wrong thing to use. I`m fishing the flats and was hoping someone could let me know what size dumbell eyes to get so the minnow will swim hook point up. Also, do any of you guys tie in a weed guard and do you use mono and what lb. test if so ?

Many Thanks,

Burch

In the 'Glades we do quite a bit of trout fishing (usually in places where they're holding in a current near the bottom, occasionally in winter when they're holding in shallow spots with a current. My all time favorite is nothing more than a small popping bug at dawn or all day long if there's no wind. Pop it, let it sit, pop it, let it sit, the fish will actually come blow it up while it's motion-less (and if the bug is close enough you can actually watch a big trout come up very slowly and sit under the bug for a moment before the attack...). Once the wind is up it's all streamers for us, using a special Clouser style fly or a Silhouette in different colors.

 

Everything we do for trout holding in a current is done with the fly worked across the current, never against the flow or with it. On a popper the first strike is usually a miss, if you keep it moving the second strike won't miss at all. For streamers every bite is from a "committee", rarely a single fish. If you don't hook up with that first strike, again keep it moving and there will usually be a second, even a third pass on a single retrieve....

 

Now for some pics, the Speed Bug with a #1 hook, the Whitewater Clouser in 2/0, and Silhoutte's on an Owner Aki 1/0 or 2/0....

 

Tight Lines

Bob LeMay

What material is the weed guard on the Clouser and how is it tied in ?

Clousers for sure. For Reds (and bigger trout) try the Merkin crab. Over in the Sarasota area it's my Redfish go-to.

This is my version.....http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern10926.html....altho I now just do a single strand leg. Brown or rust work best.

 

Fred

Thank ya Fred for the crab pattern. I do have a few Clouser`s i`ve tied up already.

Thank ya kindly Tidewaterfly, that`ll give me more than enough to keep me fishing for a while.

I live on the East Coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral. I need some ideas for Spotted Trout flies, Snook, and Red Fish. I`m new to the salt water fly fishing and need some patterns to work with. I was hoping to get tutorials on em but i`m not gonna be too picky about it. I just finished a couple this morning. The Mark Sosin Blockbuster and Joe Brooks Platinum Blonde. This evening`s plan is taking my daughter out for some fresh water Bream but was wanting to have a few salties tied up for next weekend.

Many Thanks,

Burch