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Fly Tying

deeky

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Posts posted by deeky


  1. Been a while since I've been around, but it looks like I've got good timing. I love squirrel tail wings. I tie in the full bundle at the back of the head with a few good wraps. Then I pull a small part of the top fibers straight up and put a good wrap or two against the front of them and over the rest of the fibers. Repeat, repeat, repeat, working your way forward. When you have worked through all of the fibers, use a good, fine scissors and trip the butts tight to the thread and then over-wrap for a clean head. It's perhaps a bit more fiddly than a drop of super glue, but it has always locked things in nicely for me.


  2. I've got a Canon along with 17-35 and 70-300 lenses. While the crop sensor does help narrow the field of view (not changing the focal length), my bigger issue is minimum focal distance. While the 17-35 can focus in to a matter of a few inches, it is still too wide of an angle of view and the lens gets in the way of good light (without a lens-mounted ring light). I actually do a fair amount of floral macro-esque work with my 70-300, but with a minimum focus distance of just under 5 feet, it isn't quite tight enough for smaller flies (size 10 and down). I have a 100mm macro lens on my list, but at $500, that's not an immediate purchase at that price.

     

    All that said, for what I do, I use a point and shoot in macro mode. Set it on a mini tripod and use the timer to avoid any camera shake due to pushing the shutter button. Shut the camera flash off and pay more attention to getting your lighting right.

     

    FYI - my avatar was shot handheld with a p&s in macro mode without paying attention to lighting temp. That's a size 18 without any cropping (vertically).

     

    That's my suggestion. But being a camera guy, I can totally understand going out and picking up a new lens as well if you can. Same mentality as the multitude of rods, flies, and everything else we carry around.


  3. If I recall, the hairs on the feet are hollow to insulate the rabbit from the ground. As much impact on floatability as any oils. Should still float even if the oils are processed out. Otherwise I don't think they would sell as many processed feet as they do.


  4. I had a 5"-6" gill on the line while fishing from a dock. About 10' off the dock I watched as a northern flew up from the bottom and took a swing at my fish. Missing the first time, he circled for a second time before I soaked in what was happening. We fought over the fish for a minute or so before the northern finally let go. But he wasn't done. He came around and grabbed that poor gill a second time. We fought each other for another half a minute or so before my fly finally popped out of the gill's mouth. I got my fly back and the northern got his meal. Worked out well for both of us.


  5. Heads are too big for my taste

     

    LOL

     

    Actually, that was my thought too. Not too big in diameter, but too long front to back, especially the first one.

     

    It's an interesting look and unique use as far as I know. The one question I've had regardless of the use of this style of wing is durability. How do the stems hold up to a few fish?


  6. A little finger work should take care of that if not tying it in. If it really is still a problem, make a wrap of thread around just the hair bundle before continuing around the shank. Works well especially when I want a clearly segregated wing as in a traditional Mickey Finn.


  7. I went out and bought 2 or 3 plastic comb binders (clear) at the local office supply store. Cut them into sections of two of the tabs and wrap them around your spools. Keeps everything neat, can still pull material off, and they fit in any spool organizer that your spools will otherwise fit in. I use them on all of my wire, tinsel, floss (have to be a little more careful here), yarn, and whatever else needs taming.

     

    Deeky

     

    BTW, not my idea. Got it from a friend - the same guy that came up with the D-arm for Peak vices.


  8. I fish a lot of small Clousers (8-10) and use your standard Aberdeen style hook for the longer shank. As mentioned, don't tie much longer than the bend to avoid issues with the nippers. They are a wire hook rather than forged so may bend a little easier (nice for bendbacks), but have pulled in 14" carp on them and been fine. Just don't horse it. But also doesn't take as much weight to flip the lighter hook with a straight eye.


  9. Sorry to burst your bubbles, but the fly was posted in 2005 and poster hasn't been here since 2006.

     

    Hackle fiber tails, tight dubbing up the abdomen, same material in a dubbing loop for the thorax/legs, and some fibers pulled forward and cemented for the wingcase. That's my guess anyway.


  10. Bucktail? Who ties bucktail anymore?!?

     

    Oh wait......

     

    I haven't done much of any tying in the last quite a few months. But I'm coming back tying mostly bucktails (and a few synthetic hair flies). Love the simple elegance. And everything I tie will be fished at some point, so yes they still work.

     

    Here's a little sample of what's coming out - mostly bucktail with a few squirrel tail thrown in. Size 8.

     

    post-3964-0-28752900-1386732094_thumb.jpg

     

    And here are a few in size 2.

     

    post-3964-0-15488100-1386732124_thumb.jpg

     

    Not great pics, but if you want a closer look at something, let me know.

     

    Deeky


  11. While I also agree it is hard to quantify an 'expert', I think there are qualities to use in evaluating your own progress. One skill I have noticed grow for myself is the ability to look at a fly or picture of a fly and know how to duplicate the fly. I can see the materials used, how they were used, and often times I can actually duplicate that. I don't usually need a word-for-word recipe for flies that I tie. It is something that really only time at the vice and studying can develop.


  12. As mentioned, I use strips for both wings/tails and wrapped as a body. But I don't own any crosscut strips. I use regular Zonker strips for my bodies as well. The force of the water will lay the hair back just fine when fishing and, when paused, the grain of the hide causes the hair to flair back out just a little better. More breathing action for me.


  13. The feathers shown here are from the back (cape) of the bird, particularly lower, closer to the rump just ahead of the irridescent feathers on the rump. Be aware, the feathers in the fly are dyed yellow. They don't come off the bird with the bright yellow.

     

    Creekwalker - you said you have SD birds. Are you from South Dakota? Where at? Next weekend is deer and turkey out west, but I need to get out after some pheasants yet. Not sure how many more years the dog will be able to make it out and back again.


  14. What are fluey barbs? And where are they on a turkey or feather?

     

    Thanks

     

    Blane

     

     

    Watch the video. He shows exactly where they are and how to do it. If the fibers are black on the turkey, you can use that. Mine weren't, so I pulled a few fibers from some strung black marabou (which is turkey).

     

     

    Hans - I've had more than a bit of a dry streak for a while for a variety of reasons. This one got me back to the vise. Thanks.


  15. Think SMALL (16-22) or they will take some bigger streamers too (Dungeon, Circus Peanut, etc.). Talk to the guys at Dakota Angler and Outfitters in Rapid City. They have a website with updated reports. I was in there a while back and spent over an hour talking with one of the staff before I bought a thing. Good people - Hans is a member here.

     

    We were out there Memorial Day week, but just ended up mostly dunking worms with the young kids. Had a great time though. Aside from fishing, make sure you hit the taffy shop in Keystone. Makes my mouth water and I'm still working on what I bought. :)

     

    Deeky

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