dayhut

Oops

Note from illustrations (the one above is nice) that nymphs don't have "tails" as we think of them. Most sport just a few small hair like projections, 2 or 3 being usual. They are actually gills, on most, or clasping appendages... But not "tails" So.... we come along and usually hang whopping big marabou dust mops out the back. I've read this started as a way to add movement to an otherwise lifeless fly. If you're going for lifelike, keep tails sparse and hair-like. If you just want a nymph-y looking fly, tie a Briminator and get to fishing.

Briminator- mimics about every nymph going. Match colors to the bottom, add a shell back and scruffy ostrich/emu sides, and, voila! - hexagenia nymph.

Have you ever tried it in stillwater? Not many trout around my part of the Southern USA, but plenty of bass and bluegill. I like the look of this bottlebrush derivitive and will try it next season.

Disappointed that the SBS is not available. Was it taken down for some reason?

So, what happened to the pictures?

Nice attention to detail. I like the separate spool rack. I can also relate to the needed space behind the vice - where your small drawers pull open into. It would probably be better to make the back plane a pegboard section, to which you add small hanging bins. Then you still have the vertical storage, but with no intrusion on the workspace. Below that, along the peg boards base, maybe a tool rack. Finally, Im thinking two verical columns of three small drawers, one to each side of the work space. Span these by a top shelf that is not too deep wso as to obstruct the top row of bins... That plus your craftsmanship and you may have solved the worlds problems!

I did a little investigating on marabou tonight: There has been a feather trade around the world, for centuries. We think of it in a sort of micro view, i.e., in fly tying terms. But feathers have been used for many things through the ages, for everything from stuffing pillows to royal adornment. Most feathers in modern times have found their way into fashion, hats and various clothing lines. Because of this trade, the early 20th Century saw both federal and internation laws enacted to protect birds of all kinds. The African marabou stork is one such bird and it is where the feather of that name originated. Feather boas, dust brushes, fly tying, clothing - these uses ultimately led to the storks troubles. The marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) has been on the CITES list of protected animals, although my research currently calls its protected status into question: some say it is, others say it isn't. Regardless, feathers from this bird are no longer widely traded or used for fly-tying - or anything else. A brief search on the internet turned up NO, true stork marabou for sale. What we're dealing with today in fly-tying is mainly marabou from turkeys. The soft, fluffy down-like feathers called "marabou" come from the belly and underside of the bird. Lacy Gee, the original founder of Wapsi, was the first to recognize and sell turkey marabou as a substitute for the stork feathers. It's an interesting story and can be seen here - - * http://renegadefishers.com/material/marabou.html Where you find chicken marabou, it is often called "Chick-a-bou," and sometimes, "mini marabou." This small stuff yields a finer sort of tuft. Grizzly marabou and grizzly chickabou also come from chickens. You may also see ostrich origin marabou and peacock varieties, referred to as "Peek-a-bou." These appear to be fairly uncommon, though, and you will have to dig around if you want to try them. * The US is the only country that produces white turkeys - CHINA buys the long turkey feathers by the boatload for dying and reselling here as feathers boas, etc.! The shorter, downy feathers are turned into fly tying marabou. These feathers are dyed many different colors, and come in several different types, including select marabou plumes, strung marabou or blood quills, wooly bugger marabou, etc.

Dubbing brushes - velcro on a stick Bodkin - needle is a dowel Threader - Looped mono in a dowel Tool holder - block of EPV foam Stripping blade - Single edge razor blade set in a slotted dowel Dowels and velcro WERE harmed in th emaking of some tools.

Personally I prefer that people consider bluegill: "stupid," ** "too easy," "just for kids," etc. The more people that go after trout, or bass or whatever else, well... the more I have bluegill waters to myself. ** For the record, during threat avoidance studies, bluegill were proven to be fast learners. Both trout and bass were slower to learn avoidance behavior than the bluegill. The fish that learned the fastest, however, may come as a surprise - it was the lowly catfish.

This isnt far off the truth. While no fly tyer worth the name wants to use only TWO materials, you can make a passable brim fly with just these two. My favored herl'd bluegill fly of late is the very old, "Red Tag." It lacks rubber legs, but has a hackle collar like a good wet fly. It fishes like one, too, You could add rubber legs, I suppose.

If Mike Chell likes it... well, you get the point.

The Wooly Bugger has a glas bead head? Good call there. I like them for the moderate sink rate. That rubber legged "thingy" is one In going to have to try.

luvinbluegills: Okay, finally had a chance to look at the book where I first saw this fly. Terry and Roxanne Wilson claim to have started developing this fly in the seventies, and call it the "Bully's Bluegill Spider". Of course, this could take us back to "Is there anything new?" but I ain't goin' there! Jim Hester in MD : I don't know who should be credited with the invention of that fly, but I know it's been around awhile. It could easily have been simultaneously discovered by 100 tyers in any part of the world as simple a pattern that it is. It certainly is a fine fly & one of the patterns I recommend to beginning tyers that is easy to tie & use. ========================================================================================= Pretty sure Terry and Roxanne are the originators of Bully's Spider. I knew it immediately from your excellent description, redneck. There are imitations and a lot of variations on the theme, but the story of its origin is there in the WIlson's book, "Bluegill... Fly Fishing and Flies." In this case, the designers are both alive and approachable... if you want, you can reachTerry at BigBluegill.com where he is a member. Ask him. And while it seems like a little bit of nothing to the experienced fly tyer, according to their account there is nothing "simple" about Bully's development. It was quite a labor of love to get it to its present state. The techniques and materials are not complicated, that much is true; but the recipe is VERY specific with a designed purpose for each element. The Wilson's prefer 'Bully's Bluegill Spider' in overall yellow with white legs, by the way. As for the question, "Is there anything new?" The only practical reponse has to be a "yes." You are limited only by your imagination. Now, if by "new" you mean revolutionary and able to assure your fortune into perpetuity, well - there are no guarantees of that.

I figure it couldnt hurt! Im going to spend some time this winter making inline spinners, and will try this with my glass beads. Thanks

Gorgeous