DarrellP

Mark, the 4th from the top would mimic a catalpa worm well. I also find red to be killer on bluegill. Good luck!

Outstanding flies! Rick, those are very cool.

When tying soft hackles, to have consistency in hackle length between flies, take feathers in a line across the hen neck or partidge.. Place double sided tape on the matt or table and tape stems of the feathers you will tie, along with pre-cut Chenille, tinsel, etc., to have the materials for each fly ready when tying several of the same fly. This bit of prep time improves efficiency when tying several flies in a session. This also helps keep these items from flying off the table when a door is opened or your cat jumps onto the table. If you use a plate behind your vise, use a paper clip ot two to fasten a sheet of thin foam in whatever color gives the best contrast for the fly. This often improves visibility compared to the white plate. Brush on glue before wrapping herl or tinsel bodies to improve durability. If you don't have rubber tubing to place on a hackle pliers tip to improve grip, you can slide the tip into a hollow piece of feather stem. It works surprisingly well. A piece of spinner wire with right angle piece or curve at the end works well as a tube fly mandrel when tying narrow diameter tubes. Just place it so the bend is at the "head" of the fly. These fit in standard hmh type adapters.

I just got a new decal that says"Sasquatch doesn't believe in you either."

TSMcDougal, love those. Flytire, inspiring as always.

A real advantage to fishing from a kayak in warm water is that you can go over Lilly pads to get where a boat can't.

You guys are getting old. I use three lights, a bench magnifier, progressive trifocals and try to stick with streamers!

Them's purdy

Fantastic to see a young person tying flies! Great influencer and not on Tik Tok.

Wow!

String up bead chain and hang larger flies to dry after gluing or painting. You can wrap clear fishing line over bodies to make Crazy Charlie's, etc. That was the original wrap. Use different size nail heads to "paint" eyes or spots on flies and poppers.

Sorry to hear your back hurts, Flytire

Got my flies. Well done everyone!

Use a seam ripper to cut thread close after tying off the head. A numer 11 scalpel blade is great for fine trimming, also. Use needle nose pliers to flatten stems before tying on feather wings. Use colored nail polish to give color to your heads. Use different colors so you can tell weighted from unweighted flies in your box. Cut the brush to a fine point.

How do you guys carry your fishing gear? If I am in my. tube, I just put my boxes in the tube pockets and wear a lanyard. Otherwise I use a satchel. How about you guys?

I agree! Glad to see you are back at it.

If you don't want to wrap the rib opposite the Chenille or dubbing, you can also wrap the ribs further apart than the Chenille or dubbing wraps and go in the same direction. Not as easy or reliable in my experience. Whe tying popper you can put a small amount of superglue on the thread and wrap it tight and close to the popper and hold it tight for a second or two and it will hold without tying off. On Wolly bugger type flies with palmer hackle, wrapping the hackle in the groove between the Chenille wraps will hide the stem of the feather and add some durability. Use the hook shank to measure proportions, just keep in mind this can vary from hook type to hook type. For subsurface flies: the faster the current is, the stiffer the materials have to be in order to hold their shape. That is why a lot of Western flies use more bucktail than feathers for wings and more rooster than hen for hackle.

All of the organizing crap I have purchased over the years is cluttering my tying area!

Female Hendrickson Size 14 CGO nymph/wet hook 8/0 gray Danville thread Dark dun hen hackle and tail Body dubbed with 1/2 Tup Pink Realseal and 1/2 tan Beaver Wood duck flank wing

Philly, I like those soft-body flies. Did you shape those? If so, how?

Love those AP flies. Classic. Glad you are well. Welcome back to the site.

The plastic shoe boxes work. Big flat plastic boxes for capes and skins.

Love that one Squeezy. Love all of the killer bugs

Nice ant!

Triple bypass in 16. Doing fine. Follow orders for once!