Fatman

Permanent markers and a ruler, but they do fade. A friend on another board did a youtube video on markers and it takes some time to watch it but it's really good!!

Still a member but haven't been in a while.

As has been said you're your own worst critic! Besides a class I did the fly tying program over at Fly Anglers On line and it helped a lot! But my local shop had free class's. There are plenty of Video's on YouTube. But I do agree have a photo or an actual fly of what you're trying to tie is very helpful!! Enjoy it!! We were all the new kid at one time!

I still remember the old days of this site when we did material swap box's! That was way back when I started tying flies. All the sites listed are great places to get things. I have enough material to last me the rest of my life even with tying jigs on top of flies. I've gotten great deals on fur trims from several of the places listed. If you can find cheap rabbit hides cut your own zonkers! Enjoy!!

One problem you'll run into is the same one you had at walmart - it will shed hair when you dye it. How much you'll lose is iffy. I tried once and lost a bunch of it. I've switched to Fly Dye from Lure Parts online https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Anglers-Fly-Dyes it doesn't take much to dye stuff.

Very cool!!

Flank Feathers I put in Maxwell House coffee cans with a squirt of Dawn and some borax. Shake the hell out of them and let them soak for an hour and shake them again! Let sit for 1/2 hr. then use a strainer and rinse. Squeeze between paper towels then put in an old pillow case put a knot in it and throw it in the dryer on air dry and dry them. If you're going to dye them keep them soaking wet the dye will take better. If it wasn't for the folks who sent them to me I never would have learned to dye them!! Never much believed in putting anything in the freezer - If they can live on a live animal in the cold -30 wind chills here in Vermont they can survive a freezer!! I've always used the dawn and borax and I keep new stuff in a quarantine box for at least 90 days and I haven't gotten any bugs yet so I'm doing something right! and I learned all this stuff on here and other Forums.

I use makeup brush's they work great!! Better bristles - and it took lots of practice!!!

I always just wash them in luke warm water and dawn dish soap and use an old hairbrush to comb out any dirt, squeeze between paper towel then I cover in borax to really dry them. Flank Feathers I put in Maxwell House coffee cans with a squirt of Dawn and some borax. Shake the hell out of them and let them soak for an hour and shake them again! Let sit for 1/2 hr. then use a strainer and rinse. Squeeze between paper towels then put in an old pillow case put a knot in it and throw it in the dryer on air dry and dry them. The guys that send them to me just pull right off the ducks and I sort them first. Have lots of feathers and I learned how to dye and have many colors!!

Depends there's an Alpaca place here in Vermont and they do have white ones, and they sell the raw fiber and roving from them. They have a lot of different colored yarns, and I looked at a bag of the white roving and it could be dyed easily. https://livingthedreamalpacafarm.com/collections/yarns-and-fibers?page=2

Back after a long time away - even had to start over! Grand Daughter was more into regular fishing and couldn't pin down a fly rod but I won't give up on her!!

They also made spinners - I have some of their blades from the 50"s

I built one several years ago. I can run 3- 2" beds at one time, but with two tones brush tapping is the game!

spinning deer hair!! I suck at it!! LOL

Was gone for too long I guess!! I'm back to being a new guy again!! I've always liked this site, did swaps and trades and even sold a few things.

All skinned out and treated right there's 1000's of feathers for tying right there!!

I keep an eye on the bay!! most places won't come with a tail. I like them soft tanned as I cut them for zonker strips.

I use a regular filter material that a guy on another board sent me. you can get it at TJ's tackle https://www.tjstackle.com/ I use automotive powder paint and it works just as good as CS and is WAY cheaper. I've been really lucky I've never had to pay for lead!!

Sent you a message

Fly Dye from Anglers http://www.anglersworkshop.com/Water-Fowl-Feathers/Anglers-Fly-Dyes they're out of a lot of colors right now and the dunn listed is a dark dun. Stone River Outfitters in New Hampshire Blue Dun https://www.stoneriveroutfitters.com/fly-tying/fly-tying-materials/veniard-fly-dyes.html and here's the color chart for it http://www.veniard.com/product2597/section191/blue-dun One thing with Stone River if it isn't listed they don't have it! They only do 2 orders a year.

If you dye a tanned fur you'll have to re-tan it to keep it soft! I tried doing a cold dye on some white arctic fox hide and while it came out okay still wasn't as flexible.

Make sure you have sharp blades in your cutter if your going to zonk it!!