SalarMan

Interesting. I had laminectomy surgery to relieve what is called a spinal stenosis in December 2018. The surgery took care of the problem totally. However...the spring of 2019 another underlying issue began to bother me. This is called bilateral drop foot. It makes walking without braces from midcalf to my toes very difficult. The braces on the other hand mean I can drive and get around pretty well. As the strength in my legs SLOWLY returns I know I will get back onto the stream chasing rising fish again before too long. I am just a little frustrated that things turned out the way they did after successful surgery and my progress for the current problem is so slow. As soon as I get rid of the 2 canes...LOOK OUT!!!😎 I know my wife will be glad to be rid of me for those days back on my favorites creeks.

Sounds great P-Deck...but due to lingering back and leg issues since surgery I haven't fished since 2019. I hope that will change very, very soon!!! Tying flies keeps me in contact with the sport and even though that makes me an "armchair" fisherman I can live with that for the time being.

Perhaps I put this out there wrong. Tying for me is great fun, not something I feel pushed to do, totally dedicated to or any such thing. If I plan to head to north central Pennsylvania in late May, I'll happily sit and tie Green Drake patterns, Sulphur patterns, March Browns, Gray Foxes, etc. in the usual phases of development as in nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners. What I am talking about here is inspiration to begin another 4 to 6 hour or more project called a Classic Atlantic Salmon Fly. I love to tie flies, and if I were to tie 4 dozen a day for the next 25 years I'd still have plenty of materials to work with for a long time. I'm just in one of those moments when the brain is stuck in neutral while trying to decide what to do next.

I suppose we've all heard the term "Writer's Block" I believe I'm going through the same thing only it is "Tyer's Block". I sit and look through books for some inspiration to find a pattern to tie. I'll see one I've never done and think hmmm, that'll work. Then I look at something I've done in the past, even several times and think perhaps I'll do this and try to make it my best ever compared to previous efforts. End result is I get stuck between the ears and then nothing gets done. I'm willing to bet this is not unique to me. How many of you out there have been through this crazy period? Cheers, George PS - Any pattern suggestions that might be within my limited abilities?

Go to John McLain's site...feathersmc.com....and you will find pretty much whatever you need to tie these flies. Great guy...and FINE materials.

Thanks gentlemen...much obliged for you kind words. Haven't had the urge to tie at all lately...buy you inspire me to get back over the vise!!

You spotted them correctly. A little sloppy, but that's it. Thanks for looking!!

I haven't sat down at the vise in...I don't know...but it is at least a month. This morning I was going through some old fly photos and thought what the heck...I'll just post something from the past (September 2019) until I finish the "Childers" sitting in the jaws half done. I happen to like this pattern...the "Gordon"...and I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to comment. Cheers, George

To comment further...I totally agree with the plan to use material on hand at home to create the "gut" eyes for classic salmon flies. That follows the thinking about using substitute exotic materials in the flies as well...such as subs for very expensive Red Indian Crow, Toucan, Blue Chatterer, etc. Does it really matter? No of course not. Tie the flies, enjoy the process and forget being concerned about the authenticity of each and every part. It all boils down to having just plain fun!! Cheers, George

It is considered proper and traditional to tie the eye in place on the underside of the hook. When tying in hand that spot serves as a place to temporarily put the thread while prepping other parts of the fly yet to be tied in.

Location of the end of the body/beginning/end of throat and start of the head.

Interesting point about the super glue, but that has nothing to do with use of real gut simply because real gut needs none of the above processes that are required to make an artificial replica in order to tie Classic Atlantic Salmon Flies for show purposes...NOT FISHNG flies. Real gut need only be soaked in water for a few hours or more, then use the twister McPhail demonstrates and voila!! I use the Japanese silk gut manufactured after WWII, and all that stuff requires is 10 to 15 minutes in warm water, put the desired number of strands in a cordless drill chuck, the other end in the jaws of your vise with equal tension on all strands, then slowly twist the strands to get the desired look followed by letting this dry for a few hours or over night. When tied in place you can't tell it from the real thing. However it is NOT suitable for fishing. Japanese gut eye pictured below. As the old saying goes...there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Definite improvement...very nice.

Amazing variety of fish, circumstances, locations, etc. What makes the world of fly fishing so special. Great stuff guys!!!

I was on one of many trips to Quebec for Atlantic Salmon, and in 2010 I told my friend and guide Jason my Atlantic Salmon bucket list still needed a fish on a dry fly after 36 years chasing those fish...and while I'd been close I still needed to take a fish of 20+ pounds. Then on July 3rd I was fishing "The Falls" beat on the Dartmouth River. After taking and releasing a couple of grilse in the first 1 1/2 hours of the day he suggested I try a dry fly in the Spring Rock pool. It was about 45 minutes later a fish rose and took the size #2 Green Bomber and the battle was on. Approximately 15 minutes later Jason hand tailed the fish. It was 39.5 " long,...21.5 " around the girth and according to the Atlantic Salmon Federation's "Salmo Meter" the fish was 22 pounds plus. I'd accomplished both of those bucket list items with one fish. Needless to say I was one happy guy...and yes the fish was released unharmed and I was done fishing for the day.