KnottaFly

Thanks, DFoster. Our service yesterday was having folks tell what they had been doing to help out. Really uplifting stories. Our church volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse. We had over 100 going to areas to cleanup trees, shovel mud out of houses, carry cases of water, unload trucks, planes. What’s been impressive is all the help from outside of our area. We really appreciate all the help and prayers. There’s a lot to do, but the work has started. Thanks.

Nice one, flytire! Been using semperfli dry fly polyarn for body. Yours looks great!

We were lucky in this part of NC. Most of the devastation were more east and northeast of us. Chimney Rock, Marshall, Asheville and others were hit hardest. We finally got back television and internet yesterday. Almost wished we hadn’t. So much of my adopted home is in really bad shape. Really sad to see all that’s happened. But mountain people are resilient. With the help of many from other parts of our great country, we will survive. Prayers, donations, support is needed. Where I am in Jackson County, NC, our merchants are hurting. Some will not survive without sales. From Jackson Co., Swain Co., west to end of the state, Tennessee, north of the Great Smokies National Park, all are open. Call a local fly shop, order some materials, or equipment. That will help a lot. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pickup with long bed, 2021 Honda CRV all wheel drive for these mountains

I wonder sometimes how I made it past 25, let alone my now 72.

I don’t know if this will help or not, but when Uncle Arthur is giving my fingers a fit, I’ll hold biots in a pair of tweezers to tie in. It gets my fat, aching fingers out of the way.

As I get older, and hope to get much older than the 72 years I am now, everything mentioned is very important. Here lately if it wasn’t for my comfortable office chair I probably wouldn’t even sit down. My tying desk is my most relaxing place for mind and body.

We have 16 miles of National Forest between our house and Cherokee land. I’d have to trap deer and elk too! lol

Haven’t been rewarded from our garden this year. But the deer, rabbits have definitely been enjoying it. Going to move it to different area next year, so I’m not too concerned. Animals need to eat too!

I’ve done it streamside, definitely not easy. If I have to tie one or fix one streamside, I now use my forceps. More convenient. As a kid, I didn’t have a vise or bobbin, used my Dad’s woodworking vise and a spool of my Mom’s thread. You do what you have to.

Have you tried tying with micro chenille. Works great for smaller buggers. I tied some up on #18 jig hooks that work fine. May be a different avenue for you.

Tim Flagler is my go to for learning techniques for tying. His instructions are clear and easy to follow. Set up Tightlines Productions in You Tube to get some nice videos. Mcfly on this site also easy to follow patterns. Use you tube as a good resource. Keep it up. It gets easier. Challenge yourself every day on your fly tying journey.

Poopdeck, I’d fish it, let the trout tear it up, then cut it off and tie again! I’ve caught plenty of trout on really torn up flies, the buggier the better.

Your ties are looking good! I think we’ve all been there, sometimes still there. It’s annoying to break off thread, especially when you’ve finished your tie. The recommendation to use hackle pliers is great, I sometimes use a bulldog paperclip (faster for old fingers to get ahold of thread). You’ll also find that no matter what brand of thread you buy, you’ll sometimes get a bad spool. All you can do is throw it out and get another. I’ve had Danville, Uni, Montana Fly, all break before. Less trouble with Veevus and Semperfli. Just keep tying, be patient, don’t get frustrated. Looking forward to seeing more of your ties!

Also the CEO of ASPCA makes over $850,000 per year plus bonus. We support local animal rescues, also volunteer. Very rewarding.

Me, too Flytire. But my addiction continues.

I agree with niveker, been using wholesale fly hooks for a while. I don’t see much difference in quality (or hookups) . At $7 per 100 they are a great value. Also free shipping on $25.

I don’t know if this will help you or not, but I tie a lot of flies that I see on Facebook that I like the way they look or using a different technique I haven’t used. I’m old school, I write out recipes on index cards with noted techniques such as dubbing loop, etc. I also have a photo record on my phone that automatically puts the date on it so I know the date I tied it. The photo quality isn’t as good as those posted on this forum, but it helps me to know what the name of the fly is and what it looks like. Hope this helps. Like I said, old school.

I agree with Flytire about staying warm in the house during these cold days, but I love to fish in January and February. Here in Western North Carolina they are some of the best months to fish. No pressure on the trout, usually not a fisherman in sight, rivers to yourself. I’ve had some of my best days then. That’s if I can motivate myself to get out in the cold. Of course, 22 degrees this morning is tough to get motivated to go stand in a stream.

As I’ve gotten older my fingers don’t always work the way I want them too (brain and eyes also). In tying in CDC, I’ve been tying in by the tips because I couldn’t get the cdc to stay in a dubbing loop. Every time the cdc would fall out before I could spin it. Dumb me finally picked up the dubbing wax right in front of me. Little wax and yep, it worked. Brain malfunction, finally engaged.

I have a list of dry fly hackle on my phone, especially when it got too pricey for me. Probably need to put hen hackle on too. Too many new items out now, makes it hard to keep up with it all.

I’ve said that too many times Flytire. But I keep buying, especially when I don’t have or can’t figure out a substitute.

Thanks, chugbug! That was an interesting video. Glad you found that.

Sounds like a normal birthday to me. Doing what you enjoy (probably not the painting though). Rather be fishing, but too hot.

The smiles tell the story!!!