flyboyutah

Nicely done everyone, congrats :clapping: :clapping: steve

Brian , welcome to the addicting sport of tying . I myself in Utah , was pointed to some of the local favorites, when I started tying a couple years ago. These are the ones I started with: 1. RENAGADE (butt hackle = brown hackle , body= peacock herl , front hackle = white hackle) 2. RIO GRANDE (tail=tippet , body= blk chennele, wing = calf tip, brown hackle) 3. PHEASENT TAIL -beaded & non beaded 4. WOOLY BUGGERS - Blk, BRN, GRN 5. ELK HAIR CADDIS - Tan ,Olive Hope that helps Steve

I agree with Soft Hackle, pratice is key to getting better . I think you improve through tying and repeating and improving the last fly you tie . Try to be consistant with how you tie your flies. ( Like if you made only 3 wraps of dubbing for the thorax and it looks good , try to remember so when it comes to the next one it will look the same.) etc. You have found a awsome resource to use and many helpfull guys here, dont be afriad to ask if need some pointers. steve

Depending on your printer , you may have a "photo shop" type of program with it , to resize the picture after downloading it to your computer. After I load them up on to my computer, I'll change the size , not sure what the size other than the " E-Mail " size . Try that to see if that works plus it seems to load much quicker than what the true size would . Hope that helps steve

Nice start. I would agree also about the hackle length . I would also try to make a smaller head. Try to keep your head wraps small , just give your peacock and hackle about two wraps each. You just need to hold them inplace till you whip finish, remember when you whip finish your adding thread also . steve

Welcome and enjoy. Great bunch of guys and gals here . If you ever have a question someone here will be able to help or point you in right direction. steve

Pics of new cases, one is Bubinga and other one is Purple Heart. steve Bubinga on left / Purple Heart on right

I usualy do a three to four turn whip 2x , and as for cement or glue , I usually use a nail hardner . A quick tip I found, on a good holding whip is NOT to cross the wraps, try to lay them next to each other. I also like to start my first wrapping from back to the eye, tie, than the second whipping , eye back to the body than ,tie off ,cut. steve

thanks guys for comps. I would like to make a few inprovements to it though , it was kinda a prototype . steve

check local taxidermy see if they have any steve

I would like to say awsome your taking the the time to teach and get some more guys started. :headbang: I agree keep it simple at first, wooly buggers, renegage, ears hare, The biggest problem I had at first was and had to figure out , would of loved for someone to show me than to loose alot of hair over . (not that I wasn't losing fast enough) :hyst: :hyst: 1. thread tension and control around the barb and, even wrapping material on, I think there is nothing more frustrating than that notorious breaking of the thread thing that we all have had before aspecially when you new at it. 2. How to make a clean looking and none bulky head 3. How to use the wipe finisher. 4. And to know that its a relaxing hobby right.......

For me on the amount either depends on if its light or darker color pattern. I kinda like a little thinner wing on the lighter colors , tans and lt. grays and a little thicker on the , olive and dark tans . I it comes down to what looks good to you...... , some days I tie to "tie" and most times its to relax and not rush and to polish my techinic I guess my advise would be try to make the wings with a nice shape the .... tent shape with the 45* taper to the back and up. hope it help and good tying steve

Here,s some pictures of my travel box / base . I wanted to keep my vise portable and be able to stow away if needed. So came up with this idea. I routed out the shapes of the vise pieces , to what would be the bottom of the base { or the inside of the box when closed }. The wood on the upper half is three pieces { two outer ones are Birds Eye Maple and center one is Babinga } glued to a soild piece of oak to make the bottom half. steve

While you guys are on the subject of flash and storing . Does anyone have same problem as I do with static electricity when using the flashabou ? It seem like every time I pull it out to use it , the stuff goes crazy like a bad hair day, ( back whan I had hair that is :hyst: ) steve

I just recieved my HMH Tube kit from J Stockards. I thought I would start with that to try out . Plus I,ve been looking throu my Salmon & Steel head book making a "grocery" list. steve