sulfernut

Regarding the eco-impact of synthetic vs. natural tying materials...I think that the danger of piles of polypropylene and vinyl bits gathering en masse due to lost flies,is indeed a small one. It is however,something to think about! What I really have a problem with,is the lout who thinks nothing of stripping 100 to 300 yards of monofilament off of a reel,and letting it float downstream!! The dangers of this have been well documented.....30 years or so ago,I was walking the path along my home stream,and saw to my then untrained eye,what looked like the remains of a pterodactyl (sp?) lying in the path,with a giant ball of mono wrapped around both of it's legs!! I later found out that what I saw,was a Great Blue Heron,brought low by a very thoughtless act of a fellow angler. I had never seen one of these impressive birds before that....What a shame,that the first one I saw was in such dreadful condition. I've got to be perfectly honest here,and say that my first reaction was one of guilt. As a youth,I remember leaving piles of mono lying around,out of sheer ignorance of the consequences. Worse yet,I remembered seeing literally MILES of mono lying around during my frequent forays along the river/lake bank,that out of the same ignorance,I JUST LET LIE THERE!!!! The encounter with the dead Heron was life changing for me...I'm only sorry that it didn't happen to me sooner than it did! Sulphernut

Something tells me that there might be a "go natural" movement afoot here!!! I mean,think about it...is there REALLY any good reason to use anytyhing besides a feather,or natural fiber for a wing case?? I have in the past,purchased and used many of the synthetics as they hit the market (Swannundaze,poly yarn and the like) and have over the years watched them begin to collect dust in the drawer. This is not so much due to ecological guilt,as much as that I just don't care for the way this stuff behaves,on the hook,or in the water. The best way that I can think of to explain it,is that these materials will construct a fly that while looking very REALISTIC,does not look very LIFELIKE.....catch my drift?? At work now....More on this later,for sure!!!! Sulphernut

A valid point!! One which I must say,never crosse my mind!!! Sulphernut

Graham.....Have you read any books on the subject,that DON"T ASSUME THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ALOT ABOUT IT?? I was telling you about the manual that came with the camera...It is great at telling you HOW to change settings,but really says nothing about what will happen when you do,or why you might want to do it!! This is where I must "bone up" on the lingo!! As for taking the camera fishing,I would probably do that someday,but it would be like this....Take some shots before the hatch starts...put the camera away and fish...take some shots after the hatch is over. I have serious fears about being knee-deep in the water,with it hanging around my neck,or even stuffed into a pocket!!!

DHTom...Peterjay...Graham...WYknot: Many thanks for all the input!! I obviously have much to learn about digital photography!!! I should point out that I got the camera only a couple of months ago,and up until about a month ago,have only been using it for snapshots...landscapes,photos of the dog,etc....Which it has been doing almost mindlessly!!! I'll have to keep experimenting!! I find that I get about 1 or 2 really good shots out of 10....It makes for alot of sorting,deleting,etc...Just part of the game I guess! I was also wondering if I am not asking more from my camera than it is capable of..( Canon Power Shot G3...4.0 MP) I've been consulting the owner's manual from Canon,and find that while it is quite informative,it often uses terminology that I am unfamiliar with. Digital Photography for Dummies,here I come!!! Again,many thanks!!! Sulphernut

Hi all!!!! I was reading a post the other day,in which the poster mentioned one of the secrets he used to get better fly-pics. This was,in short,taking the fly-tying vise barrel/jaws out of the equation. I was certainly able to see the logic in this. The obvious answer is an EZ-mini hook type of hackle plier. Here is the question: Have any of you cobbled together a system by which one of the aforementioned pliers can be mounted,so one could swivel/raise/lower it as required. Or,have I missed something,and is there a "vise" out there somewhere,made specifically for this purpose...Something with a weighted,or vacumn base,with swiveling joints,etc. I've been struggling to get clearer shots of size 12 down to #26 flies,and one of the big problems I think,is that my camera wants to "be friends" with the vise,instead of what is in it!!!

Good tip Chase....I got a couple of these from my dentist about 20 years ago,and epoxied one into the end of a 3/8" dowel....It serves me well,'til this day!!!

From the pictures,it's hard to tell for sure,but I believe that more than one tailing material was used,and that both were synthetic in nature. I see what appears to be something like Z-lon on one or two off the flies, and possibly something akin to craft fur on others. The tipping with a black marker is likely,in either case. Sulfernut

Here's what I would do.....bear in mind,I have been tying for almost 40 years,and so have become a bit addled over that time!!! Fill a plastic basin,such as is used for washing dishes (DON"T use the one your family dishes are washed in...TRUST ME ON THIS) with hot water and a few squirts of Dawn dish soap,or Woolite. Add feathers. Stir gently,and let soak for a couple of hours. Then,pour the feathers into a FINE meshed strainer,and rinse well with warm water. Spread them out on newspaper to dry, IN A DRAFT FREE AREA!!! Or,better yet.punch some pinholes in a paper shopping bag,put them in,and gather the top of the bag around the nozzle of a hand-held hair dryer,on LO speed and temp.settings. Gently shake the bag and the feathers will be dry in a few minutes. THEN.....I would put all the feathers in a large bowl,on the coffee table,along with a few smaller bowls off to the side,mix myself a large cocktail,turn on a football game,and start sorting them out,tossing the broken,damaged,or mishapen ones. The ones I kept would get stripped of all of the unusable "fluff" at the base of the feather,and further sorted according to size,shape,etc. See....I told you I was a bit addled!!! This is how it gets after awhile!!! Sure you want to get into this?? It may seem like alot of trouble to go through,but if you SHOULD get into the tying game (and I hope you do!) you will thank yourself down the road!!! Sulfer...NUT!!!!

Anyone know where one might find a printable hook SIZING chart??

Several years ago,there was an article in one of the FF periodicals,I BELEIVE,by C.Boyd Peifer(SP?) that explained what to thin most of the then current fly tying glops and goops with. I have it,I know,it's just a matter of unearthing it!! If I manage,I'll post it!!

Possibly Napthalene...???

Jeeez!....doesn't anyone tie with Matarelli bobbins any more!?!?! I have several,and have never ever had a problem! ( One of them is probably close to 30 years old...IF my calculations and memory serve me!) No,they are NOT cheap,but in this case,you get what you pay for!! I prfer them to the Griffins I have with ceramic inserts for two reasons. 1. Delrin knobs at the spool contact area...TOO smooth!! The bobbin almost falls under it's own weight...2 The ceramic insert does not seem to FEEL as smooth as stainless steel...Seems to chatter and "squeak",although it does not damage the thread,just doesn't feel as pleasant as steel. I might have tried one of the solid ceramic tubes,but for that kind of money,I'll stick with one that won't shatter when I drop it!! ( and I WILL drop it!!!)

I'm assuming that you want to renforce the tie in point. I have no direct experience,but my educated guess would be to try one of the water-based cements. ( It probably the volitile solvents that are attacking the rubber)

Anyone out there have any experience using Rain-X as a benchside pre-treatment for dry flies,and/or deerhair bass bugs?? I am specifically concerned with A: Discoleration of materials, and B: It leaving a ring or "slick" on the water when fishing the fly.

I am with the gang of posters that responded,that "doesn't want to think about it"!! I have been tying (and BUYING!!) for very close to 40 years. I have on occasion tried to put a value on all the stuff I have accumulated over the years,but each time I do,my mind quickly boggles!! I once approached a nationally known insurancecmpany about taking out a separate policy on my tying/fishing gear.....apparently,it boggles their mind too,as they were unable to come up with anything for me,in the way of a policy,OR advice!! After all,how do you tell somebody (insurance salesman,OR spouse) that you paid $90.00 for the skin off the neck of a barnyard fowl animal!!! PS: Anyone else have any experience trying to insure their tying materials,or fishing gear???

I ask the same question!!! Sulfernut

To those of you who incorperate flourescent lighting in their tying area: Does anyone have a recommendation for a 48" Hi-Output "daylight" type flouro tube? I have been looking around in local hardware stores,where the selection is rather sparse,and on-line,where the selection is nothing short of astronomical!!! I am looking for something that is not TOO outrageously priced,and that can be purchased two-at-a-time,as opposed to being sold in case lots. Any input would be appreciated!!! Sufernut

The Little Lehigh is one of THE finest trout streams in the eastern part of the state!!!!

Go to Charting Nature.com....Search under Jack Dennis....Locate "Tying Bass Flies with Jimmy Nix...Order it...(DVD) ALL questions will be answered!!!

All of the replies here so far are good ones indeed!!! I must concurr with the admonition to stay away from Kevlar...If you REALLY want to hone skills in this area,pick up a copy of the DVD by Jimmy Nix,called "Tying Bass Flies" It can be had for $19.95 +SH at a site called Charting Nature.com It literally changed my life!

Hi Dave! Looks like you've got it pretty well covered there......however,there is one fly I would add ( one that I almost NEVER venture out on the water without) and that is the Griffith's Gnat,in sizes #20 to #26. This simple little tie,has saved the day for me more times that I care to remember.

Back when I was making the transition from neophyte to full blown "feather-idiot",I learned ALOT from Dick Talleur's "Mastering the Art of Fly Tying"

Any of you guys ever heard of Z-poxy having a "shelf-life"?? (Losing it's ability to cure,after long term storage?)

WOW!!! You happen to have picked arguably the BEST fly-fishing area in Pa. to settle!!! I'm on my lunch break,and don't have much time,so I'll direct you to www.coldspringanglers.com This site and flyshop can provide you with fishing info,and direction to 4 "blue-ribbon" streams all within about an hour of each other,in the greater Harrisburg area!!! TIGHT LINES!!!! Sulfernut