sulfernut

Kingfisher....After recieving what I considered to be a sound nose-thumbing from my local trout last year,to all of my "tried and true" Copraraduns,Thorax Duns,Parachutes,etc,I decided to revamp my dry fly approach for 2008!! So....I am currently working on a collection of both Waterwisps and Funnelduns geared to my local hatches!! I don't know about a step-by-step ( my photography skills,and equipment are very limited) but I will keep you posted on how the flies fare on the water. Won't really get a good field test for a month or two here in eastern Pa. Sulfernut

Without going into all the sordid details,I will say that you touched on EXACTLY the reason I no longer belong to,nor do I have a desire to belong to TU!! I too respect the goals of the organization,but along with the "highbrow" attitude my former chapter started to take on,it also became MUCH too political for my taste. I am VERY curious to see where this thread goes! I thought it was just me!!!! Sulfernut

Al...interesting story!! I wanted to address the "Mustad as King" thing!! Several months ago,one of the forum members posted a survey as to what kind of hooks people were tying on. It drew a fair amount of response from the "regulars" here and I must admit,I was surprized at the results. Unless things changed after I stopped checking it,the overwhelming majority of respondents listed their "iron of choice" as the good ol' Mustad!! Oh to be sure,most everybody used japanese hooks of one stripe or another for "specialty" ties,etc,but for everyday tying,the Mustad was getting the nod! To look at articles and advertising,one might guess that the Mustad hook was going the way of the blue suede shoe....It would appear that the "crown" is in no emminent danger!! Sulfernut

Never seen it done,now that you mention it!! I'd be curious myself! Sulfernut

Having never participated,I can tell you that if I WERE ever to join one,these kinds of numbers would indeed give me pause! This is an excellent point! Sulfernut

There are two predominant hatches in my baliwick...the Sulfer and the Trico....I was signing up on the forum at work,and had to go quickly,if you catch my drift! So Sulfernut came quickly to mind....It could have just as easily been Tricotramp!! :hyst: :hyst: :hyst: Sulfernut PS....I hope this thread keeps going....It will satisfy alot of curiosity,I'm sure!! Keep 'em comin' guys and gals!

Not to the fish!!! I on the other hand,have always been partial to a light colored line,so I could see it better!! Sulfernut

sniksoh: I haven't been ice fishing in MANY MANY years,but as I recall,guys in my area used to tie small (#10-#16) flies,fairly heavily weighted (beadhead,or dumbell eyes) with a flashy body (tinsel or sparkle chenille) and a brightly colored soft hackle,for panfish. Sulfernut

DAVID....I have always washed feathers that I have gotten from hunters. Besides the obvious health related reasons for you,AND your other materials,I think that a good soak in soapy water and proper drying make any material easier and more pleasant to use. I have actually even washed "store bought" materials if I thought they woulf benefit from it. One example: When I process bucktails that I get from local hunters,the last step in the routine is washing them in warm soapy water,rinsing well,then placing them skin side down on a couple of layers of newsprint,brushing the hair straight with a dimestore hairbrush and placing another layer of newspaper and some weight on top of them. This last,results in getting the skin to dry FLAT,as opposed to just letting the tail "air dry" and start to curl back up. You'd be (pleasantly) surprized at how much nicer a flat tail is to use,than one that is all curled and twisted up! In your case,washing will also have the benefit of removing any dirt,blood,etc.that might be stuck to the feathers,and will also reveal any damaged feathers,which can be culled out. Hope this is helpful!!! Sulfernut

Doc Logik!! Skeeter Fuzz IS indeed great stuff!! I ordered a "Christmas Gift Box" from the FTD and although it took 4+ weeks to arrive,I thought that with the excellent pricing,and quality that it would be worth ordering some more. The Skeeter Fuzz is without a doubt the finest grained synthetic dubbing I have ever worked with! When teased apart a bit,it almost resembles spider web silk! The ease with which it goes on the thread is remarkable. After trying it out,I was quite anxious to grab some more in more colors,so I went to the website to place an order,and saw that they were recommending that customers "hold off on ordering" as they were going to introduce new colors...That was right after Christmas!! Since then,I have sent them several e-mails asking just when these "new colors" might become available. You know the rest!! Sulphernut

FTD's website has been saying "hold off buying Skeeter-Fuzz"...new colors coming"...Despite several e-mails to them,asking WHEN these new colors might be available,I have heard nothing. I thought there were one or two members here,who knew these guys personally...??? Sulphernut

I'm quite sure our sponsor here, J.Stockard is now carrying it!

Not even sure what they are,my friend...??? Does Orvis still publish a fly-tying materials catolog?? I have requested one twice in the past year,with no reply. This is not like them!!! At any rate,have you tried calling or e-mailing their customer service department? They are quite helpful. Sulfernut

Personally,I would use almost anything other than Z-Lon,just in protest of the way this stuff is priced!!! ....$4.50 for a wee packet!!! ....where is it made,on another planet!!???? Fly Tyers Dungeon markets a product called "Kling-On" that is a more than adequate substitute...you get about three times as much as is in a pack of zelon,for about 1/4 of the price.....Makes mo' sense to me!!! Sulfernut utyer: I wonder if that material inside the mylar tubing has changed over the years?? All the mylar tubing I have ever bought (and I admit,it's been awhile!) had a core that consisted of a bundle of string...completely useless!! Way to find the "by-product"!!

Tiger: I have a pair that I bought several years ago,and they work quite well. Anvil makes these in two sizes,and I got the smaller ones....If I had it to do over again,I would have gone with the "full sized" model. I take it you are cutting stuff like "Super Hair" Flashabou,etc.?? Sulfernut

Hey Pete! I've heard of an -"egg-sucking" San Juan Worm,but not a "strung out" one!! I've used standard SJW's in the past,but not enough to say I've given them a thourough testing. Do you have the mans to grab and post a pic when you get some tied?? I'd be curious to know what makes the worm "strung out"!! Later: Sulfernut

Kevlar and Gel Spun,are most definitely NOT the same stuff. I'm sure almost anyone else on this forum would agree with me,that you shouldn't even bother with kevlar! It's tough,yes,but it's been known to prematurely wear out bobbins,it doesn't handle nearly as nicely as GSP and it's nearly impossible to cut with a pair of scissors!! You'll pay a bit more for GSP,but trust me,this is a case where it's worth every penny!!! Your questions are not only OK...they are encouraged,and welcomed!! You have at your disposal a collection of some EXTREMELY talented tyers,most of whom are more than happy to pass along the benefit of their experience!! Welcome!!!! Sulphernut

Several years ago,I attended a memorial dedication,for James Leisenring,along the banks of my home stream,the Little Lehigh. The ceremonies included an appearance by none other than Ernest Schweibert! After his talk,he was mingling around in the crowd,and I was able to have him sign my copy of Matching the Hatch. He asked me what I had been tying,and at the time,it just so happened to be soft hackle patterns. He looked at me,and said " You DID tip-tie those partridge hackles,didn't you"...to which I quickly replied..."is there any other way"????

Here is a link to a great step by step on tying this style of fly!! It's a bit different when you try tying it for the first time,but the results are quite impressive!! http://flyfisherman.com/northeast/dshollowfleye/index.html

I have 5 of Umpqua's "Oregon-iser" boxes that I use for my "active" tying hooks. I have had good luck with these as far as hooks not "migrating" to adjacent compartments,etc. I might add,that I have added small silicone rubber "feet" to the corners of all of them,as I stack them on a shelf,and to avoid them sliding around on the bench. When I handle one,I handle it as though it was a piece of rare,expensive,very breakable crystal,because I KNOW that dropping one of these one day,is inevitable!! With my luck,it will be the one with all my dry fly hooks in it. (for the most part,I have a small square of flexible magnetic ribbon in the bottoms of the compartements...which won't help AT ALL if the box is dropped from the benchtop to the floor!!! :hyst: :hyst: Sulphernut

picken6ofem!! I have that same camera,and I too have trouble getting good shots of flies...When it comes to general photography,it is almost flawless,but the macro shots seem to evade me. Of course I am VERY inexperienced at it,and more practice may lead to better shots,as it does with anything else! Also,I have seen aftermarket kits for theese cameras...looks like something that attaches over the existing lens,that from everything I've read,enhances the "macro" capability of the camera. I have a feeling I might try this,as often it seems to me that the difference between a "good enough" shot,and a "GREAT" shot,is one of mere millemeters!! Sulphernut

I could go on about this for a LONG time,but I won't!! I bought a Temple Fork Outfitter's rod last year,and after having fished it,plan to buy two more this year! Total investment for three rods will be less than $800.00... ???? Sulphernut

Looks like it might be more of a lighting issue,than a camera issue...??? It IS a nice fly,by the way!!! Sulfernut

I am planning on picking up a couple packs of Waterwisp hooks at Somerset this weekend. I was wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with them,either tying or fishing?? Sulphernut

Hey there crappiekid!!! The sponsor of this forum,J.Stockard has a set of three stackers,by Terra,Co. for somewhere between 10 and 15 $$. These will certainly cover all your needs. Later on down the road,when this "bug" has really gotten it's fangs into you,and you get that irresistable urge to "upgrade",it would be hard to find a more handsome stacker than the Edgin brass jobs...VERY pretty...quite a bit more costly...stack hair the EXACT SAME WAY as the Terra's!! :hyst: :hyst: Good Luck,and Good Tying!!! Sulphernut