SBPatt 0 Report post Posted January 2, 2021 Mini Munker Natural progression from the Squirrel Zonker (Squonker?). I was able to spin the head with Danville 6/0, which amazed me. hook - WFC Model 6 #6 thread - Danville 6/0 brown rib - small wire gold body - dubbing squirrel wing - Zonker strip squirrel shoulder - pheasant rump collar/head - pronghorn Regards, Scott Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 I struggle to get good pics of tiny flies. And when I get an ok one, then I see every imperfection that I could not see with the naked eye. Just can’t win... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 3 hours ago, Moshup said: @Jaydub Looks good ! What is the olive dub you used ? Wapsi Sow-Scud Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TSMcDougald 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 39 minutes ago, Bimini15 said: I struggle to get good pics of tiny flies. And when I get an ok one, then I see every imperfection that I could not see with the naked eye. Just can’t win... That is always the way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chasing_Tails 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 Crabby Crab: Hook: Mustad 3407, #1/0 Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, Fire Orange Mouthparts: Calf tail, brown and Krystal Flash, copper Eyes: 40lb mono Claws: Zonker strip, gold variant/ 40lb mono spreaders Body: Standard Estaz, salmon Legs: Sili-legs, gold foil/red Collar: Zonker crosscut, gold variant Rattle: 4mm glass rattle Weight: Lead dumbbell, medium Real cold fronts are starting to move in on a more regular basis, the water is dropping, and the reds will be crawling...time to get into the skinny water. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sessions 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 $3 dips Dyed green Ringtail pheasant, have to much Glass bead brown/gold Size 16 scud hook Green wire 6/0 white thread Pearl crystal flash Green marker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 Very nice Sessions ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 Red Spider Variant” Hook. ..... Partridge spider sz 14 Thread. ..... Pearsall’s gossamer primrose Body. ...... “. “. “ Thorax. ...... Hare’s ear Hackle. ...... inside covert feather Eurasian Jay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 I look at all the nice photos of flies on this site (and a few others), some are professional quality - others not so much. Here's a simple tip that I used back when I was writing articles for magazines and needed graphics (pics) that were easy to see... Not hard at all to neglect the background your fly is posed in front of (and if it's a complicated background your eyes struggle to see the fly at times... Back to the tip... I went to my local craft store and bought sheets of craft foam in different colors - might have been as many as ten of them, but probably less than that for the same kind and thickness of foam you'd use to make Gartside's Gurgler... In use they're simplicity itself - not hard to stand up a sheet of foam using a couple of clothes pins and curving the sheet as you place it behind your vise. Pretty simple to take three or four shots of the fly with a different contrasting colors behind the fly... Once you've taken your photos, run them up on your computer then look at each color in turn to be able to select the background color that works the best... After a while, you'll know which color works the best for a white fly or a tan fly and you won't need multiple photos at all. I discard the ones with backgrounds that don't work and only keep the ones I like. At the same time I'll experiment a bit with lighting, using a combination of artificial light and natural light until I get the effect I want. Quite a bit of difference between this kind of lighting and using flash supported pics. Afterwards you get to choose which you like - and as always the simpler the background - the better your flies show. I also use those same sheets with the fly or other item laid on top of them horizontally or raised at an angle... Those foam sheets were really cheap - all those years ago. I don't think I paid $10 for all of them and they're probably not much more today (and I still have every one of them ready to use as needed... Now for a pic or two... Seaducers laid flat on the sheet The loop end of a class tippet done in close-up (for serious closeup work I always use a tripod and a timed shutter release to absolutely eliminate even the possibility of camera shake... ) A Woolhead Mullet with a dark purple background using flash photography... With bigger flies I'll sometimes use a pair of locking forceps to hold it as though it were in a tying vise (the forceps are locked up vertical with a mini clamp so they're stable - and at the exact angle desired... Prince of Tides (my version of Flip Pallot's famous pattern) with a lavender background Starting point for a Whitewater Clouser with the tan foam background far enough to the rear that it's not in focus at all... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBPatt 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 Capt Bob, Very nice explanation and pics; thanks for posting. Regards, Scott Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 Brown Bucktail Hook - Mustad 38941 (or equivalent substitute), Size 4-14 Thread - Brown Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel Body - Flat silver tinsel Throat - Red hackle fibers, short Wing - Natural brown bucktail (from the outside of the bucktail) Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBPatt 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 PRMM Softhackle hook - WFC Model 6 #8 thread - Danville 6/0 black tail - pheasant rump abdomen - moose mane light&dark/resin thorax - pheasant aftershaft (in loop) collar - pheasant rump Regards, Scott Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 I think adding foam backgrounds and a driftwood prop has made my pictures much better. It does not improve the flies themselves, though... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemac1 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 I was going through some old photos and came across this one which reminded me of experiences I had last summer on the headwaters of a decent cutthroat stream. This little stone fly was photographed along a remote stream in Eastern Victoria, AU but is typical of little black stones. Last summer on numerous occasions I found myself resting along grass banks during mid-day heat. Inevitably, some little black stoneflies would find me and be crawling along my shirt sleeves or waders. I tied these to replicate those little stones. Little Black Furled Stonefly Hook: Firehole Stick 419 #12/14 Thread: UTC 70 Black Body: Fine Black or Dark Brown fine yarn or Z-lon furled with a single strand of Copper polarflash Wing: Black Moose Body Hair tied sparsely, not stacked Hackle: Black, heavy, undersized by 1 or 2 hook sizes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2021 The I'm bored waiting for football nymph hook - 14 thread - 8/0 uni black tail - barred wood duck body - thread rib - flo orand thread legs - pheasant tail wing - barred wood duck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
