flytire 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 Poor quality materials and tools are destined to discourage beginner and experienced tiers and cause greater expense when the time comes to replace them. I tried and tried to tie a winged wet fly using duck wing quill slips using the shitty quality wings I had and just couldnt get it right. after 5 attempts i just gave up the wings were matched (left and right) but definately not from the same bird. they might as well have been the shitty feathers from the craft store off to the fly shop in either massachusettes or new hampshire to inspect some duck/goose wing feathers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 Interesting thoughts...but the wings/feathers need not come from the same bird. Just make sure the strips being tied in are the same width and if possible...even to the point of the same number of fibers. On top of that they should come from the same location on the quill as in near the base, the middle or tip. The rest is simply technique. Good luck on your feather hunt!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 yes they dont have to come from the same bird but at least the suppliers could package feathers of the same size i will find what i'm looking for Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
upnorthtier 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 I agree that quality materials and equipment makes fly tying more pleasurable. Why not buy the whole duck wing packaged left and right, I think it goes for a few bucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 I have heard this advice many times on the net but am yet to use it. When you're looking for something in particular call the "Blue Ribbon Flies". I've heard they actually listen to what you want and will pick and provide it themselves, not just picked out of a bin by a guy on a Segway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 2 hours ago, upnorthtier said: I agree that quality materials and equipment makes fly tying more pleasurable. Why not buy the whole duck wing packaged left and right, I think it goes for a few bucks. That’s fine but where can I find red, yellow and other colored whole paired wings? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
upnorthtier 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2021 yep that's a tough one , I never seen whole wing sets dyed before. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2021 Any luck on your feather hunt? Well worth the effort if you manage to get the quality you need and want !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2021 success! 👍 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2021 ALWAYS like to hear good news!! Well done.............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DFoster 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2021 On 11/25/2021 at 12:08 PM, flytire said: Poor quality materials and tools are destined to discourage beginner and experienced tiers and cause greater expense when the time comes to replace them. I tried and tried to tie a winged wet fly using duck wing quill slips using the shitty quality wings I had and just couldnt get it right. after 5 attempts i just gave up the wings were matched (left and right) but definately not from the same bird. they might as well have been the shitty feathers from the craft store off to the fly shop in either massachusettes or new hampshire to inspect some duck/goose wing feathers. I couldn't agree more. Just a thought - when I need dyed quill slips I have found it easier to locate dyed goose than duck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2021 i found both at stone river outfitters and bears den Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites