Fly Fishing BS thread

Added a little 2wt glass to the fleet. Should make those tiny creeks more fun.

And 6 more day till snot rockets are ready to chase again. I have to wait till the 18 to get out but I get 10 days of it.

 

Toughest fly I've tied to date.


Ginger Quill.
Hook: Umpqua Size 14 U001 dry fly
Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0, Olive.
Tail: Ginger brown hackle
Body: Stripped Peacock Herl
Wings: Slate Gray Mallard
Hackle: Ginger brown hackle

 

Fly fishing trip was a success! But, we were not really fly fishing, we used fly rods, but they had mono line, split shot and we used yarn as our lures. We were casting out and letting it drag along the bottom till we got a fish.
The steelhead dont actively feed, so you have to put the lure infront of them and hope its annoying enough they try to kill it.

 

I've got a Sage 7'9" #2 LL that I've had about 30 years. That is my go to small stream rod and it's a pleasure to fish. Have landed bows and browns to 21" with it. Wife gave me one of those high dollar Sage #0 20 years ago for anniversary. It's a pleasure to fish as well but 10-12" fish will make you feel under gunned badly. I like it for brookies. Also have an Orvis 1 and an old english made battenkill for it. It is very nice too. All that stuff bought new years ago. Those light rods fish like pointing your finger.

 

Any of you fly tiers have a FLY WAND???? May be a localized Pennsylvania name, but in short it is a small pair of English hackle pliers that rotate at the end of 3 small diameter brass (?) tubes that get slightly larger in diameter as you go away from the pliers. I had one with my first tying set-up, but sold everything 15-20 years ago. When I started again, I couldn't find one anywhere. Same when I bought my most recent set up - which I recently gave to my son. Overall length was 10-12" and each piece of tube was 4" or so. The built in flex of the extension was great for wrapping hackles. I had bought/tried several similar idea pliers, but they are all only 4" or so long and don't provide the flex/tension when using it.

Just remembered, the short tubes were also used as half-hitch tools.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures and the fellow forester I sold it to is long deceased and my friend who got me started tying sold his several years ago and can't find one anywhere either.

Would like to find one for my son if possible.

Thanks for any help.

 

Im not sure but do you lack time, family commitments and such ? Tying your own flies is very rewarding, i wont lie…you wont save money lol….well sort of. I can tie up 2-3 dozen day before i fish. And need no fly shops, But its taken many years of learning, networking, and working at it every day , i tie up 200 or so flies a week , its a hobby that i love , relaxing and rewarding

 

I think i know what you are looking for , i use many hackle pliers however my everyday is a small. “Dr Slick one as you describe , they rotate , and are very well made , …goggle “Dr slick hackle pliers, Js stockards offer them as well as the usual. Flea bay.

 

Ards got you pushing the limits huh …well done buddy nice work

 

Its much more refreshing here lol, wanted to learn about the 2024 tacoma……. Its very crazy on those threads to the point of millenial bull,hit
Spending 50,000 on truck, spend 25,000 on mall cruiser junk then complain about it …… it makes you grind your teeth…..
Time to fish and tie flies

 

Thats a bitch…..tips dinged up ?? Use then for wire cutting , time for new ones , promise youll never do again. I keep mine in my hand when i tie, kind of turn them into palm as i go, ……and somehow i was wrapping hackle, turned it and i must of caught the tips just right ,hit vice, tweeked the tips…. They were only 6 months old , ….ugh wire cutters.

 

Simple starling apple, to accomodate the green hatch……i only tie “North country flies , and this one will land plenty of trout , …last week on esopus it was a great pattern, im going to go down to an # 18 next, i usually tie # 14/ # 16. Smaller i dont like because trout inevitably swallow, im a catch and release guy, unless were in camp…….but the smaller hooks are a bitch…..

Cheers, David

Hook, # 16 Partridge spider
Thread, Pearsalls silk
Body, silk
Thorax, Peacock eye
Hackle, neck Feather/ starling. Take yore time if never worked with starling, lol you will throw it , Slow and steady

 

Recently got leaders from a friend. Maxima…….this guy can make any leader you need , his family prospers doing this , his son is on “Gink and gasoline. Fly tying , he ties a “ Blood knot with tooth pick and 3-4 seconds done, this father son team has been doing forever, quality , i did my own, and said nope screw it i tie flies, these guys only make leaders…simple and succesful…….pay me now or later , they are worth the great service and quality

Cheers, David

 

Lol , am i missing somthinglol , i currently have a 2014 4 runner trail, paid for my son now plays hockey and is a grown up so no need to drive all over, im ready to get back into a truck…holy crap , you go on those threads they will have you hating toyota, i just need a damn 4 x 4 dbl cab, i have 10 acres and live in woods…my wife said go buy one….those forums are very discourageing….bunch of facking whiners ill say.

 

Sorry, but not close to what I am looking for. As I stated, the FLY WAND is about 10-12" overall length and somewhat flexible when used. I know there are a bunch of rotating hackle pliers available, but nothing close to what I am looking for. I have had probably 5-6 different brands of the small versions.

 

Hmm sorry buddy but now im puzzeled ..and honestly wondering what you are looking for , id love to help because i understand what its like to be searching for some tools, myself been looking for a whipfinisher at 3.5 inches , not 4 not 3 but 3,5. Lol. Im here to help you i have a lot of resources lets put our heads together , if i had a pic it would help but im here to try and help you , i know how it feels looking for specific tools….
David

 

Here is a "not-to-scale" quick sketch of what the fly wand looks like

 

Airborne - what exactly are 'north country flies'??

Pops

 

I cant say ive seen one of those, i have a few similiar but not like that with an english style hackle plier…ill keep a look out,
As far as north country flies, they are a sparse hackled flie, silk body, hackled with partridge or grouse, woodcock, or starling…they originate in yorkshire england and have a deep history, they can be tied to mimic any hatch and are very effective when fished, they are considered a “wet flie”. They drop right below surface on waterinto the “seam. About 10 12 inches. This is a deadly area, for feeding trout, Its all i fish, and tie. I keep it simple because they are very effective
David

 

This is the closest tool i have judging by your drawing …….these can be found in most shops,

 

Here is another long type hackle tool, pretty odd. Made in germany.