Most years the mojo comes back in november but for one reason or another it has evaded me this winter. Finally last night I managed to battle the lethargy and tied a few flies, a half dozen baillie purple spiders - basically a stewarts black with purple silk, a recommendation of Mikes for Iron Blues, a good un as they say.
I would gladly shag the next doors neighbours cat for a decent starling skin, a poor choice of fly to get back tying. After much cussing I eventually found hackles that didnt break on the first wrap. The nymph box is seriously depleted so with the Mojo back it will be ready for march the 1st.
I do not not whether I hate this time of year or not, the anticpation does wonders but the days seem to countdown real slow, 66 to go..... :)
Oddly enough I have had a bit of a tying urge myself this past few days. Sadly all my gear is in storage right now. Hopefully this will all change within the next few weeks. January is a l....o....n....g.... month
(http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8671/garden2v.jpg) (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/garden2v.jpg/)
This dark and cold and shivery often rainy season, tries anglers patience often far beyond good reason, the driving urge to cast a searching fly, the unkind winter rain and storms defy, the wish to cast his favourite rod again, may well drive even patient anglers half insane.
Roll on then clement spring and summer then, when anglers may well venture out again, and try out all the carefully constructed flies, in warmer and far more inviting fishy lies. Entrancing bird song, and the sight of lambs at play as along your favourite stream you slowly stray.
The lovely flies you tied in winters cruel grip, may bring success in spring on your first fishing trip, even those you think ridiculous monstrosities, the fishes early appetite may well appease, Midges gnats and spiders then may once again find favour, when yet again you venture forth your angling sport to savour.
Even wildly garish, weird, and quite absurd creations, may then wreak deadly havoc on fish populations, large weighted heads, cork bodies or even floating tails, may help to lay your piscine quarry on it´s shining silver scales. Or even shiny bugs with glistening plastic wings, or rubber legs and other artificial things.
Poppers, streamers, nymphs, or dry flies, even spinners, on some waters may in spring be winners, bushy flies in summer may be best, and should be carried always in your angling vest, and though the thought may make some anglers squirm, success may well be granted by a lowly worm.
Autumn then, the evening rise, ah what a lovely thought, and all those rising fish around just waiting to be caught. A rise, a cast, a take, a lovely fighting fish, is this not every genuine anglers fervent wish? So let us savour then with joy, anticipation, and not be sad at winters grim frustration.
Check your fishing diaries then for memories of angling trips gone by, the lovely brook or brown or rainbow that you caught, and view once more the killing fly, perhaps you need to fill your box anew, with just such faithful friends? Be grateful then for time and muse which winter often sends. The time to think of trips long past and over new ones ponder, as through the seasons on your favourite streams, lost in thought, you reminisce and wander.
You can use some black hen hackle, it works OK but not as well as starling. You want nice webby stuff.
It makes a considerable difference what starling you have.Doubtless you have seen this;
http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=16844.0 (http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=16844.0)
I have a couple of skins from Cookshill, no source here so that I can see what i am buying - seems its rather difficult to get good quality starling - methinks i need Hazel Joe, his net and a certain young red headed lad :)
Quote from: otter on January 08, 2013, 12:16:16 PM
I have a couple of skins from Cookshill, no source here so that I can see what i am buying - seems its rather difficult to get good quality starling - methinks i need Hazel Joe, his net and a certain young red headed lad :)
:) It is difficult getting good stuff. A lot of the stuff on offer is not really very good, but it never was. Joe used traps for starlings, but I think you would have trouble if you tried that now in the UK. As far as I am aware starlings are now protected birds, and the traps may be illegal anyway. It gets harder all the time to keep up with various laws and regulations.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/starling/legal.aspx (http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/starling/legal.aspx)
It is even harder when you have never handled a good skin :D Though after last night it became less stressful, having developed a very scientific approach :roll: - i.e. if the hackle cant take a little abuse when removing the fluff then it will certainly break on wrapping - rocket science, eh ?
Quote from: otter on January 08, 2013, 12:39:13 PM
It is even harder when you have never handled a good skin :D Though after last night it became less stressful, having developed a very scientific approach :roll: - i.e. if the hackle cant take a little abuse when removing the fluff then it will certainly break on wrapping - rocket science, eh ?
Even the good ones wont take much abuse. It is a bit finicky but you can use waterhen fibres as well. Best to use a clear clip and trap the fibres in a split thread. I use a "magic tool clip" for this;
http://www.eflytyer.com/tools/petitjean.html (http://www.eflytyer.com/tools/petitjean.html)
but you can do it by hand if you are very careful.
This should explain the basic technique;
CDC Hackle Sulphur Dun - October 2010 - TPO Fly Of The Month (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py9lCAEeVH8#ws)
Tie your flies with the magic tool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rb3-hR8PpQ#)
make your own;
http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing1.htm (http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing1.htm)
http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing2.htm (http://www.pechetruite.com/Mouches/cdc-dubbing2.htm)
You will find that flat shank sewing machine needles are better for splitting thread. I use them in a tool like this ( Pin vice);
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7428/pinvice.jpg) (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/pinvice.jpg/)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/183-7852187-8348825?url=search-alias%3Darts-crafts&field-keywords=pin+vice (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/183-7852187-8348825?url=search-alias%3Darts-crafts&field-keywords=pin+vice)
just an example, I bought the one's I use in a local sewing shop;
http://www.amazon.com/Organ-Sewing-Machine-Regular-Needles/dp/B0014HHFG0 (http://www.amazon.com/Organ-Sewing-Machine-Regular-Needles/dp/B0014HHFG0)
I too have a depleted nymph box so I tied a shitload of PTNs just before the festive break. Next will be GRHE and then some spiders.
I ordered Oliver Edwards masterclass book last week and bought a couple of things from the Stirling Angling centre on the way home on Friday including a cautery tool so my fly boxes should be bulging by the time the new season starts.
I plan to use wing burners and the cautery tool to make some stone clinger wing cases out of old cassette tape. I had a wee trial with an old audio cassette tape last night but I reckon video tape is the way to go.
I just thought it might look good and plan to give it a try tonight.
Billy
Stop Mike :)
It was a hard enough trek over the last few years to get to a couple of useful iron blue patterns, given the vagaries of hatches and my time to enjoy same I will for the moment stick to the starling and the profanities required to use it.
- okay okay, i'll tie a few using my OtterClip (c) which being a standard bulldog clip aint very clear.
Great tying method all the same, can get one outta jail on various problems of material availability and material size issues.
It works alright as far as making the wings is concerned but the flies don't work very well;
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part195.php (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part195.php)
Templates;
http://www.fullwingburners.com/cart/ (http://www.fullwingburners.com/cart/)
PDF to print templates;
http://fullwingburners.com/cart/images/Burner%20page1.pdf (http://fullwingburners.com/cart/images/Burner%20page1.pdf)
http://fullwingburners.com/cart/images/Burner%20page2.pdf (http://fullwingburners.com/cart/images/Burner%20page2.pdf)
In case you have any problems, you can adjust these image sizes with more or less any graphics software;
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3306/selection006p.png) (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/selection006p.png/)
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3172/selection007y.png) (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/selection007y.png/)
(http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6236/selection008.png) (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/selection008.png/)
(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5551/selection009.png) (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/selection009.png/)
Best for the wings is tyvek;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyvek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyvek)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tyvek (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tyvek)
What I mostly use is this;
Exceptionally good for sedges (caddis) and similar roof-wing flies are hen back feathers, pheasant and other similar feathers. Strip the fluff from the base of the feather, put a drop of good waterproof glue on your left index finger and pull the feather slowly between your left thumb and forefinger so that the glue is soaked up and the feather is tapered. When dry, which with the right type of glue only takes a few seconds, the feather may be folded along the quill, and the tip cut at an angle, this makes a perfectly formed and extremely durable sedge wing, which when tied in correctly makes the flies just about unsinkable. Various game bird feathers like partridge and one or two others also work very well indeed for this, and are also good colour imitations of many naturals.
I use UHU non stringing glue for this.
WARNING !!!!! Do not use cyanoacrylate glue for this. It will stick your fingers together so that you cannot get them apart without surgery or other drastic methods. A normal waterproof, clear, and flexible, quick drying general adhesive is suitable, the best types are those which leave a thin film on the fingers when dry, which when rubbed rolls up into little flexible balls, and may be easily removed. It is best to make up a dozen wings or so at a sitting and then tie your flies up with the ready made wings. Trying to dress flies with glue or varnish or anything else on your fingers would try the patience of a saint, so it is best to avoid it if possible!
You can also do it like this;
http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/Hatches/2011/02/02/teabag-winged-caddis-by-tom-herr/ (http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/Hatches/2011/02/02/teabag-winged-caddis-by-tom-herr/)
Here are some glue wing caddis, ( just a quick and dirty snap of a few tipped out of one of my boxes), very easy and quick to make, they float like corks and are also extremely durable;
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3633/pict0002wsa.jpg) (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/pict0002wsa.jpg/)
(http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/697/pict0003g.jpg) (http://img802.imageshack.us/i/pict0003g.jpg/)
you can use the technique for other flies as well.
Some other stuff which may be of interest;
http://ukflydressing.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=print&thread=3018 (http://ukflydressing.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=print&thread=3018)
http://www.rr-tu.org/Monthly_Fly.html (http://www.rr-tu.org/Monthly_Fly.html)
I was just presented with a couple of drake mallards by my future son-in-law today. I haven't tied in years. In fact since I sold my kit to Alan Robb. I wonder if the North Platte trout will like a butcher?
There are a lot of flies you can dress with various mallard feathers. Americans traditionally used a large number of fairly gaudy flies, ( admittedly mainly for brook trout), but other fish will take all sorts of stuff as well. The breast feathers can be used for spiders, and are also easily dyed using marker pens. They were once commonly used for mayfly wings ( As in E.danica ). The green head feathers also make good spiders. The sides and wings make good nymphs. The flank feathers can be used for wings etc. There are a lot of things you can do with mallard feathers.
I have never heard of a pin vice but these look an incredibly useful tool. I can imagine tiny screwdrivers, saws and drills in them and also dare I say it multi-head dubbing needles with one needle set up for picking out dibbing and another for varnishing.
Quote from: Malcolm on January 09, 2013, 10:37:10 AM
I have never heard of a pin vice but these look an incredibly useful tool. I can imagine tiny screwdrivers, saws and drills in them and also dare I say it multi-head dubbing needles with one needle set up for picking out dibbing and another for varnishing.
I have used these for a very long time as needle holders and for a lot of other stuff. A couple I have are well over fifty years old. You can buy them at lots of places.
I also made my main tube fly vice with a pin vice in a one way roller bearing;
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6679/vice1.jpg) (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/vice1.jpg/)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/276-9289278-7569154?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pin+vice (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/276-9289278-7569154?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pin+vice)
I also use these for a lot of stuff;
(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5049/vicesy.jpg) (http://img43.imageshack.us/i/vicesy.jpg/)
these are "Stielkloben". ( Not sure what they are called in English, probably just "hand vice").
You can find some tips on use here;
http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4425.0 (http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4425.0)
Quote from: Mike Connor on January 09, 2013, 11:00:53 AM
I also use these for a lot of stuff;
these are "Stielkloben". ( Not sure what they are called in English, probably just "hand vice").
They are very useful, - wingnuts pin vice £3.95 from Chronos
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/info_WNV1.html (http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/info_WNV1.html)
I have a small pin vice that I used to use when I was a toolmaker and later for model making. Most recently used for holding a pin to push through the end of my fly line to insert a loop of nylon rather thna use a braided loop.
handy wee thing.
Looking at mike's replies I may have a look at making my own wing burners. Never really thought about it before which is strange considering I used to make things like that for a living. Lazy now I suppose.
I have some brass sheet somewhere in the garage so it may be a wee job this weekend.
Billy
Quote from: Billy on January 09, 2013, 01:16:39 PM
I have some brass sheet somewhere in the garage so it may be a wee job this weekend.
Billy
I have made them from brass sheet and it works fine, but if you want to save yourself a bit of mess on get these;
http://www.fishingmad.co.uk/6951-eight-piece-wing-burner-set-for-may-stone-and-nymph-flies.html (http://www.fishingmad.co.uk/6951-eight-piece-wing-burner-set-for-may-stone-and-nymph-flies.html)
( They are "Sunrise" wing burners made in India)
I have them myself ( had them for ages, don't know where I got them originally);
(http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/4705/burners.png) (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/burners.png/)
I got a box full of flat tweezers cheap at a flea market and just shaped them as I wanted, ( Dremel is good for that with a file to finish off).
These might do you;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Straight-Curved-Action-Tweezers/dp/B009PLLPYK/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1357733911&sr=8-32 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Straight-Curved-Action-Tweezers/dp/B009PLLPYK/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1357733911&sr=8-32)
Cheers Mike,
i have set of four wing burners which would do stone clinger wing cases but to tell you the truth the quality is very poor.
Also made by the Sunrise Fly Fishing Company from India I should not be surprised. I think I picked it up in a bargain bucket at some angling equipment sale.
The ends dont line up but all it needs is a light dress with a stone in a dremel (got one of those as well in the garage). Its a two minute job but I keep forgetting to take the wing burners down the road.
I'll try to remember to put them in my jacket tonight.
Billy
You can of course shape the burners yourself with a file. I have a second set somewhere with a lot of specific shapes I made. Haven't used them for a long time now.
There are also some very expensive sets available, but they don't work any better.
http://fullwingburners.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8 (http://fullwingburners.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8)
All you have to do is make sure the flats actually close flat and tight. I just hold them in a pair of pliers.
How to do it with tyvek and stuff like that;
Creating Mayfly Wings Using J Son Wing Burners (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq473JDLlUM#ws)
This should give you plenty of ideas;
https://www.google.com/search?q=mayfly+wing+burners&hl=en&client=ubuntu&tbo=u&channel=fs&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OmntUJLJBYbRtAa_t4EQ&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=2560&bih=1469&sei=UGntUJjFMIG0tAbyoYDQAg (https://www.google.com/search?q=mayfly+wing+burners&hl=en&client=ubuntu&tbo=u&channel=fs&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OmntUJLJBYbRtAa_t4EQ&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=2560&bih=1469&sei=UGntUJjFMIG0tAbyoYDQAg)
You can grab any of those images and print them out. If you treat the paper ( after printing) with UHU or similar glue you can burn them as shown in the video and then you have very lifelike translucent waterproof wings which are very durable.
These are also extremely useful for foam and stuff like that as well as some feathers;
http://www.bearlodgeangler.com/other_tools.htm (http://www.bearlodgeangler.com/other_tools.htm)
You can make these yourself but it is not so easy unless you have experience. They use patternmakers blade in a handle.
In my experience whilst some of these winging techniques create some fantastic looking patterns, they do not all fish particulary well.
One technique that does work is the Devaux style sedge. (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2552265852_1c4094aa6b.jpg) , SBS here http://ukflydressing.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sbs&action=display&thread=1763 (http://ukflydressing.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sbs&action=display&thread=1763)
Because the wing is made from a few separate feathers it is less prone to spinning than some other solid wing techniques. On more than one occasion I have fished a simple CDC bubble sedge vrs my friend fishing a devaux, no discernible difference in their attractivness to the trout.
True enough, quite a few "constructed" patterns with various solid wings tend not to fish very well, but there are exceptions.
The Devaux sedge is basically the same as the other glue wing sedges. Varnish is not as good as glue though and makes a stiffer wing.
Quote from: Mike Connor on January 10, 2013, 11:16:05 AM
The Devaux sedge is basically the same as the other glue wing sedges. Varnish is not as good as glue though and makes a stiffer wing.
Indeed, I think I have used some brand of flexi cement, floo gloo i think, on the few that i carry.
All these types of flies definitely stir the pot in terms of debate re realism, imitativeness and fishability and durability. Sometimes just messing around with various styles, sourcing materials, tying and fishing them is a welcome diversion from simply fishing a pattern that you know to be effecitve - variety at times is indeed the spice of life. :)