ive been building conventional fishing lures out of sticks for years now but this is certainly a true joy!

I just received my first batch of tying materials, which is huge by the way and while watching some TV i tied these up. Its not as simple as it would appear haha! However i feel i will truly enjoy it. My gal will be partaking when she gets back home on sunday. The little shrimpy one has some fixing up to do but i dont have the epoxy i thought i did.

she just started fly fishing and showed interest in tying her own flies so we jumped into it. Check out the "reel porn" in the saltwater section for a pic of our setups.

thanks and god bless.

j

Well, now you're ruint
A beautiful affliction it is.

I don't see anything wrong with any of them. Good job!

(You do realize that there's no going back now, don't you?)

Kirk

Those would be killer on sand bass and hybrids!

Your flies are too pretty for a beginner. Start tying ugly flies first. I wish someone had told me to be sure I bent all the barbs down before tying the fly. It is much less painful when you hook yourself.


Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

Thanks guys! A real vote of confidence helps..

Sandbass and hybrids? Awww damn I was hoping for trout and reds!!!!!



God bless!

J

look good to me

Thanks duke.

How do I get the buck tail to lay down properly? When ever I start putting my turns on it, it just shoots up into the air.

Thanks

J

nice.

There's a couple tricks to getting bucktail to lay down properly. The first is picking fibers that aren't very hollow. You want the thinnest strands of hair possible, so that when you make thread wraps they don't cinch the hair down to where it flairs. The second trick is making some light loops before you start tightening it down. Make a couple loose wraps, then maybe on the third tighten it, but tighten toward the eye from the loose ones. Your flies look great, especially that white and red one. I love how marabou pulses in the water, and so do fish!

Corskier-

Thanks I appreciate the help. I did learn the loose wraps trick. I was trying different methods. I've tied a few more I'll post them up. I did a shrimp colored one that I really like. Just have to put some eyes on it and epoxy the head.

Are you talking about choosing a buck tail with less hollow hair or do different parts of the tail contain different types of hair?

What is the best way to get all the extra material out of my eyelets? My scissors won't cut it down in there.

Thanks and god bless.

J

Thanks for the compliment also. I tried them in the bath and the red one sure looks pretty. The green pink and white one swims on its side.. Maybe I tired it for flounder. haha

I love bucktail - lots of different type hair - very versatile.
Coarse and hollow hair gives flotation - excellent for weightless hook-point-up flies (Jig Hook Flies)with most materials tied high over hook point.

Get a cigarette lighter. Pinch the part you want to keep and wave the lighter under the eye a few times. Wait a second or 2 between passes to keep things from heating up too much.

Kirk

I find that if I just throw away the bottom third of the bucktail that I have fewer problems getting the hair to behave for me. As for getting the hair out of the eyelet...I simply glue the head and let it dry then hold the needle in fire till it gets red and then burn it out of there. That way you can teach kids to not only play with dead animal parts, but also TO PLAY WITH FIRE. Moms just love me.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

Dale, do you think it all depends on the size and type flies being tied?

ps: OK - I get it now - you guys are talking about coarse northern bucktail which I seldom use except on big salty flies.
I use Texas bucktail which has a much better texture and my favorite. If you don't have a deer hunter buddy or family member go to a deer processor - or roadkill..
G/