Fly Fishing Forum banner

Xmas presents?

5K views 35 replies 16 participants last post by  FredA 
#1 ·
All right, it's time to take inventory of big boys toys...

one of the best doodads I got was a WACOM tablet / pen mouse thing. It comes with painter software and lets you draw on a computer almost like drawing with a pen or pencil (spray gun, pattern printer, etc).

The disavantages include - you never get the same feel as the real brush, pencil or other media; the advantage - if you screw it up just undo!


Here's a striper on the flats I drew with my new toy...

<center>
<font size="1">
Artwork Juro Mukai, all rights reserved</font><!--1--></center>
 
See less See more
2
#3 ·
Juro,
Way cool striper! Maybe you ought to design the logo for the "non-existant" Joppa Flats Fly Tyers Club????
As for big boys toys....nothing to "pound the chest about" from me...but still most appreciated...a couple of gift certificates to Kittery Trading Post and Eldridge Bros. Fly Shop.
Doug B.
 
#4 ·
Juro,
Looks like a fun toy. Kids are grown now so there was nothin for me to play with Christmas day. I did get a couple of gift certificates, one to the Bears Den and one to Fishing the Cape. I'm bringing my aunt down to Dennis today so I'll get to check out FTC. I recall Bigcat saying they carry Bucks Bag chest packs - probably check that out. From a thread on the other board it looks like there might be a run on angel hair so I think I'll stock up at the Bears Den and look at a new vise.

Regards,
Fred A.
 
#5 ·
$100 of fly tying material ,a catch bag which is attatched to the vice to keep the place clean, and a Material carry bag, a $1.00 gift certificate to D. donuts. Tied 6 Decievers last night. Juno, can you send any instuctions for tying Bunker flies with polar fiber and also near hair?. How do you attatch to the hook to get the flat pattern. I am not attempting to change this to a tying thread, just getting a couple of messages in one.Thanks. The big present is permission from my wife to pick up a Winston XTR 9 wt in early February.
 
#6 ·
wow.... a Winston!!! you must be doing something right John! look at this site for info on tying with polarfibre Tom D

http://www.successflies.com/flybox.html
 
#8 ·
Doug - I'd be honored to do a design for the NEJFSC http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle"> I'll be posting some of the ones I've been working on for this 'club' over the next couple days BTW.

Tom - it only took about 2 minutes to do the sand and the water, another 30 seconds to do the body of the fish and about an hour while I putzed around trying to get the fish's face right! <img src="http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle">

John - sounds like you are in fly-tying nirvana! Glad the scotch, cigars, and feathers on a smoky night at the Chatham Angler's club got you into rolling your own! I also have a tying package put aside for you when we hook up.

As far as the bunker, I have my thoughts but the pattern given on the web site Tom provided is a nice one; also the high-tie which I defer to Jared when he gets back from steelheading in Northern CA; and of course the Buffy. I usually tie my own variant of Page's bigeye baitfish (but with some pretty major differences). My herring / bunker pattern is in the archive. Our own Gregg estey has come up with a bunker "attractor" pattern you should definitely try out. Capt. Ray's angel hair (some call it the mushmouth) is another winner for bunker patrol. I also tie one about 10-12 inches long that Jay Horton called "chicken fly", using huge feathers for the flanks and built up top and bottom.

Fred - angel hairs been around since the early/mid 1990's, we used to use it for SW coho salmon flies out on the Washington coast. Brian (Doublespey) used it to enhance wing material in winter steelhead flies. If you can't find it, let me know and we'll have someone mail you the colors you are looking for where there isn't a bluelight special going on <img src="http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif
 
#9 ·
Re: Bunker- Jared gave me one of his high ties on the Rhody trip. Nice fly. He's been very willing to share the pattern so maybe he will show us at the Sully thang (hint hint...)
I'm looking forward to learning it. Also I had much success this past fall with my own bunkers. I use an EZ-body spreader like those used in the big Yak herring styles al la Richard Murphy style. He inspired Jeff S. Buffys as well. The Ez-body holds up to being spashed against the jetty's etc. But I still want to learn Jared's because of it's use of more natural ingredients. Uh oh!.... Another thread turns into a Tying Thread...dohh. (seems a lot of them do these days).


Terry
 
#12 ·
I got several fishing or fishing related items. Got a Cortland clear-intermeadiate line from by bro. My dad got me a FF vest, so I wont look like a half-arsed fisherman, also some keel hooks (the ones with the offset shanks ala' Estey Bros. double sand-eels). Got a Dremel tool kit from wife, so I'm thinking about trying my hand at some Cedar Plugs (Any Advice out there?). Also some gift certificates that I plan to use on some Camp Gear. Finally, my inlaws got me the Vaccum bag sealer (that I always borrow from them!), so I see more steak tips in our future!

At Terry's request, I will post the tip recipe (you'll laugh when you see how simple), when I have a few spare moments. This will probably be about the same time I get the Arial Photos squared away!
 
#14 ·
I got Tabory's <i>Guide to Saltwater Baitfish and their Imitations</i> as a stocking stuffer (small book). He offers a decent survey of "bread and butter" baits and a fair to middling fly recipe collection.

I think Tabory places too much emphasis on fly selection. My experience suggests presentation is more important. Despite this, there are some gems of information found here..... One small example: we tend to spend a lot of time studying how a fly looks from the side, but 80% of the time fish hit a fly from behind or just off the beam. Goes hand in hand with my theory that some flies are meant to get the attention of other fishermen, not fish ;)
 
#17 ·
McClane's one of my heros. I still read the full encyclopedia even though it's falling apart. Did you know his photographer lives on the south shore? I have been trying to interview him for a couple years. This spring should do it.

I think the digression to tying is appropriate, considering the time of year. Can't wait for the clave!
 
#18 ·
Juro -

Here's an idea about an interview, J. Edson Leonard. He must be near 90. Still lives in Barrington, RI. Has written about 8 books about fly fishing. Some notable patterns like the Edson streamers. Art Buron has some ole VHS tapes of him doing a tying class. He used to draw each step on a postor pad first. Drawing - right up your ally. He comes to a Rhody Meeting now and than. Tradition is sometimes overlooked today which I feel is important to our art.
 
#21 ·
for tying a full grown bunker, look at this link
http://www.flyfishsaltwaters.com/flyconomo.html
John, this is the one I was tying at the UFT meeting, can be made as long as you dare, and vary the colors. not too bad to cast. we tied them about 10-12 inches long. here's another: http://www.flyfishsaltwaters.com/flybunkerherring.html
oh yeah, my wife got me a nice pair of tying scissors,light gray neck for saltwater flies, a box with a beautiful salmon fly shadowboxed on the cover.a noaa radio, a cool tide clock, and the inlaws came thru with an orvis gift certificate.(geez, I did better than I thought, while I wrote it out I was amazed) Tom D
 
#22 ·
Tom, thanks for the sites. You did alright ,didn't you ,for Xmas. Not bad. By the way I finished 6 Decievers last night and will tackle some polar fiber clousers just to see how they come out.My big concern with the Bunker is how to tie the polar fiber to the hook without bunching up the thread on the hook, or make it look patchy.
 
#23 ·
John - I've found the following techniques work well when dealing with polar fiber:

1. After clipping the fibers from the mat, take hold of both ends and pull away at the base (the end that was previously closest to the mat). The short fibers will come out and what you're left with are the whispy long fibers that won't ball up when tied in to your pattern du jour.

2. After each tie, take a small comb (an eye brow brush is ideal for this) and comb the full length of the polar fiber. This not only removes any excess fuzz, but also blends the two clumps together and gives the fly a full, yet translucent look.

3. Stay away from extra long polar fiber. I've found it to be real crap, lacking all the properties that make its shorter cousin such a great material. YMMV.

Happy tieing!
Al
 
#24 ·
T'was a great Christmas for fishing stuff for me. I received polarized glasses, a vest, a great lounging camp chair, the book "Crosscurrents", and to top it all off a Sage DS2 990 which I will trade for a DS2 1090. Is there any way to encourage our striped friends to start migrating back up our way a little early?


On the tying component of this thread: Juro mentioned my ribbon surfer bunker fly and while it catches fish well it has a disturbing casting flaw that I can't seem to lick. With the back and false cast it spins and twists the tippet and leader something fierce so be forwarned and I would appreciate any ideas on how that might be remedied - I'm thinking about fabritac-ing the ribbon pieces together but I'm not sure that will work.
 
#26 ·
Gregg -

Congrats on the new gear!!! You now only have to donate your museum piece reel to the Chatham Anglers Club to get a matching Lamson LP4.0 (John's a great guy, eh?). I told Mike to get the 10wt. It's a sweetheart.

As you may know I have also been playing with gill plate emphasis techniques, even as far back as the coho days out west... and that's where I found something really cool for this application. To serve the same purpose for coho bucktails (now mostly synthetic, formerly polar bear) there is a company in Washington state that manufacturs perfect baitfish heads that slip onto the head of a fly during the tying process.

I just talked to them and will be following up with the owner to talk about getting a bunch to try out. I think you'll be impressed... stay tuned...
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top