LittleJ on Nov 20, 2008November 20th, 2008, 3:01 pm EST
On my way home from the fly shop the other day I started thinking (usually a bad thing) and was amazed by fly fisherman, and how we have found a way to re-invent the wheel so many times. The amount of material available to tiers can be mind numbing at times. That being said I am a complete sucker and my ever increasing stockpile of misc. treasures are the proof. My question to you is...Have you tried anything new worthy of mentioning? This year I tried a few things I think will stick. The first being web wing, i bought it first to tie barrs web wing caddis, i then found with a little imagination it's pretty cool to have on the desk. I also tried thin skin for the first time, again I find myself using it for more and more patterns. last but not least I picked up some polar chenille to try on some streamers. That stuff is great! I'm sure there is more i'm forgetting but that'll do for now.
Jeff
CaseyP on Nov 20, 2008November 20th, 2008, 4:41 pm EST
medallion sheeting made my favorite beetles even better. thank you A.K.Best for the article in Fly Tyer that suggested we add wings to beetles. up until i read that, the translucent, veined sheet just sat there cluttering up the drawer like a lot of stuff i think i'll try some day. the sheeting has just the right texture and shine to match the wings of a newly crash-landed beetle.
DGC on Nov 21, 2008November 21st, 2008, 1:17 am EST
In their book on terrestrials, Steeves and Koch argue that wings are a very prominent feature on beetles, more so than legs.
They like Kreinik braid (Mallard in particular) picked apart for the wings. Check Flies for Trout by Stewart and Allen for examples.
All that said, I prefer legs to wings on my beetles, and it is hard to beat a good ole Crowe Beetle from The Book of Trout Lore by Pennsylvanian John Crowe.
I am not a fish but there is just something wrong looking about a bug with no legs.
For foam beetles I use different flavors of ice dub for the bodies and pick out the dubbing for a combo of legs/wings. Peacock in particular is a good one.
CaseyP on Nov 21, 2008November 21st, 2008, 2:24 am EST
I am not a fish but there is just something wrong looking about a bug with no legs.
absolutely right! the legs on the beetles i tie are purposely long and knotted. also new this year: bright little bucktail wings on top to make the little black things visible.
Mcjames on Nov 21, 2008November 21st, 2008, 8:29 am EST
tyvek and masking tape, for nymph shell casings and legs on larger nymphs. tyvek can be touched with a hot needle to kink legs,and holds color well; masking tape laid atop tyvek sheeting can be run thru an inkjet printer to mass produce the intricate design on golden stonefly wing casings (I know, what a loser right? what a waste of time? Leakywaders nailed it in his comment).
Softhackle on Nov 30, 2008November 30th, 2008, 2:04 pm EST
Actually, I'm not sure. The Legs Alive material was sent to me by someone to try. I had not used it, yet, as legs. It is quite fine, and is similar to a very fine rubber band. The color just struck me as perfect for this fly.
Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Trtklr on Dec 4, 2008December 4th, 2008, 12:40 pm EST
nice looking fly mark, funny i see this fly on here, I have been tying something similar. I recently started using green ribbing for a body like this. I first tied nymphs but then I saw a caddis on the au sable this last year w/light green body like that and tied a dry caddis pattern with ribbing material & undersize hackle and polytron wing. I like it cause its easy to see. I took trout with it but not during a caddis hatch.
I have seen nothing more beautiful than the sunrise on a cold stream.