Our 2008/09 Winter Flytying Challenge

« **Reply #50 on:** 03/12/2008 at 11:55 »

Yea i was kinda happy with mine, it looked so neat, then I added some varnish to the foam and it went all weird haha

live and learn

« **Reply #51 on:** 03/12/2008 at 15:40 »

Cool.......new to flytying and the first time I've entered, good fun and great to see that all the styles and ideas are totally different!

Nice camera shots!

Cheers,

Skidd

« **Reply #52 on:** 03/12/2008 at 16:32 »

Sandy

How about going back to using your old camera?

The new one is much too good, it shows up all my little errors that are hard to see by the naked eye. Especially when you enlarge them that much.

I thought it was a good idea too Sandy. Nice tying everyone. I'd like to know how Mike Livingstone made the "paddles". A hackle point and tying cement?

Cheers

Irvine

« **Reply #53 on:** 03/12/2008 at 21:00 »

Irvine,

You are pretty close on the paddles. I used a feather from a grouse wing I have kicking around the desk, stripped then fixed with head cement. It is amazing to see what materials you can find thanks to these flytying challenges!

Nice camera work Sandy! When are you posting the results?

Mike

« **Reply #54 on:** 03/12/2008 at 21:48 »

Modern technology is great, they were all shot with a compact, hand held on macro.
I'm chuffed to bits with the results, figured out the correct flash settings this time.

Hopefully we'll get some results next week

I hope.

Sandy

« **Reply #55 on:** 03/12/2008 at 22:03 »

Nice photo's Sandy,

It's one of the great things about this ..............seeing how other people interpret the same beastie in different ways. I'm quite happy with my tying but when you see others it never fails to create new ideas.

I think this Alder business might require more serious attention

I need a new camera

Iain

« **Reply #56 on:** 03/12/2008 at 23:26 »

Quote from: Goolager on 03/12/2008 at 22:03

I need a new camera

More toys ........

« **Reply #57 on:** 04/12/2008 at 11:51 »

Hi all some good tyings there, I have not had time to finish tying some up and it is unlikely i'll get chance. I was going down the same lines as Mike but using a flouro yellow cock hacle tip (very fiddly trimming them). I have prepared some but never managed time to tie thanks mainly to central heating, dishwashers, confusers and some other issues.

Any way less of the rambling, one thing crossed my mind when preparing the paddles, even fine hackles are relatively rigid and I wonder if trying to tie in a paddle might make the fly spin in the water, is this a case where the suggestion of a paddle might be more effective than an exact imitation.

« **Reply #58 on:** 04/12/2008 at 18:39 »

Kev,

I tested out the spinning theory with the paddles and that is why I curved them back. From me water tank (wife's pyrex) test, this way seemed to remove the spinning effect. I did think about attaching the paddles to rubber or something flexible but could not be bothered!

« **Reply #59 on:** 04/12/2008 at 22:46 »

Quote from: Mike Livingstone on 04/12/2008 at 18:39

Kev,

I tested out the spinning theory with the paddles and that is why I curved them back. From me water tank (wife's pyrex) test, this way seemed to remove the spinning effect. I did think about attaching the paddles to rubber or something flexible but could not be bothered!

I thought about using feather fibre attached to rubber as well Mike but opted to go the other way just using the rubber - less fiddly.

« **Reply #60 on:** 05/12/2008 at 08:42 »

Mike that makes sense I have a couple of other ideas for the paddles if I find time I'll tie a couple up.

One of the ideas is to knot a couple of longish feather fibres e.g. bronze mallard and then either furl the fibre or tie direct I'm not sure if this will work but I'll give it a go.

The other is to use golden pheasant tail and use the fibre after it has been pulled from the quill. if you have seen Ollie Edwards tying videos that will make sense as he uses this technique for bug legs.

Good luck to all with the next tying.

« **Reply #61 on:** 06/12/2008 at 16:19 »

Quote from: Mike Livingstone on 03/12/2008 at 21:00

Irvine,

You are pretty close on the paddles. I used a feather from a grouse wing I have kicking around the desk, stripped then fixed with head cement. It is amazing to see what materials you can find thanks to these flytying challenges!
Mike

Mike

Was that flexible cement (fleximent?) or ordinary head cement you used. I only have the latter in stock just now and was afraid it would make the paddle too rigid and prone to breaking off. sorry you were too pushed for time to enter Kev, you usually come up with good ideas and nice patterns.

I hadn't though about the possibility of the paddle making the fly spin. I just wanted them to be flexible so they would wag back and forth with a jerky retrieve. I'll tie up a couple using Mike's technique but, the way the weather is just now, it might be a while before I can try them out.

I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone tackled the next round.

Cheers

Irvine

« **Reply #62 on:** 07/12/2008 at 16:36 »

I used normal head cement but thinned it right down. It seemed to work OK. I agree that flexible cement would be better but at a pinch thinned hed cement shold be alright.

Mike

« **Reply #63 on:** 08/12/2008 at 10:23 »

I have some tubes of silicon adhesive (Dow Corning xxx) if you want to try this I can drop one off at mikes. I have used it on a couple of flies instead of epoxy for rubbery sand eels. This stuff is clear when set. Work was chucking it out and the tying magpie got the better of me.

The adhesive is quite thick but i have thinned it down with the accelorator used with aquasure.

« **Reply #64 on:** 08/12/2008 at 14:03 »

Kev

That is a very kind offer but I have just sent off an wee order for fly tying material so there should be some flexi cement coming in the post for me soon.

Thanks all the same

Irvine

« **Reply #65 on:** 18/12/2008 at 22:39 »

Anyone completed their Alders yet?

I've got my test samples done & plan finalised - will do them tomorrow night.

« **Reply #66 on:** 18/12/2008 at 22:43 »

not started yet

« **Reply #67 on:** 19/12/2008 at 09:09 »

Quote from: Goolager on 18/12/2008 at 22:39

Anyone completed their Alders yet?

I've got my test samples done & plan finalised - will do them tomorrow night.

Yup

Done, dusted and handed in. I had to beat a tight deadline. SWMBO told me to put my gear away so we can all sit at the table for Christmas

Good luck all

Irvine

« **Reply #68 on:** 30/12/2008 at 09:10 »

Whats the deadline for this months entries?

« **Reply #69 on:** 30/12/2008 at 09:38 »

Quote from: luckyshot66 on 30/12/2008 at 09:10

Whats the deadline for this months entries?

DECEMBER

Ok guys as promised. you have 6 weeks for this one, the closing date will be the 31st of December

Just incase you are still wondering when that is, it's TOMORROW Cameron

Alex

« **Reply #70 on:** 30/12/2008 at 09:52 »

Quote from: Catman on 30/12/2008 at 09:38

DECEMBER

Ok guys as promised. you have 6 weeks for this one, the closing date will be the 31st of December

Just incase you are still wondering when that is, it's TOMORROW Cameron

Alex

Oh well, no flies from me then, sucks being away for xmas.

« **Reply #71 on:** 30/12/2008 at 23:56 »

My flies are done but not handed in.
I'm working in the morning (hopefully just the morning ) so will drop them off at Mikes'.

Iain

« **Reply #72 on:** 31/12/2008 at 07:48 »

Mike,

-4.5 deg C with me this morning - doubt you'll be open, is there an alternative for handing in the flies?

Iain

« **Reply #73 on:** 31/12/2008 at 10:33 »

I could be a little late with the flies mike try to get them done by the weekend and post on monday

Peter

« **Reply #74 on:** 31/12/2008 at 12:07 »

Hi folks

Next week will be fine, either to my home address or handing in at the fishery

Haddo is closed today and tomorrow for new year festivities

and looking out the window, I guess ice might be an issue when I try to open again.

Best wishes
Mike