Hey Fly Tiers...What's In The Vise?

[Bartman44]

I like those frenchies!

Thanks.  It's good to see that some of us are passing the time with constructive fly tying.  Hoping to get to use them soon in some isolated fishing hole.

RG, playing with foam is fun. I've tied a bunch of hoppers but admittedly only use them when I'm out west.  I need to break them out for bass and pan fish locally this year. 

Here's one.

[catfisher]

I have six squirrel tails. If you want 3 or 6 PM me. I have 2 padded envelopes.

[rgfixit]

I get my squirrel tails on my morning walk. Road kill works just as well as store bought.

Nice ties Bart! I've been playing with a parachute hopper pattern. I'll post some pics. Sure nice to have a hobby these days.

Stay healthy !

Rg

[oatkasut]

I tried a hopper pattern  a few years ago for wild trout and got great results. I was shocked. Since then I have had luck with a bumblebee and of course ants are always a late summer offering.Nice ties.

[Buckski]

RG and others some nice looking stuff. I been doing a ton a steelie patterns this spring. Mostly Crystal Meth and yarn variations. Looking to get some poppers going for later in the year. Did a bunch of foam ones from cabelas and boy did they get beat up pretty good last year.
Did wrap a 6wt. Batson 9' fly rod, turned out pretty good, just waiting on a reel seat to be made. Trying to keep busy, but its difficult at times.
Keep the work coming in, looks fantastic.

[Buckski]

Oh BTW slightly jealous looking at your work area, I use the kitchen table and what a PITA.

[rgfixit]

Here's a couple hopper patterns I've been playing with.
 I mixed up some fine deer hair, hares ear and a grey yarn dubbing to make the body. It floats pretty well.



This one has a foam body.



 I made the wing cases from pheasant feathers coated with acrylic sanding sealer.
Legs are knotted turkey tail .
Just experimenting!

Rg

[Bartman44]

They look great, I like the life-like legs, they almost look like  tarantula legs.

Here's a simple parachute hopper

[rgfixit]

Nice...turkey for the wing? What did you coat it with?

I'm still pondering this particular fly.

Rg

[Bartman44]

Yes, turkey, just used some head cement on it. 

I'll probably be at the bench today, passing some time.

[rgfixit]

Spent a couple hours tying this morning. I fooled around with this pattern looking to imitate a Crane Fly. I tried wings vs no wings and NO wings won. The bass and gills in my Backyard stream love these things.








They're rough and ugly and the fish devour them in the summer.

Think I'm going to start on some Helgrammites next.


Rg

[oatkasut]

Bart, that looks great. Bob, they look alive!

[rgfixit]

Still working on the crane fly pattern.





It's getting there.

Rg

[lowaccord66]

Very cool!

[rgfixit]

Fun tie for sure. Going to tie a few with a Raffia thorax and eyes next. Crane flies are interesting critters.

Rg