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5K views 27 replies 18 participants last post by  GR8LAKES FLYER 
#1 ·
Here are a few more , this time "Old School"

Here are the bodies waiting for the wing placement .
I should mention that some of the materials on these flies are over 80 years old !! The yarns and embroidery threads were my Grandmothers . When she passed , I found this material in her knitting chest , kept it ever since .

Top: Killer Carron ( Me :D )
Middle: Purple King (Gobin) , Purple King (Francis)
Bottom: Green King (Francis)




Typical starting point for the wing placement , notice the "ramp" at the head area .





Killer Carron









Purple King (Gobin)



Purple King (Francis)



Green King (Francis)



The last two , have "higher" set wings than that which I usually tie ... I wanted to try something different . I kind of like it :rolleyes:









Mike
 
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#6 ·
Do you tend to always use white thread, tie off, and then make the head?
These bodies are wool so it really doesn't matter , but typically yes . It makes it easier to see where I'm making the mistake :chuckle: When I dub a dark body , I try to use thread the colour of the dubbing , if I don't have that colour , then Black or Dk. Grey . When the fly get's wet , typically the thread shows right through . Don't use white on dark bodies .... it's like a neon sign !!!

What's cool is using flo. orange or red thread with a light coloured fur , like Muskrat or Polar bear fur !! The thread "bleeds" right through and the light fur looks translucent around the under body of bright thread !!! I tie a Muskrat Dee like that :smokin:


Thanks for the kind words guys .... means a lot :)











Mike
 
#8 ·
These are really killer man! I should get in the habit of making a few bodies before I start with the wings. It might sound a little ridiculous but I almost get excited when its time to mount the wing and usually ends up in a fit and redo! Building a few bodies first might settle me down, that and skipping the 3 cups of crack coffee!
 
#11 ·
Mike, I am not impressed. There is one barbule in the wing of your purple king that is offset
I know .... it happened when I was tying off the head !!!! It really pi$$ed me off ..... but alas , it is a fishing fly . I'll use it in fast water , in hopes the steelhead don't notice it ...... ;)


Mr. Bagodonuts , the crack coffee is an essential part of tyin' BM wings !! I usually tie 6 to 10 bodies and then do wings . Once I get in the "wing mode" , I don't like to stop .


Dingles , thanks for the comments ... the materials are very special to me :) The Green King is growing on me , I never tied one for myself , always for everyone else .


Rob , the hooks are just Daiichi 2091's ...... I wish they were Ronn's :hihi:












Mike
 
#12 ·
These are cracker flies. Now there are a lot of folks who can see that it perfectly fine to tye a classic fly, whether spey, dee, married, whatever up through the throat, or ever stopping before the throat. Then add the wing and any other components after the wing later on. This way of tying also helps folks learning how to tie spey flies and dee flies from pulling their hair out if the wing needs to be removed after tying in because it didn't sit right because it absolutely keeps the rest of the fly from being harmed.
 
#24 ·
I must say this and hear is a "plug" for Jack Cook :)

Out of all of the Bronze Mallard I have ever used , tied with or laid my eyes and hands upon , I must say that the feathers that I have purchased from Jack , has got to be by far the best !!! I bought a ton a few years back , still have some , but alas it's pretty much all gone . Good Bronze Mallard is worth it's weight in gold in my opinion . Paying a little more for quality , will save $$$ in the long run .









Mike
 
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