[NVswitch]

I like the responses for the What floss? thread. Lots of great information. I want to get into tying some classic spey flies and would like to know your recommendations for types of tinsel to buy to get started. Be specific to brands, sizes and colors.
Thanks Mike

 

[Tubefly]

It's a bit on the pricey side, but I really like Lagartun tinsel. Silver & gold flat and oval in all sizes will have you off to a great start for classics

 

[gt05254]

I don't use anything but Lagartun. Tried some of the others...yuck.
Gary

 

[fish0n4evr]

Lagartun it is. Nothing that compares is as readily available. Sizes - depending on hook size.

 

[Jabrowning24]

Lagartun. I disagree about it being pricey, for the quality of tinsel I don't think you can beat the price (I think it's like 7-9 bucks a spool but don't quote me) you can spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on tinsel if you want but that to me is a little silly unless you are the elite of the elite tying show flies. Don't go too cheap though or your flies will never look quite right

 

[fredaevans]

Another positive vote for Lagartun

"Be specific to brands, sizes and colors."

The size of the fly will go a long way in dictating what size tinsel you use but if you just want to keep it simple get 'fine' and 'medium.' A spool of both silver and gold. Don't know if its still available (or where) but I have some that's actually silver on one side and gold on the other. I have copper but have had very little use for it over the years.

For oval, silver/medium will cover most of your needs.

 

[middlecalf]

I got my latest supply from chukarhun99, and it came with some flies!:smokin:

 

[borderfly]

Lagartun no other choice!

 

[GR8LAKES FLYER]

I like the shiny stuff .... :chuckle::chuckle:
I only use metal tinsels .
Lagartun works if I have it .
The Uni-tinsel works good too , I only tie flies for fishing though .


Mike

 

[flytyer]

Lagartun for my money is the best available in North America. Although of their oval in gold, silver, and copper; both sizes of their round in gold and silver (these are used for tips when both a tip and tag is called for because they are so nice and small); both gold and silver embossed; and all sizes of their flat in gold, silver, and copper, to get started, you don't need all the sizes Lagartun offers. Medium flat in gold and silver, extra fine round in gold and silver, and medium and large flat-laying oval in silver and gold are all you need to tie spey and dee flies.

Uni French tinsel is next best in my opinion. Medium flat, fine/medium, and large oval are all you need to get started.

The various mylar tinsels on the market are useful for tying an underbody to put floss over so it doesn't darken when wet. However, because mylar tinsels are not as strong as metallic ones, it is essential for you to put a coat of lacquer (head cement) on them after tying in and wrapping the floss over-body (or on the whole body if a flat tinsel body) to protect it from getting cut or broken by fish teeth or river rocks. Flat mylar in medium is the only size I use and only for underbodies. It usually has one color on one side and a different color on the other side. Gold/silver is the most common. It really doesn't matter which brand mylar tinsel because they are all virtually, if not, the same.

You don't need to buy the pearlescent flats and ovals for classic flies. Nor do you need the prismatic plastic tinsels for classic flies.

 

[domantas]

Three Advil pills later im back into searching for my new materials and Lagurtun tinsel is on top of the list.

Lagartun is a winner in everyones eyes but I cant find one good online supplier for all my Lagartun products. Is this company still in the game?

 

[aaronostoj]

Lagartun is out. Better stock up while you can find it.

Hopefully something will come along in the same class to replace it. Veevus oval looks nice, but I haven't had it in my hands.

Aaron

 

[pork]

I use Lag, but I just bought some veevus and it's pretty nice. They need to make it one size smaller than the small though. I have a fair amount of vintage French tinsel, so I use that too.

 

[failtospey]

Lagartun is out. Better stock up while you can find it.

Hopefully something will come along in the same class to replace it. Veevus oval looks nice, but I haven't had it in my hands.

Aaron

Take notice on what Aaron says... Why this is being discontinued is beside me....
I tried placing and order through my local shop and they literally said no... Hah, they do not carry discontinued items... And i heard Uni is not going to make their flat embossed any longer? Damnit!

 

[Marty]

It is true, Lagartun is out. I bought most of what Hareline had left in stock. For fishing flies I have started using Veevus and have found it to be a better material. For me I prefer the metallic tinsels, but I do use a number of Mylar tinsels. Veevus has the best pearl Mylar out there. Uni has some nice stuff as well. I am pretty disappointed with the news about Lagartun. I hope it is just an import issue, because I will, if I have to, order it from oversea.

 

[NVswitch]

Thank you for all your advice. I have started to track down some of the basic recommended tinsel. I have ordered from three shops so far and hopefully they have what they say what they have. it is hard to find the Largartun tinsel.
Thanks again for the help. Mike

 

[domantas]

Tinsel choice is giving me more headache than floss...I do have couple questions.

Until now I always used flat mylar tinsel for tags and ribbing. What are advantages and dI sadvantages of flat metal and modern mylar? Be specific why you prefer one over the other. I find that mylar tends to slip when tied in unless varnished from underneath, especially when tied as a tag. I prefer to stay away from superglue and varnish. I tie my mylar by overlapping and applying fair amount of tention but it still slips sometimes when its fished. Does metal flat tinsel donds better? I know metal flat tinsel should be tied edge to edge.

I got turned away from Lagurtun as it is not available anymore and it is very limited at this point. Plus with all the choices they offered its hard to commit on the items I need/want.

I would appreciate your input as I am trying to source and master some basic materials for this craft that will continue being in my blood a lifetime. You guys are great and very helpfull for ruckies like myself. Thank you.

 

[aaronostoj]

I would suggest one spool of the following :

small flat silver tinsel
Medium flat silver tinsel

Small oval silver tinsel
Medium oval silver tinsel

Small gold flat tinsel
Med gold flat tinsel
Medium gold oval

The above tinsel should cover 99% of the classic and traditional types of flies. Contact me and I can get you pointed in the right direction of a supplier that has these available.

You are correct about metal tinsel being wrapped edge to edge. You will find that you have to pay much more attention to the thread wraps under it, or else it will not lay flat. It is much more durable than mylar. It will cut your thread when you are tying it off, until you get the feel for how much pressure you can put on it. But, even though it can be hard to find and is more expensive, I feel the aesthetic benefits are worth it.

AO

 

[borderfly]

Lagartun is the best because of the quality, there is nothing better in my honest opinion. I have never had slipping issues with this product and you can't emboss plastic. It just looks better on your fly.

KC

 

[Marty]

I would suggest one spool of the following :

small flat silver tinsel
Medium flat silver tinsel

Small oval silver tinsel
Medium oval silver tinsel

Small gold flat tinsel
Med gold flat tinsel
Medium gold oval

The above tinsel should cover 99% of the classic and traditional types of flies. Contact me and I can get you pointed in the right direction of a supplier that has these available.



AO

Aaron you are thinking way to small. I use more large flat and large oval than any other, with the exception of fine or small oval for tips. The basic rule for classics is five open turns. Glasso only made 4 turns of ribbing on his classics. 3s and smaller the med. works well, 1.5 and larger you need the thick stuff.

Tied correctly I see no advantage between metallic and Mylar tinsels. Using Lagartun is like fishing a Hardy reel where Mylar is like fishing the new wave stuff. Obviously if you are trying to duplicate the classics of old (Atlantic Salmon Flies) and trying to use original materials instead of substitutes, the metallic (French) tinsels work best. At one point in my tying I would use nothing but natural materials. I have relaxed a bit in my old age and you will now find the use of synthetic materials on some of my flies. I have even started incorporating Veevus holographic tinsels in a few of my summer flies. A holographic blue bodied Muddler rock a few nice fish this year on the Deschutes. Tinsel is the least expensive part of the fly, you can never have too much tinsel.