|
Post by trent on Nov 21, 2008 17:16:01 GMT -5
It is my understanding that fly tyers may collect things for future use that the average person would consider garbage.
The example that comes to mind is a friend of Pat's he has told me about. I hope Pat doesn't mind me sharing this. Whenever this person brushes his dogs, the hair goes in a bag. I think they have hair going back generations. Anyway, they use this hair and make a fly they call the "family scud". Supposedly it is killer on their resident trout and also a nice way to honor dogs from yesteryear.
Anybody do anything similar?
|
|
|
Post by rstaight on Nov 22, 2008 9:30:35 GMT -5
Trent,
The H.R. person where I work is the true sterotypically country girl. She raises ducks, guineas, and pheasents. This summer she gave a plastic grocery bag with feathers she picked up out of the barn yard.
I have a tri color collie and his under fur when brushed is the perfect shade of gray for dubbing on an Adams dry fly. I hate to admit I have been know to use it.
I also remember reading about some antigue fly patterns (I can't recall the book at this time) where one of the materials was "Blonde Hair From A Child".
If you pick feathers off the ground be careful. If you have a protected spiecies ie:Redtail Hawk you may find yourself in a lot of trouble.
Yes, we can have a tendancy to "collect" some items that most people would through away. Our spouses are very understanding with all of of the hide patches and bird pelts that we tend to use for our hobby.
|
|
|
Post by radioflyer on Nov 22, 2008 9:52:38 GMT -5
I keep some of the high density foam that's used as packaging material. I've also kept cat hair from my two kitties as dubbing but haven't as of yet used any. My wife is a chemist at purdue and gets a crazy assortment of plastic tubes, boxes, etc that weird 'chemistry' stuff comes in...she brings it home and makes for great storage for all sorts of tying materials.
rf
|
|
|
Post by radioflyer on Nov 22, 2008 9:56:33 GMT -5
...oh, and what's kinda neat is that we had, couple years ago, a pair of peacocks that ran the properties down where our lake cabin is in Parke Co. Everyone around the lake knew I tied so every time I'd go to the lake there'd be small ziplocks with peacock feathers in them inside my front door. Whenever someone ran across a feather they'd bring it to me.
Of course there were a few flyfishers down on the lake but none would tie except myself. In the mornings when we'd see each other fishing they'd pull alongside and I'll give them flies. Best way in the world to make friends...just give fellow flyfishers some flies. I tie more than I could ever use anyway!
rf
|
|
|
Post by reelteacher on Nov 22, 2008 20:08:26 GMT -5
Once you start tying, your instinct is to start collecting potential fly dressings. I have so much junk that I've picked up at fabric stores and odd places. My favorite place to get cheap fly materials is the "Feast of the Hunter's Moon" Every year I pick up new furs, usually the throw away stuff, from every type of animal that lives in North America. What a great place! And usually I get the added bonus of a history lesson from the vendor. The newest tip I recieved was from a gentlemen who attended Chad's fly-tying class with me. When he goes to the dentist, he asks the dentist for old dental tools, like metal picks, and hooks. The dentist usually will give these away free, because they just throw them away anyway. These sharp pointed instruments are very handy for fly tying. You can use them for many different applications from applying head cement to cleaning out the hook eye, to teasing out the dubbing on your flies. I haven't personally tried this yet, but I see my dentist next month and I'm going to ask.
|
|
|
Post by krebsie on Nov 23, 2008 8:11:24 GMT -5
Trent Fly Tying, is not just a craft! It is art! In its own way it is a form of being an inventor, a way to say "Hey I created this or that and it works or it looks good." The rules are just for the beginner. Once you master the basics like, how to start the thread on a hook. From that point on YOU are the inventor. Anything goes. The way YOU do something is the way it's done. But always keep your eyes open for a better way for YOU to do it. Someone says "This is how it's done" Baaah, let me show you how I do it, it works better for me, or wow I never though of doing it like that. This kind of mindset translates right in to the collection of materials and things. I'm constantly amazed at the stuff that people tie on to a hook for fly material, and my thought is almost always "Why didn't I think of that" or "I just threw out a whole bunch of that" or "Who has a tan colored cat that I can skin out! Sorry you cat lovers out there, ok comb out. My only advice for collecting materials is Don't go out and buy a bunch of junk just because you think you might use it some day. Buy, collect, trade, materials for a particular pattern your going to tie and the leftovers will translate into different patterns later. Thus the need for boxes, drawers, bottels.... and eventually your own tying room! If your wife is as gracious and understanding as mine. Krebsie
|
|
|
Post by trent on Nov 25, 2008 15:21:55 GMT -5
Lots of good stories!
I'll just need to get a better idea of what some of the useful things are to start putting aside.
I have a Weimaraner and I bet the short gray hairs would come in handy for something.
Does anyone tan their own hides? I would think this time of year with all the hunting going on, even if you didn't hunt, you could get lots hides or skins to tan. Would this be a good thing to pursue, or more trouble than it is worth?
|
|
|
Post by rstaight on Nov 25, 2008 17:05:51 GMT -5
Trent,
I don't know of anyone who tans there own hides.
You can get quit a few flies out of a $10 strip deer hair and it will last you longer then you thought it ever would. I have elk hair patches that are about 2" x 3" that I got for Christmas about 3 years ago that I haven't opened yet. It depends on how much you use and what type of hair.
Unless you can find 20 or 30 tyers that would be willing to share the cost of tanning I wouldn't pursue it. Thats alot of body and belly hair if you only use amounts about the size of a pencil for a dozen or so flies a year.
|
|
|
Post by krebsie on Nov 26, 2008 6:06:14 GMT -5
Trent When I first started tying I couldn't afford to buy supplies. My wife and I would go to Kankakee Ill. to the bird show and buy Bantam chickens for a couple bucks. I would skin them out, neck and saddle, then stretch and salt them. This preserves the hide forever as long as they don't get moist. It's a good alternative to the expensive tanning process and it works on anything. If anyone is interested I would be glad to post the how to. Let me know? Oh yea, I am still using some of the capes I salted 21 years ago.
|
|
|
Post by trent on Nov 26, 2008 8:37:04 GMT -5
Krebsie:
I'd like to hear about the salting process. Is this only good for birds or can it be applied to any kind of game?
Do you still go to the Kankakee show from time to time? I'd like to get a few pigeons and understand you can pick them up there. I've just never been.
T-
|
|
|
Post by flyfishingpastor on Nov 26, 2008 20:35:20 GMT -5
Trent; I certainly don't mind your sharing that story. My friend David that you were talking about has a HUGE bag of hair that he uses when he ties "Family Scud." He has five generations of golden retriever hair in that bag and he shares it with friends all over the country. I can swear to the effectiveness of this fly on SW Wisconsin's spring creeks. The brownies LOVE it. David's dogs are quite accomplished working dogs, he hunts them on pheasant, ducks, grouse and huns and anywhere he is fishing, one of his dogs is standing RIGHT BESIDE him in the river. If he's not careful when he releases the fish, the dogs will grab it (softly) - he calls it practicing "fetch and release." He loves to tell his english setter owning friends that "...a trout will eat every bit of golden hair they can find but wouldn't swim across the creek for a truckload of setter hair!" Come to think of it; I'm down to my last couple of "Family Scuds;" it's time to beg somemore (certainly before spring). Pat
|
|
|
Post by Tippecanoe Fly Fishers Admin on Nov 27, 2008 22:57:01 GMT -5
Trent I know guy that tan there own hides and for my money I would rather buy the stuff then go through that process.
However, I don't hunt, So I don't get "free" hides to tan anyway.
Edit- The salting thing is pretty easy to do. I guess when I hear tanning I am tniking of making buckskin which is a lot longer and smellier of a process.
|
|
|
Post by phishphinder on Dec 3, 2008 13:07:16 GMT -5
Hey I don't tie flies, only shoes for right now. I can collect some material for anyone interested. Before my shower I always clean the lent from my navel. Could this be used for dubbing? Let me know, it will be free of charge. Big navel, lots of dubbing. On the serious side, I do have an old deer hide that I would be glad to donate some pieces for the monthly sessions.
|
|
|
Post by rstaight on Dec 3, 2008 13:19:04 GMT -5
Phishphinder,
The tying session on December 4th at Sportsman's is on deer hair. The more deer hair we have the bigger the mess we can make.
|
|
|
Post by trent on Dec 3, 2008 17:03:57 GMT -5
Phishphinder:
does the navel lint have any flash to it? Does it come in chartreuse?
|
|