|
This is a thread about making things with which to catch fish. It's also a thread for trading materials and finished flies and lures, but if you're trying to sell things for profit you should probably take it to SA Mart. Post your projects, your questions, and advice for people getting started. I'll be updating the poo poo out of this OP, so please contribute content for it! Especially about tying flies, I don't know dick about that.
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 00:37
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 28, 2024 04:46 |
|
|
I mostly work with lead. These were some of the first things I made when I picked up the hobby: 3/8 oz walking sinkers and crappie jigs.  Some of the jig mold designs out there are pretty unique. This one is a Gravedigger jig made with a mold from Do-It. For my money, Do-It makes the best lead molds on the market. There are other mold companies out there (Palmer, Li'l Mac, Herters back in the day), but I wouldn't gently caress with any of those unless you have a specific reason. Here are the molds that I have at the moment. Feel free to ask questions; I could talk about this poo poo all day but never know where to begin. A Pack of Kobolds fucked around with this message at 00:40 on Sep 21, 2019 |
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 00:38
|
|
|
Glad someone started a thread for this. Just wanted to say that people learning to tie could do what I do and tie with stuff you find in the craft department at Wal-mart or dollar store and stuff you find outside: feathers from chickens or pet ducks and hair from dogs, cats, goats, cows, and horses. Some of the fancier fly tying materials are too expensive and you can emulate most of them with cheaper alternatives. Do not make anything out of feathers of wild birds, even if you just find it on the ground. The feathers may be pretty, but it's probably illegal to possess - especially if they are from migratory birds. And I always pinch my barbs down - especially if I'm whipping them around on a fly rod. Unperson_47 fucked around with this message at 06:44 on Sep 21, 2019 |
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 06:36
|
|
|
Unperson_47 posted:Glad someone started a thread for this. Same, this thread is awesome. That Do-It website is blownig my mind right now. I'm also in the 100% pinch my barbs down and my dad always gives me poo poo for it but in all the years I've been doing it I haven't lost fish for it.
|
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 14:59
|
|
|
I have 1 billion chicken feathers if anyone can use them
|
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 19:55
|
|
|
I know how to tie like 3 flies but I am looking forward to trying more now that I've inherited an actual bench!
|
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 23:10
|
|
|
  I'm gonna set my vise up for the first time this upcoming week after I get some thread and some wire for wooly buggers.
|
|
#
?
Sep 21, 2019 23:46
|
|
|
Didn't get time to document making any new stuff over the weekend, so here's some pics of stuff I have laying around.  These are brand new molds. I'll treat them with some Drop-Out before I use them, but this is as pretty as they get.  Some unpainted flathead jigs of various size. These ones have DuraTin hooks specifically for saltwater.  A bunch of unpainted roundhead jigs of various size.   Brass zonar lures. Well, they will be with some split rings and hooks.  Tub 'o Midwest Finesse. Some with hosed up paint!  Midwest Finesse detail. Owner hook on the left, Mustad hook on the right. Owner hooks are far more expensive and I'm sincerely curious how much of a difference it makes.  Powder painting is sort of tricky to get the hang of. The concept is simple, but it does take some practice to do good paint consistently.  Dang, I'm running low on walking sinkers. I should make more.  Heavier stuff, like cannonball sinkers and an in-line trolling sinker that I'm probably going to melt and recast. See the weird folds in the metal? You don't want that. The lead started cooling before it could properly form, caused in part by my lovely ladle and an unbroken-in mold.
|
|
#
?
Sep 23, 2019 23:09
|
|
|
Ghostnuke posted:I have 1 billion chicken feathers if anyone can use them Replied in the other thread, but I will totally take feathers - especially rooster hackle. Out here, it's pretty much pheasant tail nymphs, duracell jigs, and parachutes for days. Chicken feathers are super versatile and excellent tying materials for a ton of things. Especially rooster hackle. Saddle and cape hackle is something I tear through when tying. Other hackle is good, but the hackle feathers I tear through every season. It sucks to buy $50 in feathers and then realize you're down a giant pad because you're tying so many flies for yourself and your buddies. At least now I get them to buy the loving materials. 
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 04:45
|
|
|
Xpost from the other thread re:materialsthe yeti posted:Well squirrel and rabbit season is about to open, if I end up with any tails or ears kicking around I’ll post here
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 14:27
|
|
|
I need to pay more attention to materials and tying methods and such. Bucktail and marabou jigs are perennial classics, and the only thing that's stopping me from making them is inexperience. Also tools and knowledge.  Does anyone have any advice on things to specifically avoid when looking for materials? My understanding is that craft store feathers usually have lovely dye that washes out in water, but are any worth loving with?
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 17:01
|
|
|
you're in luck. I've just opened a new store selling bespoke artisinal, locally organically grown feathers. I shall post some pictures of my currently available stock once I have time to responsibly harvest some from my free-range feather growers.
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 17:11
|
|
|
That's really cool! I'm now very curious about responsible feather harvesting.
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 17:57
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:That's really cool! I'm now very curious about responsible feather harvesting. I think that if you do it right you get some eggs with the deal. Harry Potter on Ice posted:Same, this thread is awesome. That Do-It website is blownig my mind right now. I'm also in the 100% pinch my barbs down and my dad always gives me poo poo for it but in all the years I've been doing it I haven't lost fish for it. I should really get into the habit of pinching down my barbs since salmon regs so frequently require it. Also, if you're digging the Do-It stuff, you should totally request a free print catalog. It's a great toilet read.
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 18:02
|
|
|
After goring a few fish who swallowed my flies real deep, I've debarbed my stuff. I caught my personal best immediately after and didn't have any trouble keeping it; that made me feel even better about it. However I did the same to my wife's hook on a spinner, and it kept allowing her worms to fall off.
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 21:24
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:After goring a few fish who swallowed my flies real deep, I've debarbed my stuff. I caught my personal best immediately after and didn't have any trouble keeping it; that made me feel even better about it. However I did the same to my wife's hook on a spinner, and it kept allowing her worms to fall off. When you say spinner, are you talking about a lure like a Mepps Aglia or a rod and reel? If rod and reel, you could swap out the hook that she used for a baitholder hook. You could pinch the barb and still have the little spurs (or whatever they're called) on the shank. If you're talking about a spinner lure, I'm not sure whether or not swapping out the treble hook would affect the action. I hope not, because gently caress treble hooks all of the time.
|
|
#
?
Sep 24, 2019 21:41
|
|
|
I meant rod/reel; thanks, I'll have to find some of those hooks.
|
|
#
?
Sep 25, 2019 06:49
|
|
|
One of my favorite materials to use is Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift yarn. It’s got really nice translucency when it’s wet, plus really buggy variegated colors. Best colors I’ve used are the Autumn and Buttercup. Mostly use them for Killer Bugs and Killer Buggers, which seem to work well everywhere I fish. It’s fairly durable, cheap, and a skein is basically a lifetime supply of any given color. Autumn   Autumn, buttercup, and some blue color I forget the name of offhand. 
|
|
#
?
Sep 25, 2019 14:47
|
|
|
 Beautiful work. This is the good poo poo. Gooch181 posted:I meant rod/reel; thanks, I'll have to find some of those hooks. No problem! They're really common. Also and for what it's worth, I've had best luck with worms when I really gob them up on the hook, securely skewering them over the hook a bunch of times and covering it that way, especially when fishing off the bottom with a Carolina rig or similar. In fact, one of the reasons I started pouring lead was for egg and walking sinkers for bottomfishing rigs. Being able to dial in the particular weight you need can be a huge advantage.
|
|
#
?
Sep 25, 2019 17:01
|
|
|
Alright, I poked around a bit today and here's what I've got at the moment. I'm guessing y'all don't want bigass wing feathers, so most of the current floof looks like one of these two:  A lot of the birbs are still growing their adult feathers so I'll have more variety once that happens.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 04:22
|
|
|
  I'm doing a thing! Took me an embarrassing amount of time to figure out how to load my bobbin, but I'm on my way.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 17:22
|
|
|
Forgive my double post, but I have breaking news! I present the Wu Tang Wooly Bugger, made exclusively from whatever random stuff I had.  It sure ain't neat, and it sure ain't pretty, but it's a start!
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 18:57
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:Forgive my double post, but I have breaking news! HELL YES!  It's going to feel so loving good when you catch a fish on that. And you will catch a fish on that, 'cause fish are gonna gently caress with it. They will want to know the secrets of the Wu Tang.Please do not worry about double posting in this thread! It needs as many posts as it can get, and project updates are like the entire point.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 19:13
|
|
|
Wu Tang Bugger ain't nothing to gently caress with! Catching Record Exciting Actinopterygii, Mainly CREAM catch and release yall
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 20:15
|
|
|
I'm kind of expecting it to unravel when cast, because I'm far from certain I did the whip finish correctly.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 20:35
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:I'm kind of expecting it to unravel when cast, because I'm far from certain I did the whip finish correctly. There's always superglue.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 21:32
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:Forgive my double post, but I have breaking news! That will absolutely catch fish. As a general rule, the fuglier the fly, the more fish like it. Try putting your hook in the vise so the shank is level may help you keep stuff in place while you’re tying. You’re off to a good start, keep at it! There’s nothing like catching that first fish on a fly you tied yourself. Ghostnuke posted:Alright, I poked around a bit today and here's what I've got at the moment. I'm guessing y'all don't want bigass wing feathers, so most of the current floof looks like one of these two: Those would both make very nice soft hackles. Also, if you take primary flight feathers and split the quill, the shorter bits from the leading edge are biots, and they’re used for all kinds of things, like legs on Prince nymphs and wrapped for nymph bodies. Also can use matched fibers from primaries for making wings and some fancy salmon flies, but I’ve never used them.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 21:53
|
|
|
Ok, I'll start saving feathers then. Maybe I can fill up baby priority mail boxes and send them out.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 21:56
|
|
|
Ghostnuke posted:Ok, I'll start saving feathers then. Maybe I can fill up baby priority mail boxes and send them out. Man, I love priority mail for shipping lead products but it seems like you could completely fill an envelope with feathers and not require more than a single stamp. Really nice of you to offer up the feathers, though! I hope that sort of helping each other out will become common ITT. I'm certainly happy to help anyone out with any materials that I have laying around, just ask. Dr Ozziemandius posted:That will absolutely catch fish. As a general rule, the fuglier the fly, the more fish like it. Now, I've heard people both stress the "match the hatch" angle as well as the "you're better off using anything except for matching the hatch since you want to offer the fish something different to bite since they're used to the hatch." There's no shortage of contradictory advice and information out there in fishing world, but this is very much something that people have strong opinions about. What's your take on this, keeping their fugly fly preference in mind? quote:There’s nothing like catching that first fish on a fly you tied yourself. I've never caught a fish on a fly that I tied, but catching a dinky yellow perch for the first time freelining a jighead that I made and painted was a profoundly gratifying experience.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 22:32
|
|
|
Anyone have a hot source for picking up a bunch of fly hooks, or should I just continue to buy the mustad packets at the shop?
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 22:58
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:Anyone have a hot source for picking up a bunch of fly hooks, or should I just continue to buy the mustad packets at the shop? Dial in exactly what you need in terms of size and style with the packets from the shop, then order boxes of 1,000 of your preferred hooks from one of many online suppliers. Check eBay, too. It's not always wildly consistent, but you can find some gems there sometimes.
|
|
#
?
Sep 26, 2019 23:18
|
|
|
|
|
#
?
Sep 27, 2019 00:37
|
|
|
A Pack of Kobolds posted:
It seems to me that you would want to match what they're feeding on, but add a little extra for attention. Like if you're throwing a shad look alike, maybe add a small spinner to set it apart.
|
|
#
?
Sep 27, 2019 01:47
|
|
|
Well the other one was clearly Ol' Dirty Bastard. Is this Raekwon? Ghostnuke posted:It seems to me that you would want to match what they're feeding on, but add a little extra for attention. Like if you're throwing a shad look alike, maybe add a small spinner to set it apart. I wonder if this has anything to do with my predilection towards yellow perch pattern lures. Everything eats those (me included).
|
|
#
?
Sep 28, 2019 00:26
|
|
|
 I kept breaking the little feathers I was trying to use to add the wooly leggy fuzz. Internet was out so I was just freestyling it. I picked up some beads, different threads, and some olive colored materials to play with. I also got some nymph hooks, to try making some of those.
|
|
#
?
Sep 28, 2019 03:53
|
|
|
 Been tying duracells like mad lately. Super productive jig pattern out here.
|
|
#
?
Sep 28, 2019 16:37
|
|
|
Looks good! Maybe I'll have to try to do something like that. What hooks you using?
|
|
#
?
Sep 28, 2019 21:03
|
|
|
Gooch181 posted:Looks good! Maybe I'll have to try to do something like that. What hooks you using? Standard offset jig hooks with a slotted bead. I think they’re Tiemco size 14s.
|
|
#
?
Sep 29, 2019 15:38
|
|
|
A Pack of Kobolds posted:
I started fly fishing with tenkara, so I never really tried matching the hatch. The whole “One Fly” thing is really kinda marketing bullshittery from TenkaraUSA; it’s a real thing, but not how most people fish, usually it’s just people that have been doing it for years and try it for a season or two to challenge themselves. Even then, it’s not really just one fly, it’s one pattern, which they’ll fish in a variety of sizes. My personal take on matching is based on Bob Wyatt’s What Trout Want. Basically, fish don’t care what the fly is, because they’ll hit anything that’s in the water under the right conditions. Far more important is the presentation of the fly, basically where in the water column it’s riding. For really strong hatches, like one that makes you say “Holy poo poo that’s a lot of mayflies I’m inhaling”, he feels there is a certain reflexive trigger brought on to encourage trout to take best advantage of an abundant food source, and that reflex will make them ignore flies that are too different from the ongoing hatch. In those conditions, which are pretty rare, his take is that you do need to match the size and roughly the color of whatever the hatch is, but the pattern is irrelevant. Basically, if it’s about the right size and color (light vs dark, not like the exact Pantone number matching colors), then trout will hit it, as long as it’s in the right spot. It’s a great book, and I highly recommend picking it up, he’s got tying instructions and illustrations for all the flies he uses. Basically CDC and elk for everything, tied in a couple sizes, and in a couple forms (emergers, drys, wetflies, heavy wets).
|
|
#
?
Sep 30, 2019 16:23
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 28, 2024 04:46 |
|
|
Double posting ‘cause I’m tying flies this week. Stocked up on some of my favorite patterns to tie, big tailed Killer Buggers and my micro version of the Muddy Buddy.  Modified my usual pattern for KB’s, I got some SemperFli Straggle Legs last week and wanted to try it out. Basically makes a mock-egg-sucking-leech pattern out of it, I guess? I love killer buggers, and probably fish them more than any other fly, I tie them from size 16 up to size 8 or 10 or so. Mostly keep ‘em around the size 10-12. With a bead for deeper fishing, with a glass bead to lighten them up for subsurface. I like the big tails, I make them from 2 soft hackles of whatever I have laying around (peacock body feathers are my favorite), matched for size and tied in one on each side of the shank. It gives it a parachute effect that slows down the sink rate, as well as keeping more of a vertical profile in the water. Think more like a minnow’s tail and less like a tadpole. Anyway, just about everything will eat them, just about any time of year.  MiniMuddyBuddy. Muddy Buddy’s are usually a decently big streamer-y thing, like size 4 streamer hooks or so. The spun deer head gives them a good gurgle when they’re stripped through the water, and apparently displaces more water than a normal head, which supposedly triggers more attention in low visibility. I tie up a mini version to use on tenkara rods, and for bluegill and trout. Squirrel zonker tail, some flash, then 3 or 4 wraps of the zonker on the shaft, with chenille in front, a couple rubber legs, then spun deer hair for the head. The real version uses a cone instead of a bead for weight, but I wanted to use my long shank jig hooks, so this run of them have beads. I vary the color of everything when I’m tying bigger ones, but I only have the one color of micro squirrel zonkers right now.  Same fly prior to trimming. Using spun deer hair is a hoot, but it’s messy as hell and kinda intimidating at first. Once I practiced a few times, it’s fun, and there’s something extremely satisfying about trimming it down to a nice tight head, especially with a razor blade or Xacto knife. Most important thing is to make sure you pack the hell out of it as you go, and to realize that deer hair and bucktail, while looking quite similar, are NOT the same thing.
|
|
#
?
Oct 1, 2019 17:25
|
|