2nd batch of flies off the vice

[steve101]

I posted an f-fly and a Hares Ear Nymph last week and got some useful comments. Been working over the last few days and here are a few off the vice - comments and feedback requested.

F-fly
Thread: Black 14/0
Hook 18 dry fly
1 CDC Feather




Hares Ear
Thread Brown 8/0
Hook 12 dry fly
Tail Pheasant Tail fibres
Dubbing Hares fur
Wingcase Pheasant Tail Fibres



Random Olive type fly (used materials at hand to practice dry fly dubbing and hackle winding) - this is pretty rough.
Thread 8/0 brown (kept snapping 14/0 thread trying to secure hackle)
Dubbing Fly-rite dark brown
Tails brown fibbets
Hackle Grizzle cock

[stevekale]

Getting better by the minute.

Halve the head again on the F-fly but careful not to crowd the eye.

Hare's Ear is looking better. Keeping working on a tighter dubbing of the abdomen and pick out the thorax a bit more. You didn't get the first few turns tight enough. Much better taper though. Finer wire for the rib.

Last one, don't forget the taper. I'll bet you didn't snap the 14/0 thread but rather cut it on the hook point. When tying in a tail, angle the fibres downwards (from left to right) against the shank at the tying point. Use thread torque to then roll the fibres to the top of the shank and anchor them down. Check the tail length (one shank length) with another hook the same as you're using. If not right, unwind the tail and re-tie. Make sure you have a bit of bare stem showing on the hackle before you wind (i.e. measure the length accurately so that you have this). Then you'll have less of an issue with the first fibres going all over the place.

Hope this helps

[steve101]

Steve
thnaks for the feedback, exactly what I'm looking for. I might pick your brains a little more if you don't mind.

Originally Posted by stevekale

Halve the head again on the F-fly but careful not to crowd the eye.

I think the issue is I'm not confident of a secure hold with fewer wraps - will reduce number of wraps and keep back from the eye.

Originally Posted by stevekale

Hare's Ear is looking better. Keeping working on a tighter dubbing of the abdomen and pick out the thorax a bit more. You didn't get the first few turns tight enough. Much better taper though. Finer wire for the rib.

Really noticing what people mean when they say less is more dubbing - will reduce further, what about the thickness of the abdoman - is it a bit thick?
Re the wire - I have gold tinsel type stuff (as shown) and copper wire (small) - would copper wire be better here?
How about the thickness of the thorax?

Originally Posted by stevekale

Last one, don't forget the taper. I'll bet you didn't snap the 14/0 thread but rather cut it on the hook point. When tying in a tail, angle the fibres downwards (from left to right) against the shank at the tying point. Use thread torque to then roll the fibres to the top of the shank and anchor them down. Check the tail length (one shank length) with another hook the same as you're using. If not right, unwind the tail and re-tie. Make sure you have a bit of bare stem showing on the hackle before you wind (i.e. measure the length accurately so that you have this). Then you'll have less of an issue with the first fibres going all over the place.

This one is rough - second attempt at dry fly dubbing and hackleing (sic)
Thread snapped alright, it was up by the eye - unless it had weakened earlier by touching the hook point.
Good tip about the bare stem of the hackle - I noticed it was splaying all over the place on the first rotation.

About the taper on this fly - would you keep the same amount of dubbing and increase no. of turns as you go up the abdoman or increase the amount of dubbing as you move up (I'm guessing the former)?

Originally Posted by stevekale

Hope this helps

definately helps

thanks
steve

[stevekale]

Originally Posted by steve101

I think the issue is I'm not confident of a secure hold with fewer wraps - will reduce number of wraps and keep back from the eye.

Two firm wraps will hold most materials.

Originally Posted by steve101

what about the thickness of the abdoman - is it a bit thick?

Looks good to me. Tighter at the tail

Originally Posted by steve101

Re the wire - I have gold tinsel type stuff (as shown) and copper wire (small) - would copper wire be better here?

The pattern calls for fine gold wire but try a few with the copper wire to get the hang of things. They'll still catch.

Originally Posted by steve101

How about the thickness of the thorax?

Looks good to me. Could be a fraction fatter.

Originally Posted by steve101

About the taper on this fly - would you keep the same amount of dubbing and increase no. of turns as you go up the abdoman or increase the amount of dubbing as you move up (I'm guessing the former)?

I prefer to try (I'm not always successful and good dubbing is a real skill) to keep a relatively constant amount of dubbing (except for the very beginning) and, rather than more turns as you head forwards, to go to the 60% point and then head back a bit and then forward again to build the taper. A finer, tighter dubbing will build a neater, more durable fly. (In some cases, for example working with seals fur wets, you want a shaggy body but not necessarily with a little dry of the style you are attempting.)

Grab some Superfine dubbing and tie a few of these for practice.

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/fly...fm?parentID=93

You'd be surprised as to how you will improve. A few months of tying and you'll look at your first 20 attempts at these and toss them in the trash. I did that on Saturday.