First effort at SWFFflies - Clouser and Sandeel

[steve101]

Got a package of saltwater tying materials i the post from the US today and had a go:
Sandeel (pattern from ukflydressing - MJB)
Hook: Daiicchi 2546 Size 1//0
Tail: White DNA Holofusion
Wing: White/Light Olive/Dark Olive Holofusion
Body: Silver Mylar
Throat: Red Krystal Flash


Not sure if this one is a bit bulky, but then sandeels are pretty bulky this time of the year aren't they? Maybe too much white reelative to the olive?

Clouser Minnow
Hook: Daiichi 2546 Size 2
Overwing: Green Bucktail/Silver Krystal Flash
Underwing: White Bucktail




Should the underwing be longer than the overwing here?

Any comments welcome.

[stevekale]

Clouser looks nice. With the DNA, taper it with your fingers before tying it in. By this I mean hold the DNA between thumb and forefinger of one hand and splay the material. Pull at the centre fibres so that they stick out longer than the ones on the sides. When you tie this in, folding it back as you should always do to double it over, you get a natural taper to the body. Further tapering, if need be, can be done with tapering scissors. If you wet yours, the tail is going to end in an abrupt fashion. Hope that helps. (one of the big pluses of bucktail is that it has a natural taper.)

[steve101]

Originally Posted by stevekale

Clouser looks nice. With the DNA, taper it with your fingers before tying it in. By this I mean hold the DNA between thumb and forefinger of one hand and splay the material. Pull at the centre fibres so that they stick out longer than the ones on the sides. When you tie this in, folding it back as you should always do to double it over, you get a natural taper to the body. Further tapering, if need be, can be done with tapering scissors. If you wet yours, the tail is going to end in an abrupt fashion. Hope that helps. (one of the big pluses of bucktail is that it has a natural taper.)

Steve
do you mean hold it at the tail end to pull out the middle?

[stevekale]

When tying with synthetics you always want to double the fibres over rather than tying them by the tips. It's more secure. So they need to be about 2x the length you want. Tie them in at the mid point, fold back and tie them down.

Before doing this, hold the fibres between thumb and forefinger of one hand at the middle point. Fan the material out laterally a bit. (Just slip your fingers back and forth a little (don't let go of the material). With your other hand, tug at the centre fibres so that they stick out longer than the ones on the sides. Now you've tapered each end. Tie it in at the middle point, fold over and tie down. You'll have a tapered tail.

[steve101]

Steve
thanks - great tip

[stevekale]

Just remember that this tapering lengthens the fibre being tied in. So start with a shorter length.

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:34 PM ----------

PS: add some eyes and coat the head in Bug Bond or epoxy (or similar). Personally I think eyes make a big difference. (You can add a pupil etc to the clouser dumbbell if you want too - coat it with same)

Here's a Deceiver to give you an idea of eyes:

[steve101]

Eyes and epoxy are on my next list from ebay