FLYMPH FORUM

Willowhead - how do you secure the bead? Is it glued, or do you just secure it in position with tying thread and / or materials? And where do you get hold of hooks like that?

I'm gonna have to have a go!!

Yes, i very often do clue the bead(s)........but not always. All depends on wether it's nessessary........sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.........kinna like a Mounds Bar or an Almond Joy. "sometimes"..................... There are even occassions when it would normally be nessessary to one degree or the other.....but i still don't. And that's because i want the eventual owner of the fly, to be able to rotate the bead.....if he or she chooses to do that. Give 'em the option.....because the beads are VERY often different on opposite sides.
Far as hooks go.....it would take me all day to go into all that..........but surfice it to say.....(just as in the case of the beads).....anywhere and everywhere. But in the case of that particular hook.....i have a couple/three sources. i get them directly from Jens Pilgaard.....the man who originally designed it. He lives in Denmark. http://www.flytying.dk
i also get them directly from Mark Hammnet who lives in England and who owns Partridge, and i get them when and where ever i can. i may find some in a fly shop "somewhere"............and i'm in maybe 40/50 fly shops a year or more......or there may be some in a silent or live auction somewhere, at a show.....or i may swap another tyer for some, because i have something he needs.....could be almost anything. Last time i bought that exact hook was directly from Mark Hammnet at a show in Ireland back in June. We had arranged that before either of us ever got there so i could save shipping charges.
We have a HUGE hook collection.....allllllllllllll kinna hooks..........although i must say it has significantly dwindled over the last 6/7 years because i have given so much of it away........but we can still never use all we have in whatever number of years we have left.....even if i wasn't on the road all the time. i'd have to be 12 years old, and tye for a lifetime twice, to maybe use it up. And i like sharin' it. i don't buy hooks as much as i use to, and we get them free from Daiichi and Gamakatsu. Bout all i buy anymore, is blind eyes and every now and again, somethin' that strikes my fancy because it's "Different."

OK Prepare to be dazzled, or not. I present for your viewing pleasure (drum roll please)

The Candy Cane



Bit of a funny angle but it shows off the body better. Doesn't hold a candle to Mark's but be patient!

I kind of messed up the hook Mark. It was fine after the tie but I stuck it back into the vice and when I took it out some of the paint came off. Probably the cheapo piece of cra- vice I used. I'm thinking of using a little felt pad to protect the hook. What do you usually do?


Vicki

Hey Vicki, that is WAY Cool.....heck of a tye.....are you serving that in a chunk of Wasabi? i trust a bottle of Saki goes with it? And a little shaved Ginger.
Seriously, you did a VERY nice job. Looks like you have a second butt (which would mean it has it's head up it's ***) between the body and the head....kind of a cool idea.....very interesting.....novel to say the least.....i like the colors a lot. The technical side aint bad at all.....pretty darn nice head.....work on keeping that gap filled in between the head and the forward butt. But it is fantastic for a first one.....so, welcome to the dark side. Let the force be with you.

Yeah, I have no idea in H E double hockey sticks what I'm doing I've been checking out some classic streamers, salmon flies, your flies and just came up with this! It looks more like a fishing fly (a very bright coloured fishing fly) but it's seasonal.


Vicki

i REALLY like it a LOT Vicki.....you have all the potential in the world.....technically and artistically. What has to come with that if you really want to do these flies or any flies.....is the DESIRE.....the drive and the determination........to keep at it and to improve and grow.....to challange yourself.....and to eventually find your own voice. And don't forget to please yourself FIRST.....you got nothin' to prove to anyone.....do it for YOU, and then others will appreciate it, becuase your hearts in there where it's sposed to be.

Very cool Vicki...

And very seasonal - I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see it coming down my chimney...

Andrew.

Vicki, Howdy;

As GlassJet said very Seasonal. Hang a dozen of them on the tree and it's half way trimmed...
GOOD LOOKIN' FLY!
hank

hank.....be even better if all dozen were individually different.....THAT'S the idea.....no "patterns" allowed. But i'm with you in spirit.

Ah shucks thanks guys. You're more than generous!

I really love the hook shape and wanted to accent that. Besides I don't have anywhere near the materials that Mark has. Plus I really don't have any idea what I'm doing!


Vicki