FLYMPH FORUM

Thankx Ray.....and yes, you are dead on right.....it is Kori. i lusted for some Kori for many years.......and then finally over a 2 or 3 year period i was able to score a pretty good stash. i should be ok now for the rest of my tyin' days.
The back side "matching" feather on the Yardbird fly is the same thing, only it's dyed Orange instead of Blue.....i just like to do nutty things like that, and idealy when the fly is on display, your able to see all the way around it........i'm really not into shadow box type of fly plate displays for my flies. i like them to be visiable all the way around, so one can get the full impact.....or viewpoint. Which is also why i don't nessessarily do them exactly the same on both sides. That's not art.....that's craft. Fine craftsmanship is rare, difficult and to be highly respected and appreciated.....but it's not art.....in and of itself, solely.
You know what art is.....and knowing that.....IS art. Art is a belief system.....and havin' the balls to stick to your guns. THE, way of life. But not for everyone.

OH! and don't forget what the legendary Polish detective Banaczech said, "Wise man does not play leapfrog with a Unicorn."

Dang, i almost forgot.....the front end of the Yardbird fly is not dubbed.........that's wraped and picked out (above and below), MoHair.

Awesome stuff, Mark. I especially like the sax player .

TKX. Bill.....the fly you posted at my site today is TERRIFIC! Way Cool.....

Here's one on a black Partridge (they're usually silver/nickle/whatever), Ad Swier Pike hook, 6/0 i believe..........i use these barbless hooks a lot for my Pike flies.....none of which are nessessarily tyed to actually be fished with, although you could, very easily. But since no two are identical.....i hardly ever use them.........they're just more or less collectors items. These hooks have a return wire eye, PERFECT for forming heads. This head absolutely needs another coat, and will get one before i sell it, give it away, donate it, whatever. That body material is some kinna synthetic hackle i got in England.....it (and some other colors), was in our Goodies Bags that they gave us.

Wow you have been BUSY! I am totally amazed when you say the first hook is almost a foot long. Wow I have problems filling a regular sized hook sometimes and the proportions are GREAT. Hmmmm. My favourite is the third though. I don't know if it's the colour combo or just I have a fascination with feathers but they are great. Looks like something I ran over with my car thrown in there too (just kidding ) Was the body material on the last one like a chenille that you can just wrap around the hook? It looks interesting and would make some pretty neat steelhead or pike flies You always have such way cool hooks too.



Vicki

Thankx Vicki.....that chunk of road kill is bout a 6 inch piece of one of Enrique Puglisi's big fat dubbing brushes. His booth was right behind me at the Fly Fishing Show in Denver this year and i've known him since '92 when i first met him at the Somerset, N.J. Fly Fishing Show. So i usually buy something from him whenever i see him. This last time i scored a bunch of dubbing brushes......they're incredable. Before the show was over i tyed him a fly using his materials, and gave it to him. He was a world class chef before the materials business took over his life. And he sure knows how to cook up a storm at the vise.
The body material on that last fly is a chennile yes.....you just wrap it and make sure to keep picking it out and keeping things in order as you go.....same way you work with dubbing brushes.....using a good strong bodkin.
As for hooks.....i'm just an incescent collector........hooks are fascinating and they make you do weird things..... .....i know, i know.....you just like to watch.

btw.....i'm already putting your next package together.....and it'll definately have more hooks in there.......

You better keep some for yourself.



Vicki

Vicki, not to worry..........trust me...........

Vicki - Did you get the Helen Shaw book from Mark yet? You are going to love it. I picked up a used copy last year. I read my copy cover to cover and picked up many helpful techniques. Mrs. Shaw did a great job of breaking techniques down to the foundation.

Not yet but I really can't wait. I have to meet the mailman every day even though it really hasn't been long enough yet!



Vicki