Roger, Practice, practice, improvise, and experiment! :) Normally, what I do, is take the pictures of the fly after placing them in a vice. I use a (don't tell to many people how sophisticated this) a black binder behind the fly. I try to take the pictures in very bright light - outdoors if possible rather than use a flash. Flash sometimes washes the colours out.
Often, I will snap about 15 pictures of the same fly with different angles, with flash, with no flash, and just grab the best of the bunch. Somedays, they turn out great. Other times... I wish I had never seen a camera in my life! You can see what I mean if you want to 'flip' through this on-line gallery: http://flyfishing.about.com/library/swapgallery/blfly1.htm Myself, I really like the H & L Variant, Clan Cheif Variant, Mini Brown, Glo Bug Hopper, and Big Joe's Crayfish in this gallery. Sorry I can't offer any more sophisticated advice than this. It's a matter of getting a half decent background colour (sometimes, contrasting is not the best), and experimenting. Hope this helps! Ian > > > Ian - > Thanks for including the link to the furry crawdad. > I've got a digital camera and some furry 'dads tied up. > Your shot of Uncle > Joe's 'dad looks good. Any hints on taking pics of flies with a digital > camera? Maybe Bill and others with experience could chime in here on > background, lighting, flash or no, etc. It occurs to me also > that attachments > may be verbotin - Byard? > Regards, > Roger Cotner > Grand Haven, Michigan > > > Ian Scott wrote: > > > > Here's a picture of the Furry Crawdad that Roger tied up for one of my > > swaps. I took the picture before I had a digital camera, so > it's not the > > best pic in the world. The real thing was MUCH better: > > > > http://flyfishing.about.com/library/flyswaps/blcotner.htm > > > > Ian H. Scott > > ICQ # 27933066 > > > > Providing Goal Centered Internet Solutions > > PairoWoodies Publishing > > http://www.pairowoodies.com/ > > > > Fly Fishing Links and Resources > > http://flyfishing.about.com/ > > > > ******************************************** > > "Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and > > hornets break through" > > - Jonathan Swift > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Roger Cotner > > > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 3:43 PM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: Furry crawdad [was Re: [VFB] one more question for the > > > tyers/fishers] > > > > > > > > > Alan - > > > Happy to share it with you. It's a fun one to tie. Wish I > > > had a picture to > > > send along. If memory serves, I used the sandy leech yarn and > > > brown foam for > > > the bluegill and bass foam pattern swap. I also think I tied it > > > on a size 4 > > > hook. Tell me how it works for you. > > > Regards, > > > Roger Cotner > > > Grand Haven, Michigan > > > > > > Furry Crawdad > > > > > > Tied By Roger Cotner > > > > > > Roger's Notes and Instructions: > > > > > > History & Acknowledgements > > > > > > Bass love crawdads! Al Rockwood of Flies For > > > Michigan, developed the Furry Crawdad in > 1990 based on > > > patterns found in Dick > > > Stewart's Bass Flies. This pattern originated > > > with Walter > > > Siegried, with a nod to > > > Clouser and Ben Schley. Siegfried published in > > > Fishing World > > > in 1990. > > > > > > MATERIAL & TYING INSTRUCTIONS > > > > > > HOOK: Mustad 9672, Size 2-6 > > > THREAD: 3/0 Brown > > > WEIGHT: .035 Lead Wire > > > BODY: Sandy or Green Leech Yarn > > > BACK & HEAD: Olive or Brown Furry Foam > > > CLAWS: Fox Squirrel Tail - Two Bunches > > > > > > This crawdad swims backwards, so the eye of > > > the hook will be > > > under the tail. The > > > tying procedure may seem backward to you at first. > > > > > > 1. Wrap the thread from the hook eye to the > > > bend as usual. > > > 2. Leave 3" of lead wire free as you start to > > > wrap the lead > > > from 3/8" behind the > > > bend to the eye. Overlap the 3" tag end of the > > > wire at the > > > bend to form a carapace. > > > 3. Cut a strip of furry foam 3/8" wide and > > > taper one end to > > > form the head. Tie the > > > strip in by the nose (tapered end) at the bend > > > with the strip > > > hanging out beyond the > > > bend. > > > 4. Tie in a length of leech yarn at the nose. > > > 5. Cut a bunch of squirrel tail, taper the > > > butts, and tie it > > > in as the right claw between > > > the bend and the lead. Follow the same > > > procedure and tie in a > > > second bigger bunch > > > as the left claw, or vice versa (i.e., bigger > > > right claw than > > > left claw). Wrap each > > > claw at the base separately, circle the bunch > > > separately, and > > > then figure-eight them > > > apart. Apply head cement to the bunches and > > > wrap over them. > > > Take the thread to the > > > end of the lead overwrap. > > > 6. Wrap the leech yarn to form an underbody > > > from the nose to > > > the end of the > > > overwrapped lead. Finish wrapping the leech > > > yarn to the tail > > > and tie off and cut. > > > 7. Double the furry foam strip back over the > > > hook, between > > > the claws and wrap it > > > down with three wraps to define the carapace. > > > Spiral back to > > > form body segments > > > to the tail just behind the eye of the > hook and wrap > > > securely. Tie off and whip finish > > > under the tail. > > > 8. Trim the tail to shape and cut off excess > > > furry foam. > > > > > > Alan Di Somma wrote: > > > > > > > > Roger: > > > > I think a lot of us that fish for small nouth bass would like > > > to have the receipe and tying instructions, if you get a chance. > > > > > > > > Alan Di Somma > > > > phxflytyer > > > > Phoenix,Az. > > > > http://members.home.net/azflycasters/index.html > > > > > > > > --- Roger Cotner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > >Bob - > > > > > We were both in Dan's Bluegill and bass foam pattern > > > fly swap. Are you > > > > >referring to my furry crawdad fly? A 36" steelie? Wow! I > > > better tie up some > > > > >more of those! > > > > > Regards, > > > > > Roger Cotner > > > > > Grand Haven, Michigan > > > > > > > > > >Bob Haering wrote: > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > ><snip> I caught the steelhead on a copy of > > > > >> one of the foam swap flys the crayfish one while fishing for > > > smallmouths in > > > > >> the being of October. > > > > >> > > > > >> Bob > > > > ><snip> > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________ > > > > Get a FREE [EMAIL PROTECTED] email from---> > > http://www.floattuber.com >
