I learned to tie them from a posting on this list about a year ago. One change in the procedure below was to tie in two strips of foam and when the fly is finished then cut each strip into thirds. I find it a lot easier to tie in this manner.
Also, I clip the bottom strips real short so that it stays upright when in the water. Ed At 11:27 AM 8/13/02, you wrote: >Hi Bill >I assume you are refering to Gary LaFontaines pattern. The instructions arein >his book Proven Paterns. Here are the instructions incase you don't have a >copy >of his book > >HOOK: 8-16 wide gap, ringed eyed dry fly hook (TMC 101) >BODY: Dubbed mink fur. >WING: Elk or Deer hair >HEAD: Transluscent closed cell foam. > >Step 1: Dub a body for the rear 1/3 of the hook shank. Dubbing should be >rough. >Step 2: Tie in a deer hair wing ( tips extending back to the hook bend); clip >the stubs. >Step 3: Dub the forward portion of the body leaving the front 1/3 of the hook >shank bare for the head. >Step 4: Tie in 6 strips of foam extending forward over the eye of the >hook, wind >the thread forward to the eye of the hook binding down the foam strips. >Wind the >thread back to the tie in point of the foam strips.NOTE the strips should be >ditributed completly around the hook shank. >Step 5: Fold the foam back and tie them inplace forming a bullet type of head. >Trim the loose ends of thefoam strips by cuttting the one directly underneath >completely off. The ones on the sides should be trimmed short. The remaining >ones on the top should be trimmed to the same length as the deer hair wing. >Hope this helps. >Mel Hocken > > >Bill wrote: > > > Does anybody have the directions for tying the "Airhead"? > > > > Bill > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bill > > Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 7:50 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: [VFB] the best fly tying vice... Well Put Harry > > > > You hit the nail on the head Harry... I've been using a cheepo rotary for 2 > > years now with no problems... It's paid for itself well over by now... > While > > I'm happy with it, others would have chucked the thing in the garbage by > > now... For what I do with it I would still be cussing myself if I spent all > > of that $ on a LAW. My $0.02... back under my rock. > > > > Bill > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Harry Mason > > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 4:50 PM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: [VFB] the best fly tying vice > > > > I have been looking at the LAW for years now and sat with Marvin Nolte > > and watched him use his LAW after I was finished tying in Livingston. It > > is a fine and I do mean fine vise. It does not however, produce the > > flies..... A year or so ago I sat with Shayne Harrop at an ISE show and > > watched her on her Thompson A. It is a very fine vise as well. This > > vise, sorry to say, does not produce any flies as well. These tiers, on > > the other hand, produce world class bugs on vises they are comfortable > > with, not because one vise is "better" than the other or one has more > > bells and whistles. They like the ones they use because they feel > > comfortable to the tier and it does what is expected of it. Because a > > vise has true straight line axial rotation at any angle does not mean > > you need to have it. The point being when you choose a vise, or, are > > looking for one, ask yourself a few questions; what am I going to tie, > > what style of tying do I practice, what kind of flies will I > > predominately tie? How much do I really need to spend? Then sit down at > > your local shop(s) and try out as many as the owners have or will let > > you try. Be comfortable with the one you choose and do not let anyone > > "sell" you a vise. Because ones skills improve does not mean you need a > > "better" vise. All tying vises are modified Vise Grips (pliers) it's > > just that some are plain steel some are palladium that spins :-) > > > > Harry Mason > > www.troutflies.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > On Behalf Of Michael Robinson > > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 1:08 PM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: [VFB] the best fly tying vice > > > > I agree with James! Been tying with a Regal for a long time. Can't > > find a > > better vice for the money > > > > Mike Robinson > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Mel Hocken > > > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 10:33 AM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: Re: [VFB] the best fly tying vice > > > > > > > > > Hi James > > > I have a Regal that I am very happy with. There are many > > > great vises on the > > > market each one has some great features. I think it is very important > > to > > > consider the warrenty and the ease of getting replacement parts > > > if needed. Also > > > the type of flies you will be tying most often, ie. small dry > > > flies or salt > > > water streamers. While one vise may hold small dry fly hooks very > > > well the jaws > > > may not be as effective in holding large guage hooks. > > > Hope this is of some help. > > > Mel hocken > > > > > > James Matthews wrote: > > > > > > > hey yall, > > > > I have been looking to get a really good vice. I have been > > > considering a > > > > dyna king barracuda. I know oppinions vary, but if you could > > > have vice out > > > > there, what would it be? > > > > Thanks, > > > > James > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: > > > > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx > > > > > >
