Hay folks, colder than a well diggers hinny here and the snow is blowing so
I'm inside.
Been doing a little reading and tying, ( working on dry flies) and I
made a "Monumental" step today. Dr. Doug was kind enough to send me the info
on tying extended body flies using a needle to tie the extended part on.
After reading over it several times I decided to give it a try. Well my #16
"Paraleptophlebia bicornuta, Mahogany Dun" isn't perfect, but it dose have 3
distinct tails, ( Long black deer hair), and the extended part of the body
is firm and doesn't wiggle. My main problem was separating some "Guderod
med-brown EZ-Dub" so I wouldn't have a huge bulky body. If you have ever
tried it you know what a pain it is. But I did manage to get it thinned and
wrapped, ( I will try to "rope Dub" the next one Don). After tying the
extended body on the needle and coating it, ( almost forgot that part) and
getting it attached to the hook, everything else was normal tying.
It took me over 45 minutes to tie the first one, I have to work on
proportions and also find some more black hackle suitable for dry flies but
at least I am not so intimidated by them any more. If I can just get the
proportions right and find an easier material of the dark brown for the body
it will definitely be an accomplishment. I still need to work on the wings,
( these definitely need work and I need to find something better to make
them out of), but all in all I would say that if you haven't tried it, do.
They are an incredible fly just to look at and I have the confidence now
that with practice I can tie them on a scale comparable to "Very Good".
Well back to keeping my toes warm, watching the snow fall and tying.
BTW, my "Bench Swap flies are really improving, so much so that as I get
better I inspect the batch and change out ones that are "Not as Nice".
Stay warm folks and "Keep Tying"
Jimi
