[VFB] Shimazaki Fly Wing story

[Wes Wada]

<img src="http://www.umpqua.com/images/flies/large/4863-42.jpg";>
A McCarty's GT (General Terrestrial) with a Shimazaki Fly Wing
Hi All,
I have made an interesting discovery in trying to find Shimazaki Fly 
Wing material which used to be marketed by Metz and distributed by 
Spirit River.  My main flyshop did a product search and they came up 
empty handed, and said the product has been discontinued.

Shimazaki Fly Wing is a randomly veined, very porous, somewhat stiff 
material that makes realistic wings.  The porous feature helps keep the 
wing from spinning the fly and twisting the leader during the cast.  
When available, it came in about ten different dyed colors. The one I 
was looking for was a light grey.

As luck would have it, I found the product at Wal-Mart!  It was in the 
fabric section and is marketed under the brand name of Stitch Witchery. 
 As with a lot of things marketed for fly fishing, this material is 
made for another purpose entirely.  It is what is called fusible web 
material, and it is used to 'glue' two pieces of fabric together by 
ironing.  The technical formulation of the material is called 
polyamide, which Mr. Google describes as a high-strength, 
high-rigidity, low moisture absorption, crystalline thermoplastic.  In 
other words, a good wing material for flyfishing.

Stitch Witchery fusible web material comes only in white, but I suspect 
it is not that difficult to dye or color with art markers. There are 
several different types of fusible web...you are looking for the one 
that is the most porous, randomly veined.

And, the price is right. It comes in rolls about 20 inches wide, and 
costs 94 cents a running YARD.  Mr. Shimazaki was making a hell of a 
profit on this stuff!

The product available at Wal-Mart is slightly lighter than that used on 
the sample McCarty GT I have in the 'do not fish upon penalty of death' 
bin.  The product may come in a heavier weight possibly available at a 
fabric shop. Alternately, it should be easy to fold the material and 
protect it with a release paper while ironing and laminating two 
layers.  It's neat stuff...worth the time to look it up.

Wes Wada
Bend, Oregon