[VFB] Sandy Mite revisited

[DonO]

Now I have another question.  Did Franz have more than one weave style?   The photos- actually drawings- that Paul sent show the same style weave that Al has on his site.  In addition, there's another weave that actually locks around the hook shank every time.  This is a thin fly, like the one in Al's article, and it's probably fixed pretty solid to the shank, with a lock-loop every turn.  But on the fly I have, there is a pretty bulky black underbody, giving it the scud-like shape.  Also the belly wraps are loose and can be moved around fairly easily.  What keeps it in place is that the overwrap hairs make a twist each time they cross the belly, and this is where the belly wraps are, at the thinnest point, so the can't move much.  Also if they looped the hook every time the yellowish color would contiminate the black underbody.  So in short, it's not the same weave as either article.   The belly weave on my fly is reversed from Al's site and the pictures that Paul sent, but it sure looks like the same theme of sandy mite.  The belly segments are rolled into segments, rather than stitched like the articles, and this is what creates the segmentation, not just in the belly, but in the top hairs also.   It's a pretty fascinating fly to look at and examine.  I'll do a photo sequence for posting somewhere.   DonO     ----- Original Message ----- From: Al Campbell To: DonO Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 10:15 PM Subject: Re: Sandy Mite It very well could be.  I did my work from memory. At 09:53 AM 12/3/04 -0800, you wrote: Hi Al, This is Don Ordes- of Fantasy Fly Co.   Many years ago I came into possession of what I think is an original Pott Sandy Mite. Would you be able to authenticate it?  Do you have originals or photos of original Potts flies- especially the belly-weave?  I also have a number of Potts flies, on cards, that I bought at auction.   I compared the belly-weave to the bely-weave that you do, and it looks reversed on the one I have.   Thanks, Don Al Campbell  (Outdoor writer/photographer) (Field Editor - Fly Anglers on Line magazine) ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for the best flyfishing info, visit www.flyanglersonline.com Black Hills fishing info, www.rapidnet.com/~jtuxford