Was working on my Life Cycle Swap flies some this morning. Since I want these to be the best I have done in a long time, and the #16 hooks are to much of a challenge I tried something different. Since I had more #10's than the coveted #16's for the swap, I started big. I have been using the larger hooks to get the texture, color and proportions I want in the smaller flies. Fun part is that some of the materials will have to be selected more carefully for the smaller flies to keep proportions right. So far what I thought was the right blend for the dubbing turned out to dark on the fly, (learning curve), so that will be adjusted some. Also, I am working on a way to get the body to form better using a rope dub with something new to me, (will see if it works). By shifting some materials with subtle changes I can get the emergers to proportion out correctly I think.
All in all this is a fun learning experience that is not only testing my skills, it is hopefully improving my quality. The point of this is a question, how do others go about developing a particular fly pattern? It may seam that I am putting to much into this for something that may be lost to the tree people, a rock, or possibly engulfed by a mysterious finned creature never seen. But, it keeps the brain and fingers busy. Any input from folks? Cool quiet morning here, with just a bit to much north wind. Jimi -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.0 - Release Date: 1/17/05
