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Old 12-21-2018, 11:49 AM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Default Out of ideas... what to tie?

Normally during the winter months I tie a bunch of assorted trout flies (that I mostly never use).
Last open water season I was handing out many flies to other guys to help them out and just so I'd have a reason to tie some more.
This winter I've tied very few cuz there doesn't seem to be any patterns that are interesting that I haven't already tied a million of. I know this is impossible, but I can't even bring myself to search the web for something new.
Looking for advice.

The last few of winters I've done all the standard stuff:

many, many assorted nymphs
soft hackles
micro leeches
balanced leeches
unbalanced leeches
a billion chironomids
matukas
minnows
emergers
enough dry flies to choke a horse
boobies
blobs
boatmen, backswimmers
tons of pike flies
streamers

Big and small, I've tied them all. Hahaha!
Any ideas would be appreciated. Bored.
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Old 12-21-2018, 12:14 PM
professori professori is offline
 
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How about:
1. Steelhead and salmon flies e.g. Intruders, Popsicles, etc
2. Join some fly swaps and let them dictate what you are tying.http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showforum=24
3. Select a fly and tie up all the variations on that fly that you can find or imagine. e.g. Royal Coachman: Hairwing, fan wing, royal stimulator, coachman nymph, Coachman streamer, matuka coachman, para coachman, the list goes on.
4. Make a shadow box presentation as a gift.
5. Give all your tying tools and supplies to a school fly fishing club. Better yet, find a school fly fishing club and volunteer your time to help instruct novice fly tyers.
6. Learn to crochet.
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Old 12-21-2018, 02:57 PM
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thumper thumper is offline
 
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I'm in the same position - I've tied far too many flies that I'll never use!

What I've found has helped is tying for specific lakes / rivers that I plan on fishing. Using past experience, plus gleaning information from fly fishing forums, articles and TV shows (like Sportfishing on the Fly), I'll fill a small fly box with flies specific to the water I'm going to be fishing - even to the time of year. This often means a lot of overlap - tying multiple flies of the same pattern to carry in multiple fly boxes, along with more unique flies, just for that waterbody. I even jot down presentation - depth/type of retrieve etc., to go with that fly box. I even have some reels spooled with line/leader for a specific application in a specific, favourite waterbody.

Not only does this focus my tying down to flies I'll actually use, but it means that I won't be overwhelmed by a myriad of choices in a jumble of fly boxes when I'm at a destination - I'll only need to take out the box that I have labelled for that unique waterbody. In addition to flys from experience or tips, I generally have a couple of new fly patterns that I've tied specifically to experiment with on that body of water. (That's how I first got turned on to boobies !)

The downside, if you fish a lot of various waters, is that you end up with a lot of different fly boxes. But hey, if you've got all the fly tying tools and materials already, and the time and interest - why not?
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Old 12-21-2018, 03:41 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by professori View Post
How about:
1. Steelhead and salmon flies e.g. Intruders, Popsicles, etc
2. Join some fly swaps and let them dictate what you are tying.http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showforum=24
3. Select a fly and tie up all the variations on that fly that you can find or imagine. e.g. Royal Coachman: Hairwing, fan wing, royal stimulator, coachman nymph, Coachman streamer, matuka coachman, para coachman, the list goes on.
4. Make a shadow box presentation as a gift.
5. Give all your tying tools and supplies to a school fly fishing club. Better yet, find a school fly fishing club and volunteer your time to help instruct novice fly tyers.
6. Learn to crochet.
Numbers 3 and 5 are good ideas. I'll look into those. Thanx.
Fly swaps just don't do it for me.
No use/desire to tie salmon flies (although I think they are beautiful).
#6 Who says I don't already do it, and do it well?
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  #5  
Old 12-21-2018, 03:44 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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... overwhelmed by a myriad of choices in a jumble of fly boxes when I'm at a destination

I never knew that there was any other way to fish!
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Old 12-21-2018, 05:27 PM
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Lornce Lornce is offline
 
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One of these
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Old 12-21-2018, 08:21 PM
Mr Flyguy Mr Flyguy is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortsideK View Post
Numbers 3 and 5 are good ideas. I'll look into those. Thanx.
Fly swaps just don't do it for me.
No use/desire to tie salmon flies (although I think they are beautiful).
#6 Who says I don't already do it, and do it well?
Re #6: Thanks for the tea cozy Kenny. Can you do some place mats next please.
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Old 12-21-2018, 09:12 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lornce View Post
One of these
Reminds me of one of Mr. Flyguy's boxes.
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  #9  
Old 12-21-2018, 09:19 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lornce View Post
One of these
lots of good stuff there. Nicely tied.
I might make up a similar "stew pot of flies" so that when I'm fishing and someone asks for a fly that I'm using I'll tell them, "It's right in there" and hand them the container.
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  #10  
Old 12-22-2018, 08:48 AM
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bessiedog bessiedog is offline
 
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God

I wish I had that problem.
Between me, my kid, and the people I fish with... I can’t tie fast enough.

I suggest you make some frog poppers for early season pike. It’s tough to get the legs and the weight right.
Ya need good weight to chuck out there.

I made one good one.... and mr pike stole it.
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Old 12-22-2018, 11:48 AM
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Dewey Cox Dewey Cox is offline
 
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Make some huge pike lures.
Huge.
Like tie a kitten onto a treble hook huge.
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Old 12-22-2018, 12:37 PM
Smoky buck Smoky buck is offline
 
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Sculpin pattern?

Stop thinking patterns and start tying flies to Imamate every food source you can think of

When in doubt go for crazy attractor patterns
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Old 12-22-2018, 02:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortsideK View Post
Numbers 3 and 5 are good ideas. I'll look into those. Thanx.
Fly swaps just don't do it for me.
No use/desire to tie salmon flies (although I think they are beautiful).
#6 Who says I don't already do it, and do it well?
I only tie flies that will spend time in the water. These are serious recommendations.

The 'micro' versions of west-coast steelhead flies can be absolutely deadly on Alberta waters. A classic intruder really benefits from swinging to bring it alive, but the composite loop micro intruders (using standard hook, not a dangling one) can be used anywhere, including bass. Micro composite loop intruders and morrish medusa patterns are my 2 go-to daytime streamer patterns on the Bow. Intruder-styled egg-sucking leeches are a favourite of mine when fishing for the rainbows following spawning salmon.

For night-time hunting it is all about big meat. The Kelly Galloup articulated flies are my first choices. They will also work during the day, but the fish have to be in the right mood. A black sex dungeon brought 90% of my big fish last season. They are awesome and they take me 35-40 minutes to tie one, so it is a great way to just spend time at the vice without producing flies that will not see time on the water.
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  #14  
Old 12-22-2018, 03:17 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Poppers are a good idea. Haven't tied any of those, although I've never fished them either.
Also, will look into the suggestions from Smokey buck and scel.
Thanks.
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  #15  
Old 12-22-2018, 05:10 PM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortsideK View Post
Poppers are a good idea. Haven't tied any of those, although I've never fished them either.
Also, will look into the suggestions from Smokey buck and scel.
Thanks.
Pike like poppers.

Don
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  #16  
Old 12-23-2018, 12:35 AM
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Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
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Sportman cigarettes used to have the flies of the world. One hook shown on the back of each pack. Probably some forgotten flies among them. These were a few of them. I'm sure all are listed online.
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Old 12-23-2018, 05:32 AM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bullets View Post
Sportman cigarettes used to have the flies of the world. One hook shown on the back of each pack. Probably some forgotten flies among them. These were a few of them. I'm sure all are listed online.
Ahhhhh, the classic "wet flies". All but forgotten. Good idea.
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Old 12-23-2018, 08:02 AM
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Lornce Lornce is offline
 
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I have a collection of those Sportsman cigarette packages. Saved from Dad. Love tying winged wets, it was a standard at one time, they still work beautifully.

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but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been in a place that was less than beautiful.

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fishing regulations and facts on fish handling
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Old 12-23-2018, 09:01 AM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
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How about tying using only organic materials.

Seems like hydrocarbon based stuff dominates the tying world.

Catalogues have gone from pages to books.


Regards,

Don
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  #20  
Old 12-23-2018, 10:07 AM
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QBC QBC is offline
 
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This year I'm working on my Pike and walleye fly boxes.

I've tied many poppers from foam bodies, cork and hard body. The painting of the cork and hard bodies do take a little bit to master, some of my first attempts have found the round fly can, but that's part of the fun of learning new techniques.

I'm waiting for a set of jaws for my vice to tie big patterns. The stock jaws on my Peak vice don't like 6/0 hooks so I ordered the big set. I'm going to try articulated flies this year too, they look like great patterns for Walleye and Pike. Now I need good fly boxes for 6-10 inch flies.

https://globalflyfisher.com/articulated-flies
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Old 12-23-2018, 10:09 AM
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Since there seems to be crayfish everywhere now make a few crayfish patterns in different sizes. I bet fish would love them. How about some 6 inch long tandem hook garter snake streamers for pike.
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  #22  
Old 12-29-2018, 08:08 PM
Maxwell87 Maxwell87 is offline
 
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Like a few others have said. Focus on the flies your will use. Never enough in the right size. Or bugs/fish that are present where you fish. Try to create your own variations or patterns by blending two of your “favourite hoppers” aside from giving specific patterns your list is somewhat generic. Articulated streamers can be a lot of fun if you chuck meat? Going off your list I assume you mostly fish Stillwater’s?
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  #23  
Old 01-06-2019, 11:24 AM
Runewolf1973 Runewolf1973 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox View Post
Make some huge pike lures.
Huge.
Like tie a kitten onto a treble hook huge.
This ^^

Twice last year fishing for goldeye I had a HUGE pike chase the goldeye I had on the end of my line. One big pike grabbed my fish and took off with both the fish and half my leader in it's mouth. Tie some goldeye sized pike streamers...like about 8-10" long. I would even buy some off of you if you tied me some. Haha.
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  #24  
Old 01-06-2019, 04:25 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Goldeyes are awesome. Fight like a bugger.
I've already tied 6"+ double bunny pike flies. Hate casting them with my 8wt. Like casting a rubber boot with a fly rod. But they sure work.
I should tie some articulated pike flies, but seems like a lot of work for little gain. Hahaha!
And I'm too lazy.
Been tying a few nymphs with straggle string for the thorax. Look buggy. We'll see if they work any better than the normal ones.
Here's another big secret... small soft hackle flies. Shhhhhh.... let's keep it a secret. Hahahaha!
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  #25  
Old 01-07-2019, 12:24 PM
stob stob is offline
 
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texas midge on a 3/0 hook
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Old 01-07-2019, 07:18 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stob View Post
texas midge on a 3/0 hook
I already tie most of my chironomids and nymphs on 2/0 hooks. Maybe bigger is the answer. Good idea.
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Old 01-08-2019, 09:22 AM
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Lornce Lornce is offline
 
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How about some small extended body Mayfies for those picky Browns.
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Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten,
but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been in a place that was less than beautiful.

My blog - casting on the waters

fishing regulations and facts on fish handling
Fishing Regulations
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  #28  
Old 01-08-2019, 09:11 PM
Dubious Dubious is offline
 
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double bunnies and clouser minnows. bully season isn't far off now
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  #29  
Old 01-20-2019, 05:56 PM
Engels Engels is offline
 
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Look up and tie some Egan red darts, iron lotus, thread frenchies and rainbow warriors!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old 01-21-2019, 10:38 PM
wildbill wildbill is offline
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In some of the other parts of the world, there’s some good patterns, maybe Czech out what some of the previous world champs are usin............
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