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  #1  
Old 04-04-2018, 07:53 PM
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Default How small is to small?

How small do you guys tie? This #24 parachute BWO is about the extent of my abilities lol. I've made it my goal to catch something larger than an 8 inch Brooke trout on it this year.

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Old 04-05-2018, 06:18 AM
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Nice looking ties. At this point my eyes are limited to about a size 16 on the small end of things. I have trouble tying a size 16 on to my line never mind tying them.
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Old 04-05-2018, 08:01 AM
damaltor damaltor is offline
 
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Wow, those are nice ties! Unfortunately, like pikergolf, the eyes aren't what they used to be, I don't go smaller than sz 14. ☹️
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Old 04-05-2018, 11:48 AM
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Great ties!
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Old 04-05-2018, 11:52 AM
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I definately had to break out the magnifying glass for these ones lol.

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Old 04-05-2018, 12:53 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Those are awesome! That first one would kill on the Green River in UT where small rules the day. I bought my first 3x fishing glasses at the local fly shop before heading out otherwise I would have never tied flies like that on my 5x tippet
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Old 04-05-2018, 02:59 PM
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wow - that's small. A few (bought ones) are in my box are pretty small and ya - you need the magnifiers and a steady hand to tie. I find these flies get used as a last resort if you see rising and nothing is taking. Then you get taught some patience as you see if your tippet is small enough, or have to tie on even thinner.

Meanwhile the fish are rising in front of you and you are tying this tiny fly in the wind.... good times.
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Old 04-05-2018, 03:36 PM
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Nice job on tying those very small flies! When tying anything over #20 I stick to simple flies like gnats & orange ashers, otherwise most dries I tie in #16 or bigger as I fish mostly on stillwater.
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Old 04-05-2018, 05:37 PM
Weedy1 Weedy1 is offline
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When I saw the thread title I thought maybe you had just gotten off your first date gone wrong.
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Old 04-05-2018, 05:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weedy1 View Post
When I saw the thread title I thought maybe you had just gotten off your first date gone wrong.
Hahaha ^^ absolutely
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  #11  
Old 04-05-2018, 08:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weedy1 View Post
When I saw the thread title I thought maybe you had just gotten off your first date gone wrong.
Lol gotta be upfront so they aren't too disappointed later

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Old 04-05-2018, 08:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darren N View Post
wow - that's small. A few (bought ones) are in my box are pretty small and ya - you need the magnifiers and a steady hand to tie. I find these flies get used as a last resort if you see rising and nothing is taking. Then you get taught some patience as you see if your tippet is small enough, or have to tie on even thinner.

Meanwhile the fish are rising in front of you and you are tying this tiny fly in the wind.... good times.
Isn't that the truth. I always said any trout that wanted to eat anything that small wasn't worth catching. Now I've tied them and I feel they deserve to catch something after making me bunch over and strain my eyes tying them lol

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  #13  
Old 04-05-2018, 10:23 PM
brown trout brown trout is offline
 
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You'll catch on a #24 for sure, and can get some nice fish. I'd say hit the lower Bow in late August or September for some Trico fishing. Sneak close to trout you can spot and be an accurate caster. You'll get some NICE fish on a 24.

Good luck and have fun!
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  #14  
Old 04-06-2018, 12:36 AM
Father of five Father of five is offline
 
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I’ve tied BWO, Adams, and Griffith gnats as small as 28 I don’t remember what I’ve cought on a 28 but I did catch a beautiful 16 in rainbow on a 26 Griffith Gnat on the Crow a few years back

Your flys a beautiful keep up the art of tying small alive
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Old 04-06-2018, 04:09 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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I've tied some size 20s just in case I can someday get into the 20/20 club. Hah!
Haven't even been close yet.
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  #16  
Old 04-06-2018, 06:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father of five View Post
I’ve tied BWO, Adams, and Griffith gnats as small as 28 I don’t remember what I’ve cought on a 28 but I did catch a beautiful 16 in rainbow on a 26 Griffith Gnat on the Crow a few years back

Your flys a beautiful keep up the art of tying small alive
Thank you! You definately can't complain about a decent rainbow on a fly that small! Thanks for sharing

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Old 04-06-2018, 06:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brown trout View Post
You'll catch on a #24 for sure, and can get some nice fish. I'd say hit the lower Bow in late August or September for some Trico fishing. Sneak close to trout you can spot and be an accurate caster. You'll get some NICE fish on a 24.

Good luck and have fun!
Awesome thanks for the advice!

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  #18  
Old 04-06-2018, 06:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortsideK View Post
I've tied some size 20s just in case I can someday get into the 20/20 club. Hah!
Haven't even been close yet.
I caught an 18 inch cutt on the same fly I posted in size 18. Doesn't quite have the same ring to it as 20 on a 20 lol

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Old 04-06-2018, 08:17 PM
Mr Flyguy Mr Flyguy is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortsideK View Post
I've tied some size 20s just in case I can someday get into the 20/20 club. Hah!
Haven't even been close yet.
I thought you were happy as a charter member of the 10/10 club.
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  #20  
Old 04-06-2018, 08:55 PM
ReconWilly ReconWilly is offline
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Nice flies.

Smallest hooks i found were size 22, i bought them specifically to test my metal, you'll have a hard time finding hands bigger than mine but i feel like i have another size or two in me, i do have eagle like vision and I'm sure that it helps.

I'll have to try tying an Adam's on one...

My phones camera lens is scratched sorry for the awful picture's. ..
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  #21  
Old 04-06-2018, 09:12 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Flyguy View Post
I thought you were happy as a charter member of the 10/10 club.
You just stick to your treble hooks and leave me be. Hahahahaha!
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  #22  
Old 04-08-2018, 03:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ReconWilly View Post
Nice flies.

Smallest hooks i found were size 22, i bought them specifically to test my metal, you'll have a hard time finding hands bigger than mine but i feel like i have another size or two in me, i do have eagle like vision and I'm sure that it helps.

I'll have to try tying an Adam's on one...

My phones camera lens is scratched sorry for the awful picture's. ..
Hey thanks. Those daiichi 1130 are some of my favorite hooks in small sizes. Little pheasant tails and midges look great on them!

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  #23  
Old 04-08-2018, 07:31 PM
RangerG RangerG is offline
 
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Many, many years ago when I first started tying, I bought some 18's and 20's. When I die they will still all be unused.
16 is as small as I care to go.
If trout are feeding on a hatch smaller than 16 I'll switch up to a streamer and fish that.
Or drink beer.
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  #24  
Old 04-08-2018, 08:15 PM
ShortsideK ShortsideK is offline
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I rarely use anything smaller than size 16, but hope to catch something on size 20 or smaller so I can say," Bin dare, dun dat."
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  #25  
Old 04-30-2018, 03:39 PM
petew petew is offline
 
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My eyes and fingers make a 16 my smallest I can tie in the vice or on the leader.
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