Someone stole your skin? At a show? Good lord..... if you look around, you can find some pretty dark pheasants, like this guy: https://i.postimg.cc/gJQ6NyBG/IMG-3113.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/3RdvXf1L/IMG-3112.jpg I haven't used him much for tying, as I like smaller feathers (grouse and partridge)--b...

This is an essential reference book for measurements--shank length, gape, wire diameters, and weight--though the weights are all wrong (they are weights per 100 hooks, not one hook, lol)--. Covers Wright & McGill, Partridge, Mustad, Kamasan, Tiemco, and VMC--but because it was published in 1986 ...

[ BB, I have never those seen before. Where the heck did you find those? That's because you've not yet visited me in Chicago--land of FIBs, and other miscreants! You can find them on eBay--Debakey Bulldog clamps, you want the 2" version--sometimes they are available, sometimes not. Here's some...

For Hackle, I prefer small arterial clamps, about 2" long:



They have serrated teeth and grip very well. For CDC, I use wire test clips.




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I love Rhead's stuff--here's a few of his "baits" from his book on Fisherman's Lures--I have a lot more to say about his work, and will add more in due course. Thanks, Tom, for startign this thread!

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I use scraps of paper, notepads, photos & printouts, and so on--anything to help me remember some of the more nuanced details for particular patterns. My muscle memory is better than my brain memory--once I get started, that is, The notes help me get started, lol--and stay on track. bb https://i...

A couple of more thoughts about head cement: 1) don't expect any cement stored in plastic jars will last long--use dark glass, and keep your main stash in a cool dry place in the dark. Anything with a solvent sold in plastic is sold under the premise it will go bad soon enough, and make you buy more...

Bunch of them out there, new and old. This is my shortlist: https://i.postimg.cc/vT4BvGCB/HeadCements.e_zpstwyhhcqq_copy.jpg I'm partial to Cellire--nothing quite like it. Some sellers in Europe will ship to the US, and I'd suggest that's a good way to go--6 bottles, a bottle of Unitit thinner, and ...

I would like to meet the man from Mustad, who was accountable for their numbering system. ....... You and Datus Proper, who would like to meet the person responsible for all the hook sizing numbers, lol. I'd like to meet Helen, who inspected most of the Partridge hooks I have, lol. You know--the &q...

You love to look at old hooks more than anyone I have ever known and probably own more than anyone else. I thought Bearbutt was bad, but you beat him hands done. Yes, Dana quite outdoes me when it comes to hooks. I'll concede that. I think we are neck and neck when it comes to white Burgundies, how...