Copper and Teal

Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo

Mataura mayfly
Posts: 3648
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:28 am
Location: Southland, South Island, New Zealand.

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Mataura mayfly » Sun May 26, 2013 7:11 am

Dubbn, I have been using a pair of "sixth finger" scissors for near on a year now (thanks Ray!) and I really like them for fine work. They are being imported here now and do not seem too dear when compared to Dr Slick's or the like, so they might be worth a look if you are thinking of buying a new pair for fine work.
Another trick I found, is to use a thread like Danvilles that will lay flat rather than round in section. When wrapping over the trimmed barbs a flat thread can help cover the cut ends without too much height build up.

The other option to you is to tie the barbs on first, points out over the hook eye and fold them back over the thorax after finishing the body, bring the thread through and with a couple of tight wraps hard in front of the held back barbs they should form a suitable hackle. You can wrap back onto them to make them lay along the body better and then form your head/whip finish.

I have tried most of the above and still form some pretty rough looking heads. I do get the odd one that looks ok though. :D
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
User avatar
Hans Weilenmann
Posts: 2109
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Sun May 26, 2013 9:00 am

On this one I tied in a bunch of barbs over the eye as the first material, and folded them back after completing the body.

Image

The head need not be very bulky that way.

Cheers,
Hans W
User avatar
Kelly L.
Posts: 2908
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:09 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Kelly L. » Sun May 26, 2013 10:21 am

Scissors do help. I have two pair for small flies. One is a Dr. Slick razor scissor, the other...an Anvil midge scissor. I think it is called micro midge.
Mataura mayfly
Posts: 3648
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:28 am
Location: Southland, South Island, New Zealand.

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Mataura mayfly » Sun May 26, 2013 3:31 pm

Thanks Hans, that photo perhaps explains the method a whole lot better than my description. :D
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
User avatar
hankaye
Posts: 6582
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:59 pm
Location: Arrey, N.M. aka 32°52'37.63"N, 107°18'54.18"W

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by hankaye » Sun May 26, 2013 4:47 pm

DUBBN, Howdy;

Wayne, perhaps you are just trying to hard or as
my Mom always used to say "Maybe you aren't holding your mouth right." :roll:

Relax a bit, it's only a bunch of inanimate bits-n-pieces,
surely you can out wit them ... ;) , :lol:
I got's faith in ya.

hank
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949...
"Every day I beat my own previous record for number
of consecutive days I've stayed alive." George Carlin
DUBBN

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by DUBBN » Sun May 26, 2013 9:10 pm

Hans Weilenmann wrote:On this one I tied in a bunch of barbs over the eye as the first material, and folded them back after completing the body.

Image

The head need not be very bulky that way.

Cheers,
Hans W
Is that the technique where you push the barbules back towards the body, then tie off?
User avatar
Hans Weilenmann
Posts: 2109
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Mon May 27, 2013 12:47 am

Correct.
DUBBN

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by DUBBN » Mon May 27, 2013 6:46 am

Thanks all, for the comments and guidance. It is very much appreciated.
DUBBN

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by DUBBN » Mon May 27, 2013 3:58 pm

Barbs over the eye technique.

Image

Better.
User avatar
Hans Weilenmann
Posts: 2109
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Copper and Teal

Post by Hans Weilenmann » Mon May 27, 2013 4:33 pm

Looking the part - well done 8-)

Cheers,
Hans W
Post Reply