project 500

[fflutterffly]

Many of you may already know of my 500 project in which I am tying 500 flies to donate to wounded warrior or healing waters project. I just wanted to let you know that I have begin tying. My first flies will be Tups Indispensable, since I am well familiar with the tie and have a goodly amount of dubbing card. If you've been following the swap thread I have already posted a photo of my flies. For this tie am doing the tups sans tail. However, this will not be the only fly I am doing for this project, the other wet is undetermined at this point. What fun!

[Kelly L.]

Good deal. How about posting photos of the progress? That is a huge task. Good luck!

[fflutterffly]

Thanks Kelly. I will be posting photo's. I recently received some possum, better know as Back Yard Kill, and will be using it in a few flies. As for the undertaking.... It will be fun to watch it unfold.

[Ruard]

Hi Flutterfly,

Can you tell us more about this project??


greeting

[fflutterffly]

Ruard
There is a program in which war vets are taken, taught and experience fly fishing. The staff is volunteer. It began as a loosely organized effort and has grown into a large international effort. There are hundreds of organizations that do this. Usually these efforts have heavy participation for servicemen, I am beginning one for women who have served. My idea is not unique. This has been done already in a few states, but as far as I know it has not been done in Los Angeles. Where I live there are hundreds of small city parks that are stocked and service communities, this might be the idea place to begin. My hope is to have a program on an actual trout river. However, the two rivers that would be accommodate people who might have mobility problems are four hours away from my location. Therefore the participants will have to arrange their own hotels, transportation and food. I can not be responsible for such an expense, but am willing to donate my equipment, a stable of over 20 rods, flies, waders, boots of all sizes and expertise volunteers to teach and facilitate these women on the water. It is going to be very casual. No corporate affiliation, no fund raising... just volunteers who can spare a day or two.
And there you have the quickly thought out plan. This will never be an official program, which is why I am doing all the tying and I'm not soliciting any help in tying or materials.
Thanks for asking and I'll keep you in the loop.
A

[DUBBN]

Good on you Ariel. Very worthy cause.

[fflutterffly]

I've finished my first 100 flies: Wolly bugger, Pheasant Tail, a few dries, Zebra Possum midge. Now I'd like to start my soft Hackle. Question: off all the soft hackle, if you could only have two... Which two would you tie and carry. This is a very difficult question. My answer would be one dark and one light.. maybe a trico and of course a mayfly imitation.

[DUBBN]

I've finished my first 100 flies: Wolly bugger, Pheasant Tail, a few dries, Zebra Possum midge. Now I'd like to start my soft Hackle. Question: off all the soft hackle, if you could only have two... Which two would you tie and carry. This is a very difficult question. My answer would be one dark and one light.. maybe a trico and of course a mayfly imitation.

My favorite is a Muskrat in size 16 or 14, but I know that pattern is not everbodys cup of tea. As of the past year or two, I have come to favor 3 other Soft Hackles. The Peacock and Partridge, The Hen (Brown) and Hare, and the Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle. I use the P&P year round. The Hen and Hare will really start producing well for me as the weather starts to warm up.

[gingerdun]

Ariel,
If you want to make it easier and faster, perhaps you'd want to choose flies that don't require dubbed bodies. In THE ART OF TYING THE WET FLY AND FISHING THE FLYMPH, Leisenring has several productive patterns that are quick to tie. Some of them specify hard-to-get hackles, but you could find a substitute. Take a look at these:

Page 109, Brown or Red Hackle, and Gray Hackle

Page 110, Black Gnat

Page 111, Light Snipe and Yellow

Page 112, Pale Watery Dun Wingless

Page 116, three Stewart patterns, Black Spider, Red Spider, and Dun Spider

Good luck,

Lance

[letumgo]

Ariel - If I could carry only two soft hackle patterns, they would be a gold bead-head hares ear soft hackle, and a Skip Morris' "The Raccoon" soft hackle. These two patterns have been extremely effective for me.