What's in your vise?

I dont disagree. But something like hash tags would simply make it searchable for someone looking for specific types of patterns, it certainly wouldn't affect much else.

I'm like you, I take inspiration from all manner of stuff here, but I can see the value in the posts being a bit more searchable. For new fly anglers the flies themselves often get overwhelming. Seems it's common for newer people to be unsure of what patterns to use for what species, and they often lack the confidence and experience to know that just because someone ties a fly for bass doesn't mean it couldn't also be used for src, for example. Simplifying things for newer folks can go a long way for those just starting out.

Anyway, not a big deal either way really. Mostly just thinking out loud. I have in the past thought it would be handy to be able to mark, or favorite specific posts. I love the original thread as much as anyone, and have spent countless idle hours just browsing. But there has also been many times I come in looking for a specific pattern I had seen and it often takes an annoyingly long time to find it.
Fair enough!

I’ve definitely found myself losing an hour or so looking for a specific fly like 10 pages back.
 
My second set of flies for the March Madness tourney that @Stonedfish is running on WFF: It's a variation on the classic Ferguson Green and Sliver which I was introduced to by Les J many years ago. Yeah, my deer hair spinning skills are mediocre, but the fish don't care. It shares the Muddler's versatility; fished deep on a sunken line the buoyancy keeps it off the bottom, works topwater on a floater, or (like yesterday) a fast retrieve may do the trick when they just don't seem to want all the normal offerings you've tried.

Bruce Ferguson's Green and Silver was my first saltwater fly: I LOVE these!!
 
Please excuse my ignorance, but is there any disadvantage to a traditional steelhead fly like this vs a spey fly with a stinger? I thought it was the fish getting leverage on the shank of the hook? I love the look of these, but not sure if I'm willing to chance losing any grab I might get for a unicorn.
Thanks for help,
Mark
Hey Mark, I don’t feel there is any disadvantage with this style. I’m not aware of any leverage issues with the flies I use. Keeping a good rod angle at all times and keeping a sharp hook is more important to keeping the fish on. Also I don’t tie Spey flies with stingers, I think your referring to intruder style ties. I think it’s also important to fish what you have had success with and are confident with.
 
Hey Mark, I don’t feel there is any disadvantage with this style. I’m not aware of any leverage issues with the flies I use. Keeping a good rod angle at all times and keeping a sharp hook is more important to keeping the fish on. Also I don’t tie Spey flies with stingers, I think your referring to intruder style ties. I think it’s also important to fish what you have had success with and are confident with.
I wouldn't consider the trailing hook flies I posted "spey" flies,. And certainly not Intruders. They have a degree of inspiration from speys, and a bit of McNeese. I like shanks because they sink like a heavy salmon iron, without the devastative effects that big irons can have on parr and trout. It is also possible to change the hook if it fouls on a rock, and I feel I get better hooks sets with a finer wire trailing hook than I do with a salmon iron.
It isn't the end all end all. I still tie most of my flies on traditional salmon irons.
 
Beadhead softhackle gold ribbed hares ear.View attachment 977View attachment 978
Sz 8 Fulling Mill FM45 50
5/32 or 3/16" tungsten slotted bead
Burnt orange thread or orange
Tail clump of hares mask
Medium gold wire rib
Loop dubbed light to dark blended mask fur, tail cleanings right behind hackle.
Turn and a half of brownish partridge
Thread hot spot or small tuft of dubbing
Cement or wax tread and 5 turn whip finish.
Confidence box for stream trout, it works 24/7/365
View attachment 979
You are on a roll without a functioning vice….
 
You are on a roll without a functioning vice….
I'm using the little vice that came in the Orvis kit. It works, just real fiddly. Don't need much for softhackles. When I started playing with spinning deer hair the other vice failed quickly. Backs getting better so I could sit with the heating pad and get some flies I know I will use done.
 
My first of probably two dozen chum fry I’ll tie up for the spring. Of those, likely no more than two will be the same. With chum fry patterns generally being so sparse and easy easy to tie, I tend to experiment a lot.

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And an articulated pattern I posted in the albacore thread too. Some more work needed on this one. Proportions are off a bit on at least one of the sections and not 100% sold on the materials used yet.

Dry

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Wet

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Hare’s Ear Muddler

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Nothing groundbreaking with the muddler; just taking a break from tying a few dozen tailwater scuds.

hook - WFC Model 3 #8
thread - Uni 6/0 camel
tail - yarn chartreuse
rib - small wire gold
body - dubbing hare’s ear
hackle - brown
shoulder - golden pheasant red body feather
collar/head - deer hair

Regards,
Scott
 
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Gray-Nymph-1080.jpg

Gray Nymph

Hook - Mustad 3906 or equivalent, size 6-12
Thread - Gray
Tail - Grizzly hackle fibers
Body - Dubbed Muskrat fur with the guard hairs left in.
Body should be picked out to give a shaggy appearance
Hackle - Grizzly hen

Created in 1935 by Dee Vissing of Rigby, Idaho

Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson
 
Gray-Nymph-1080.jpg

Gray Nymph

Hook - Mustad 3906 or equivalent, size 6-12
Thread - Gray
Tail - Grizzly hackle fibers
Body - Dubbed Muskrat fur with the guard hairs left in.
Body should be picked out to give a shaggy appearance
Hackle - Grizzly hen

Created in 1935 by Dee Vissing of Rigby, Idaho

Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson
I use a similar pattern with great success during the MB hatches in the Willamette Valley ... as it is grey instead of any shade of brown, I assume they must take it for an emerger from the grey caddis hatch that usually occurs just before the MBs .... Orrrrr.... they just like the looks of it. Doesn't matter. It works.
 
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Ida May

A Charles Brooks Pattern

Hook - Mustad 38941 or equivalent

Thread - Black

Tail - Dyed green grizzly hackle fibers

Ribbing - Peacock herl and gold wire

Body - Black synthetic fur dubbing

Hackle - Dyed green grizzly hackle

Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson
 
tied up some basic euro-trash tool flies...a big old bead on little size 16 hooks.

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Spawn Fly Fish has a nice shank assortment for those interested. Lot's of smaller stuff with different size wires. These are some articulated bucktail rainbows tied with a shank out front:View attachment 174I love olive chartreuse in belly of these blended to a darker head...
Billy do these just have a hook connected directly to the shank or how are they tied?

WE GOT THIS MARCH MADNESS COMIN' IN!!!!
These are great! I tie similar patterns but always overdress and never get them looking quite this sexy! What size hook and what's the overall length?
 
well shit, may not look like that much difference, but I cut waaaay back on materials (two of my four Optimus Swine's were a bit over-dressed--still swam well, but they're 11/12wt flies, not 8/10wt flies), so this is essentially the same. Although, Nayat for the tail (I absolutely loved how my Nayat fished today despite conditions), just one small cylinder of foam in the guts (the entire reverse popper can be a bit much---at least for the line I was throwing), several clumps of PrimoTail (I'm not sure if I've mentioned how much I fucking love this stuff!!! haha). All tied on a shank with a free flowing hook off the back. Came out right between 8"-9"...No rattle, sorry. Always tweaking...

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These are nice
I keep telling myself
“F-F-F.” Fur Feathers Flash
It’s a good mantra
 
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