Hi Al and Gretchen! This was so helpful to me tonight. I especially love the technique for hiding your waste. You two make such a great team! Thanks so much!
Just subscribed to your blog. Looking forward to learning from both of you. What a great idea to go on a fly fishing trip. "Honey, i will be going on a extended fly fishing trip. Be back when I complete the fly testing. Love you
Hi Jack Could you please let me know how much room you leave from the eye of the hook before you tie off This is where I find it difficult. I've been tying for a while and have been to some lessons, but the tutor is more interested in the guys who have been tying for years. I've watched your first video, which I've found interesting and very helpful. Keep up the good work Mike B From the UK
Hi Mike, I'm not totally sure what you are asking so I'll provide two answers. First: How big should the head be? I like a head whose length does not exceed the span of the distance of the width of the hook eye - smaller than that is good. Second: If you are talking about the distance between the front of the thread head where it meets the hook eye and the actual hook eye - On a western dry fly, I like a thread head that meets & touches the hook eye. On a Catskill-style fly, I want a space between the front of the thread head and the hook eye (it doesn't quite reach the hook eye). The span of that distance varies. I like it to be equal to the dimension of the inside of the hook eye (where the leader goes through).
Thanks for sharing the tricks, i like it very much that clean hackle for nice dry fly’s. I have a little question about the parachute hackle, it is the dull side to me or the other side? Also trim a little more of for the start side of the shaft? Thanks again i appreciate you both so much i learned a lot, also happy with the led in the bobing spool👍🏻 greets from Holland
I'm looking forward to spending more time this year at the tying vice focusing on more detail and accuracy. I have new eyes / cataract replacements and finally see sharp and clear again. Thanks for all you do.
In britain we get plastic bags form shops, therse can can be hooked onto the vice hight ajustment know on the clamp vice type buy one handle and the other handle of the bag clamped by a clothes peg to the table top. It's free and you can just unclip the bag and through it away rubbish and bag in one.
Thanks,brother! That's the same tool a cosmetologist uses in adding hair extensions to a client. It will certainly enhance my tying in the future. Tight lines.
Thank you for making this informational video! I will share this information and your video's address, (with your permission), to many new fly tyers and anglers.
My tomatoes, especially my beefsteaks, are under attack by bugs this year in spite of spraying past daily with neem oil. It's still in the experimental stage, however my girlfriend, also a horticulturist, recommended using pantyhose, tying them around the developing green tomatoes. We'll see how that works out
Come for the fly tying and stay for the gardening! I grew up on my family's potato farm and seeing Al with a hoe in his hand transported me back in time. Thank you both for all that you share with us.
a little trick to forcing it to spin in the direction you want is to put your hand on the back drive wheel(the one on the top back of the machine) and give it a kick in that direction in coordination with the foot pedal. this is a really interesting use of an old treadle sewing machine!
Thanks Al. Where is the hook thickness(size)adijustment? Was bulk thread bobbins the only thread used. Very interesting. Hope you show more of the use of the machine and the creation of a fly.
The hook thickness/tightening is adjusted with your feet. As we move into the Fall/Winter season, we'll be tying a bunch of stuff using it and other "antique" techniques including tying without a vise in hand only.
Holy canoli, there is some wealth of knowledge here. Just found the channel and perused a few of these vids, which demand far more views, btw. I'll be watching going all the way back, and hope to catch some Fridays going forward. Thank you and thank you. Be well.
If you are interested in joining the weekly tying presentation(s), please email me asking us to add your email address to the Zoom invitation list we send out each week.
So glad to have recently discovered your channel. After seeing your hidden double wrap I couldn't hit subscribe fast enough. It's a brilliant technique and I know it's going to help tidy up my flies. Thanks for sharing and greetings from RI.
Awesome historical flies from Lafontaine ! I can’t find anything on the Edgewater foam that’s referenced for several patterns. Would I try to burn a hole in the center of a closed cell foam cylinder or do you have another suggestion for the patterns that use it?
Hi there!! Can I use "ep fibers" for the bubble or is it a different material? I've only been at this for about 8 months and would love to learn more! Thanks
Well over 50 years ago I used to help my grandma on her treadle sewing machine when she was teaching me how to use it and this brought back such wonderful memories. I can’t wait to further our endeavors learning with Gretchen just spinning us along for the ride. Mega Thx !!!
