Struggling

[fflutterffly]

There is little money to be spent on so many tying supplies and I'm sure the subject has been breached before, but please humor me. If given a choice which would you use:
you can only pick two in each category:
Hook
Hackle
Dubbing
Thread color

I know, difficult.
Thank you
Ariel

[hankaye]

fflutterffly, Howdy;

One tip I got from Ray (letumgo), was to buy white thread and a large varity of multi-colored "sharpies".
Then ya have a whole basket of colors...
I'm fixed income, so I know what you mean about income being tight (and the Poop-heads in Washington, D.C. aren't helping any. Sorry I digress),
I'm trying to buy a wee bit each month. That's what I'm trying to do now. It may change next month. .

You'll also find that there are some generious folks here.

just sayin' .....

hank

[letumgo]

Ariel,

Given the choice, I would recommend hooks as your first choice. The hard part is to think about what you want to tye and then what size hook you want to use. If you are focusing on tying wingless wets/soft hackle flies, I would recommend looking at the Mustad Signature R50 (sizes 12 to 16). They are nice hooks (good finish, sharp, and inexpensive). I just looked on J. Stockards and see them listed for $3.25 per pack of 25 and $5.95 per pack of 50.

(http://www.jsflyfishing.com/cgi-bin/ite ... -Hook.html)

Stockard's currently has 20% off on the Daiichi hooks. The Model 1550 and 1530's make great hooks. The 1550's are available in a multi-pack set, which contains 10 hooks in each of 4 sizes (10, 12, 14, 16) in a re-usable 4-compartment hook box for only $7.48. If you use coupon code "2011cat5", you can save $5 off your first order.

Another hook option is from a website called Allen Fly Fishing (http://www.allenflyfishing.com/collections/hooks). I have not used their hooks myself, but they offer hooks at very low prices. Perhaps someone on this site can chime in an advise if the hooks are of good quality.

The second choice would be either white or black thread. If you are just starting to tye, you may want to stick with a 6/0 thread, since it is a little stronger and not break as often, as you learn.

As far as dubbing is concerned, I would gladly help you out in that area. I have a bunch of different colors of wool yarns, which can be chopped up for dubbing, or used to make all kinds of yarn bodies. I would gladly send you some yarn to play with (just shoot me your mailing address in a PM). I do not ask for anything in return. Others on this site have done the same thing to help me out in the past. I am just extending the same kindness.

If you have enough money, I would strongly recommend getting an Indian Hen Saddle ($5). They make a great substitute for partridge and other game birds.

PS - If you are thinking about tying flies to save money, don't kid yourself. In all honesty, it is a very slippery slope. Once you get started, you always "need" yet another material. Your best bet is to pick a couple simple patterns you intend to fish, and get only materials you will use for those flies. Most of the best fishing flies are made with simple materials (hares ear dubbing, thread, hook, hackle, peacock herl).

PPS - Keep your eyes open for materials. You will find that most textiles can be used for tying material. I've gotten tinsel from Christmas decorations, dubbing from yarn and old fur lined glove, winging material from shower curtains, wax from old candles, thread and tools from my wife/s sewing room (please don't tell her), foam from my kids school crafts, etc. Just look around and you will be surprised what you can find.

[willowhead]

i'm in TOTAL agreement w/ Ray......1. Hooks are the MOST important thing of all.........wether your thinking as an angler or an artist.....which "should" be one in the same. As far as givning you two "choices" in that area.........that almost impossible to do, because you didn't tell us what your plans are. But if your fishing for Trout, using soft hackles/flymphs/etc. Daiichi and Gamakatsu hooks will do you VERY well. If i named anything else.....both companies would stop giving me free hooks........... ........but seriously, i'd name them anyway.
2. Hackle.........just buy what you can when you can............there's no way to advise you as to what "2" are the "best" choice.....other than something light, & something dark in both rooster and hen.......but that's "4" choices..........ah.....bout that "slippery slope."
3. Dubbing........well, that's bout as "slippery" as it gets where i'm concerned...........you have to have naturals and you have to have synthetics........so. And your NOT going to be coloring your own wth Sharpies..... ..........Ray covered it pretty well. GET YOURSELF AN ELECTRIC COFFEE GRINDER, and learn to make your own.........it's so simple even i can do it......... ...........jusr remember to use very short little burst with you run the thing.........do NOT run it for more than a couple seconds at a time. You'll save money making your own dubbing.
4. Thread........i use white or primrose or cream 95% of the time and color my heads with sharpies.

and hank.....it's NOT the poop heads in Washington.....it's the Washington in the poopheads. Get it?

[fflutterffly]

I'm sorry if I miss lead anyone. I was not looking for materials. Just wondering what the answers would be for the questions. As it is my ADD took over and I've charted out the most asked for hooks (m3906B/ T100), feather, thread color, wire color and bead used in the 54 flies illistrated in McGee's book. I fish mostly for trout. For the Salt, well flymphs just aren't on my list.
Willow...
Letumgo I also agree on the thread and color pens. I've been doing it for years.
Hawk.. great idea and thanks for passing it on.
As for politics: You're a fool if you think those bast..rds are working for our well being.
Back to the questions:
What is Hare's ear #1/#2/#3?
I'll go take my meds now and stop asking questions... until next time.

[willowhead]

Flutter.....Politically, if the conclusion your refering to, is what one comes to....."thinking" is the last thing your doing.....and THAT, is what makes you a fool. And it's hank, not Hawk.....but who knows.....maybe it should be .....................you ever "think" of changing your handle to, "miss lead?"

Hare's Ear is dubbing, made up of a mixture of underfur and gaurd hairs from round the ears of a rabbitt.....Hare's Mask is the same thing but comes from all parts of the face, hence the term, "Mask."

[hankaye]

fflutterffly, Howdy;

I'm sorry if I miss lead anyone. I was not looking for materials. Just wondering what the answers would be for the questions. As it is my ADD took over and I've charted out the most asked for hooks (m3906B/ T100), feather, thread color, wire color and bead used in the 54 flies illistrated in McGee's book. I fish mostly for trout. For the Salt, well flymphs just aren't on my list.
Willow...
Letumgo I also agree on the thread and color pens. I've been doing it for years.
Hawk.. great idea and thanks for passing it on.
As for politics: You're a fool if you think those bast..rds are working for our well being.
Back to the questions:
What is Hare's ear #1/#2/#3?
I'll go take my meds now and stop asking questions... until next time.

If you are referring to Allen mcGee's Tying&Fishing SHN's. the answer to Hare's ear #1 ect. is on page 23 of said book

by-the-way, I'm hank not Hawk...no harm nor fowl (?)
I gave up believing that they (gov'ment types), worked for us along time ago...

So, what then really is your question now that you've had time to reflect somemore upon it???

hank

[willowhead]

Flutter.......i need your snail mail addy, so i can get the hooks out to you. And it'll be best if what your sending arrives well before the 20th of next month, or else just hold onto it until we get back from this next trip. Our post master is use to having to hold our mail, but it sometimes gets outta hand (small post office ), so i try to make life easy for her. She's on a fixed income too.....cept at Christmas time.

[fflutterffly]

Hank my question is the same as posted. So let me ask it one more time.
If you were on a island, flanked by wildly full trout rivers, and you could only have two each of each of following, aside form your best mate, food and beer, what would it be.
Pick two types of hook. Two type of hackle. Two type of dubbing. Two thread.
Hook type
Hackle
Dubbing
Thread color

[redietz]

I'm still not clear on the question. Do you mean I could have two of each (i.e. 2 hooks, 2 thread colors, two hackles, etc) or that I could have just a hook and hackle, or a thread and dubbing?

Assuming the former:

Hook type - Mustad R50, sizes 14 and 18
Hackle - partridge, starling
Dubbing - muskrat,hare's ear (or an extra portion of muskrat)
Thread color - orange, yellow

Where can I find this island?