three smaller flies

Post by **zen leecher** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:27 pm

I had some new hooks come in a recent order and wanted to try one out. It was a #18 2x short hook and is a Black Spider. Then I wondered how small of a soft hackle one could tie. The next one in line is an Allen #22 1x long dry fly hook and the smallest is a Mustad #24 dry fly hook. The hackle on the #22 is a starling hackle up on the top of the neck. I found starling small enough for the #24, only problem was it was too delicate for my hands and I broke 4 of them before I switched. I ended up using a Whiting genetic hen neck and found #24 hackle up in the skinny part of the neck. What surprised me was I had hackles even smaller should one ever want a teeny, tiny wet fly. This new genetic hackle isn't anything like the hen necks of old.

The big fly is my submission to the latest fly swap. The dime is from my latest retirement check.

: DSC_1612.JPG (248.25 KiB) Viewed 5752 times

Post by **hankaye** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:10 pm

zen leecher, Howdy;

Absolutely amazzzing! How long before your eyes un-crossed?

Seriously, those are some nicely tied flies, I'm partial to the ones on
the ends the shorter shank (I think), makes for a nicer spider.

hank

Post by **zen leecher** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:16 pm

I use a magnifying glass with my Ott light. Otherwise I wouldn't be tying anything smaller than a 16/18. I also have two lights on my tying desk, one on each end of fly tying area.

Post by **Roadkill** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:17 pm

Good looking flies, a great addition to any box.

DUBBN · Post by **DUBBN** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:20 pm

Amazing. I could not pick a favorite.

Post by **Mataura mayfly** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:49 pm

Good looking wee bunch.
Gamebird and songbird hackles, when you get real tiny can be a "challenge" to say the least. You are correct in the barnyard hen capes of old- there just aren't too many of those wee tiny feathers up where the neck joins the head and it depends just who and how careful they were removing the cape as to if you get any at all.

Nice work on the miniature wee wets though.

Post by **letumgo** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:18 pm

Holy cow! That is some VERY impressive tying. Great job Bill.

I can't wait to see you swap flies.

Post by **Donald Nicolson** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 1:42 am

Very nice ZL. I like them a lot. With my new PC with a large screen, I can see them
quite well. Only problem, the background is a bit too dark for my eyes, but that is my problem.

Post by **tie2fish** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:55 am

Outstanding work, Bill-Zen!

Post by **zen leecher** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:23 am

Donald Nicolson wrote:Very nice ZL. I like them a lot. With my new PC with a large screen, I can see them
quite well. Only problem, the background is a bit too dark for my eyes, but that is my problem.

I made do with the two fluorescent desk lights and did not use a flash, nor compensate for the light. The background is a tad dark for me too.

three smaller flies

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