MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
Post up a picture T-Bone. see if we can figure it out.
You got more patience that me I don't even attemp those little buggers...any smaller than a #10 I'm out!!
Quote by: MikeYou got more patience that me I don't even attempt those little buggers...any smaller than a #10 I'm out!!
Mike it gets worse the older we get. I have a hard time tying 18's these day's even with a good pair of magnifying specs. Worse is tying one on the near invisible tippet these days. Holding a line you can't see putting it though a hole you can't see makes for some entertaining moments stream side . Hell sometimes I laugh out loud when the line goes through the hole. It wasn't to many years ago I could do this without any difficulty. Guess one of these days I will have to give in and only tie size 14's.
Post a pic of the pattern you wish to tie....Then I am certain you will recieve advice
on the proper materials and procedure.....
This image is actually a royal coachman fly but it demonstrates the type of wing I have been trying to make.
T-Bone I wonder if it the turkey quills that might be the problem ? I wonder if you were to use goose or mallard if that would solve the problem ? One other thing that might be causing you trouble. When you tie the quill in place are you wrapping back up on the quill ? If you are this could be the problem. This will cause the fibers to split or separate. Once you tie them in place don't wind back up on the wing. It is a guess from here because I can't see what your doing . Maybe the more experienced tiers will jump in and give you and idea that I am not able.
Theron I was going to say the same thing that the Light Cahill uses Wood Duck Wings.
See Yah
Lee
Thank you folks. Dave I beleive you are on to something about those wraps up the wing. I did do that and it must have been what caused the fibers to come apart.
Thank you gang for the directions on the light cahill. I will attempt to tie this one as it is drawn out in those plans. I'll even send a pic.
Theron
I have been attempting to make light cahills using turkey Biot feathers treated with CDC oil. I use the biot portion for the tail, and the other side of the quill for wings, but.... Does anyone else find these a huge pain in the ass? I have been trying and trying and I thought I had it just about licked. They looked great but they were not spreading well and when I attempted to wrap hackle between them and it split the quill fibers and destroyed the the wings.
The razor blade makes a very nice eraser to start from scratch, but I could see where a frustrating day would add up to lots of wasted materials.
T_Bone