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Robert Ryan Houston
New Member
39 Posts |
 Posted - 21/11/2007 : 11:59:15
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i'm from northern ireland and 99.9% of all my salmon fishing is with shrimp patterns so single hairwings are not something i know a lot about i read your reply on hooks it answers most of my questions except would a silver salar be a problem in a "BLACK" brahan, i'm probably going to opt for the wilson but i'll tie several sets.
is the body meant to be flat or should i use silk to taper it .
the preview fly looks better tapered
the choice of extra fly is proving very difficult this month . the bit of everything fly is the biggest challenge but is far from pretty and solwick is similar to wickhams everything else is quite plain so i'm a bit stumped. i presume the"pictured in this issue" is not to be taken literally and you mean with dressing supplied or can you tie anything even pictured in the adverts or on the covers of books for sale . Clutching at straws i know but if you dont ask you'll never know
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paul clydesdale
Junior Member
57 Posts |
Posted - 21/11/2007 : 14:42:39
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magnus
will be interesting to hear your reply to roberts question on the extra fly. i tied my extra fly last night for round 2 and took it from the cover of a book advertised in the magazine.i seem to be strugaling for inspiration this year with the flies pictured in the magazine. |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 21/11/2007 : 14:57:05
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RRH
This is your fly. If you decide to go for a tapered body and silver hook do it - do it well.
As far as I know the Black in the Brahan comes from the wing - so a silver hook is fine - hooks don't get marked, how well you tie on them does. As far as I can find out the original dressing called for a red floss body - I've tied it with a red holo tinsel - so there is nothing pure or sacred about the way I interpret patterns.
You can take 'pictured in this issue' as literally as you like. If there is an image of a fly in there it's fair game. Bear in mind I'm looking at quality of tying - obscure sources gain no points.
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McFly
Junior Member
51 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 03:54:56
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Hi Magnus
Not sure about the `folded hackle', does this mean beard style?
Regards
Billy |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 04:12:17
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Hi Billy
No a beard is not a folded hackle. There are essentially two methods. Select a hackle, hold the tip in one hand, the butt in the other and use your thumb and forefinger to stroke and fold the barbs downwards - squeeze the fibres until they stay bent.
When you've realized that methods a complete pain in the arse. 
Select a hackle. Tie it in by the tip. Start winding forwards. Stroke and fold the barbs towards the tail as you go. If you get it right the fibres sit angled back without needing force them back with thread. |
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McFly
Junior Member
51 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 06:20:11
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Thanks for the reply Magnus.
More hours practice at the vice 
Regards
Billy |
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IanD
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 08:36:52
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Remember to start your practice sessions using single hooks.
When you have progressed to folding hackles on a standard shank treble without getting blood everywhere, consider yourself a master.
Cheers
IanD |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 10:46:11
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Ian
The voice of bitter experience 
It's not difficult on double hooks, once the tip is attached you can pre-fold the hackle. Just work out where it's safe to sweep your fingers towards the bend - and points.
If you want to de-barb doubles before you start I'll understand
Now, folding the head hackle on trebles, ah! there should be a special name for the hard callus of scar tissue you develop on the pad of your thumb. Be thankful trebles are losing ground to doubles and singles.
Magnus
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Robert Ryan Houston
New Member
39 Posts |
Posted - 22/11/2007 : 10:56:02
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| i have managed to train my left hand to hold the tip of a hackle between thumb and forefinger and the butt between my 3rd and little finger if you then bow the stem out it leaves the right hand free to double the hackle. it took ages to get it right but i can do it really quickly now and it saves my fingers on the barbs |
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MikeH
Starting Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 24/11/2007 : 11:50:43
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Magnus, is it cheating to strip the fibres off one side of the hackle, I find it lays a lot neater with less stray bits poking out at various angles.
Mike |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 25/11/2007 : 10:59:05
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Hi Mike
Cheating? The only way to cheat is submit flies tied by another tyer - even that can backfire for example you might ask Paul A. for a few.
Put yourself in my shoes. I have two flies, both have hackles which sit angled nicely, one I can see, uses a folded hackle, the other uses a half-stripped hackle. In that situation I'd take skills into account - striping is easier than the folding.
Sadly I do go over the flies with a magnifying loop so I can probably tell how they were tied.
In reality it's highly unlikely that it'll come to that. Folding means you have twice as many fibers per turn and they tend to flare out nicely. Chances are the half-stripped hackle may be at a 'poor' angle, the hackle may be thin or will take up rather a lot of the hook-shank. Try a couple and compare, hopefully you'll see what I mean.
Having said all that, these are your flies, so long as they look Brahans there is no cheating about it - they are eligible. Your job is to tie them as well as you can.
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McFly
Junior Member
51 Posts |
Posted - 26/11/2007 : 03:47:27
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Magnus
A `magnifying loop'!!
You never mentioned this before, surely a cursory glance would do?
This close examination stuff seems very unfair and will almost certainly discriminate against weaker tiers 
I may have to take legal advice
Billy |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 26/11/2007 : 06:09:26
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I can always hide behind "The Judges decision is final" |
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MikeH
Starting Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2007 : 14:48:38
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Oh, ok then I won't 'cheat', nor will I ask Paul to tie me up some. They probobly won't be that good anyway because I still haven't recieved the hooks and other stuff I ordered from GAC nearly two weeks ago!!, a bit much for a few hooks and some tinsel .
Mike |
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Magnus
Administrator
529 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2007 : 15:15:12
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Mike
Marvelous - you could try Lakeland or Sportfish - both notoriously quick delivery.
If that the Paul we both know (Arden) that would not be cheating it would be surrendering |
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N C CANDLISH
Junior Member
64 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 11:48:08
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Magnus,
This loose talk of cheating can easily be sorted out.................
All of the flies that I tie carry my DNA fingerprint as, I expect, do the flies of all other tyers; it's called spit!
Nick Candlish |
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this months challenge
