Foam bodies on a needle

[osprey]

Has anyone ever tried this , i saw this years ago in Chauncey Livelys sp? Fly Box , you tie a foam body , seperatly , on a needle placed horizontally in your vise , you then fasten the foam bodies , usually near the bend of the hook and then form the rest of the fly. Chauncies pattern was for a robber fly but it also makes a great hopper body , wish i had a pic , i'll work on that. These flies can be tied so durable and they float forever , the brookies yesterday loved them , only two for five hours fishin and i broke one off in a hemlock. Lots of room for experimentation here.

 

[jason8709]

these make great flies i have tied hoppers, crickets and hex flies using this. i was thinking about making smaller ones for smaller mayflies? like you said, lots of room for experimentation. my problem is this:

I tie a thread base over dubbing wax and wrap the foam, tie it off and cement the threads. I then pull it off but probably 4 out of 5 attempts the body unravels or is about to after removed from the needle.

 

[flyguyfishing]

Here's a couple videos using the needle to form detached foam bodies....Davie McPhail....someone recently posted another one of his videos....they are all good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yId1OulZtMw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VY2IaPRic&feature=fvw

 

[osprey]

Jason....before you attach the foam to the needle tie , horizontally a half dozen or so long deer hairs this will help it slip off the needle.

 

[jason8709]

thanks osprey i tried it and it worked like a charm

 

[osprey]

You're very welcome jason , glad to be of help , if you can post some pics of your stuff..........the ones that work would be the ones heh

 

[flipnfly]

theres a article about this very thing in fly tyer..... i may but the renzetti pin set looks neat

 

[osprey]

flipnfly...........the first time i saw this was about 20 years ago in Pa Angler the commishions mag and it was in Chauncy Livelys fly box , flies tied this way worked really good for me and helped me learn alot specially mountain native brookie fishin.

 

[Buggy]

Here's a link to a hopper pattern on a needle.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/060903fotw.php

Here's a link to make extended body mayflies on a needle.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/072902fotw.php

I've had some success with the mayflies, and think they are a more realistic than some other patterns.