Flies from the Vise

I’m back to fly tying and thought I’d share some of the flies from the vise. I’ve been spending more time at the fly tying vise, completing orders and getting ready to teach a couple of flies at this week’s Central Oregon Fly Tyer’s Guild on Thursday night. Be sure to check below for links to my new YouTube videos and Zoom fly tying.

Did you figure out the image above is a size 26 midge sitting on an Ibuprofen tablet?

Dancingtrout reminds me that once, many years ago, I said something like “if I need a fly smaller than 18, I’ll buy them”! Well, I’ve eaten those words more times than I can recall. She is the one to suggest this might be a good picture. I thought about placing them all on a dime (and a dozen fit just fine with room to spare), but this image turned out much better.

It all started when a customer sent me a tattered fly and asked if I could replicate it.

I thought the proportions were wrong and created a slimmer body.

Here is the rest of the fly order. There are 78 flies in this box.

Top row – Purple Haze #14, Parachute Adams #16, Light Hendrickson #16, Size 26 Midge

Middle row – Purple Haze #16, Parachute Adams #18, Improved Sparkle Dun – BWO #16

Bottom row – Higa’s SOS #18, Manhattan Midge #20, Pheasant Tail Perdigon #14 & 16

And a few Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper #10

I wanted to share these Light Hendrickson in size 16.

I’ve enjoyed tying these in sizes 12 and 14. And you fly tyers know creating the same look with a smaller size can be challenging. I must say, these wings aren’t the easiest to tie in this size! I wanted enough Wood Duck fibers so the wings would show.

I’ve recently added a couple of new YouTube videos to my channel. If you aren’t a subscriber to my RiverKeeper Flies channel, here are the links:

Lastly, it’s winter and Zoom fly tying has started again. I’ll be teaching a Fat Albert and Hatchmaster – Green Drake this Thursday (11/16/23) for the Central Oregon Fly Tyer’s Guild. Here is a link to the Zoom session which begins at 5pm PST.

Zoom Link to class does not change between classes 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7963775593?pwd=c1F0a0JwMHRHR3lydDJMMnNZOWh5dz09

I hope to see you at the Zoom session.

Enjoy…go fish!