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View Full Version : Christmas is coming....


ScottT
09-10-2002, 01:01 AM
I know alot of you have probably done this but two years ago I performed the old "fly in a christmas tree bulb" exercise as a small gift for friends and family - HUGE success!!! Most of the people receiving them were not flyfishers but everyone got a big kick out of them. They make a novel gift and people appreciate something that reflects a bit of personal effort and handiwork instead of the usual storebought crap.

I bought a bunch of clear bulbs at Michael's craft store and suspended a fly in the center of them with 5x or 6x tippet (quite a trick getting them centered correctly).

As for the fly, I tied up a garish red and white steroid-induced monstrosity based loosely on the Spruce Fly - hackle-tip wings and all. Any self respecting trout would beach themself if this critter came floating past their lair, but it fit the Christmas theme perfectly. Make sure the size of the fly is big enough to be easily seen in the bulb (a #22 parachute adams hanging in a 2" or 3" bulb would just be silly).

Just a thought with Christmas creeping up - might seem corney to some but I had alot of fun with it!!!

shazerblaze
09-11-2002, 06:41 AM
Great Idea.

Larry S.
09-12-2002, 05:44 AM
Not if you put a 2" fish in the globe first ! ;^)

Barbless
09-12-2002, 04:10 PM
thanks for the great idea!

Conehead
09-12-2002, 05:53 PM
Do you have a picture of your creation? It sounds like something fun to try.

ScottT
09-13-2002, 04:06 PM
Sorry, no pixs (my wife ABSOLUTLY refuses to dig thru the crawlspace dragging out christmas stuff in September), just use your imagination. I hung the flies in a vertical attitude and tied & superglued the tippet to the brass "hangieloopiethingie" on top of the bulb.

BTW, the teardrop shaped bulbs work well also.

I tried several different patterns (tried a stimulator 1st, but looked too bushy) but the Spruce Fly variation looked the best, probably because of the big hackle-tip wings and collar hackle. you're not catching fish as much as Grandma's eye - so "gaudy" seems to work here. A Royal Coachman style body also looks good.

Have fun!

Addendum: I used the largest hook size I could fit thru the neck of the bulb.

Also, I actually convinced one non-flyfisherperson (p/c term for goofy blonde family member of the female persuasion) that I tied the fly IN THE BULB!!! ;-) That would really be a trick...