Tips from Idaho Fly Tying Expo

[jdubya]

Spent Friday PM and Sat in beautiful Idaho Falls at the expo. First time at that event. Interesting, learned a bit, and met a bunch of extremely nice people. Did not do a workshop (the ones I wanted to do filled up) but if I do go back next year would pay the $25 to do one.

Got some tying tips thought I would share.

1. Organza fabric makes great wings for a rusty spinner. 1 square yard would last a ilfe time and cost 2 bucks.

2. Use only 100% silicone fly dressing for modern fly lines: others clog the pores.

3. Tie in parachute in counterclockwise direction (I always do clockwise) 'cause when you tie off will tighten the parachute where otherwise will loosen.

4. Tie parachute hackle up and down the post to reinforce: I was taught to always add from the bottom: thus my parachute hackles have always been weak.

5. Use little finger of right hand as cradle for bobbin when using rotary function (instead of swinging out the bobbin cradle). This saves time and saves having to suck back in 5 inches of thread onto the bobbin when you are done using the rotary function.

6. Bullet head: tie on hair on top: then hair on bottom: then pull back. Easier to get more uniform head than tying it all on at once.

7. Heat forceps with lighter and then use to crimp grasshopper legs foor ankle bend.

8. Paraloop: use flexible rubber band tiing material to wrap on to light above the vice: build paraloop up the rubber band: and then push down. Tie off and undo rubber. This is harder to explain that it was to watch.

9. If you want CDC, you want "House Of Harrop/Renee Harrop" CDC. Perfect CDC in variety of good colors. She was fun to talk to/watch tie plus "easy on the eye". (That last comment comes from spending the weekend in Idaho Falls with a bunch of good old boys).

I don't think I won the driftboat but wasn't at the baanquet to find out.

[Trout4x]

Great report, what were some of the workshops they had to offer?

So this great CDC you mentioned where can you purchase some from?

[flyty]

The best way to buy the CDC is to go fish the Henry's Fork and stop in at the House of Harrop at the end of the day. Otherwise, check here:

http://www.trouthunt.com/harrop.htm

Their CDC has a great reputation, and several UTOF members have purchased it.

[Trout4x]

Jason is this the same stuff you used at the high country demo. You swore by it.

[jdubya]

the two i would have liked to have done was a spring creek cdc patterns by rene harrop, and one by paul stimpson on tying lafontaine flies. but there were others as well. look on their web page if you are interested in the complete listing.

the cdc was from the house of harrop: you can get it from http://www.trouthunt.com/harrop/materials.htm

i bought 5 different colors of the $3 bags: if i had the $ i might have gone for a few of the $18 bags: enuf to last a long, long, long time.

[Jason]

Yah, their CDC rocks. The best you can buy anywhere. I've got a couple of thier $15 bags and will last me for years. More and more of my flies are now tied with CDC so I plan to get back up there this summer and get a few more bags in different colors. Great stuff.

[Trouty]

Great post JW - THANKS!!!!

If you're interested, I talked with Paul Stimpson at a demo he did earlier this year and he said he would be willing to teach an intermediate/advanced class (primarily geared around LaFontaine's patterns) if there were 4-6 people interested. I would certainly like to do it if there are any others who would be interested. He does have a wealth of knowledge about LaFontaine, his patterns and all the different variations that were tested and what worked, didn't work and why they didn't work (the theories). Very nice and enjoyable guy to talk to as is his wife too.

[Larry S.]

I can tell you who did win a kickboat though and he frequents this site often.

I'll give you a hint : He lives in Logan and was NOT one of the infamous Cub River Three. He was well deserving of it although he already has one.

It wasn't me. Eat your heart out T4x.

It was a good show. Twice as big as last year which was bigger than the one before.

jdubya -

You must have watched Cliff Sullivan tie the Ned Long pullovers. For those of you who use a flexible vise light and do not have a gallows tool you can get by as jdubyah says.

I think the live auction alone at the banquet netted them over $18,000. That don't count the silent auctions and the other drawings.

There is always something to learn up there and it was good to see the many faces from UTOF there as well.

Thanks, Allan, and the rest of the Idaho crew for a great show again.

[nightfish]

What I found most interesting was how many different ways there are to do the same thing. I watched about 10 people do a hand whip finish, and none of them were exactly the same.

Also, walking around the tables is a great way to find ideas for storage, material prep, and craft store material finds.

I didn't get to atend any clinics, but I would've liked to have made it to the material prep class, as well as the ones taught by the big names. Harrop, Kauffman, Jack Dennis were all teaching, and those by our own local greats.

I'd also like to stay longer next time to take advantage of the fishing without missing the events.

[Larry S.]

....... just think of all the info you would have gleaned if you "made" the Saturday events (if you catch my drift!). LOL

[nightfish]

Larry, that's true, but think of all the info I picked up while driving around, fishing & stopping in at a funky fly shop while you were at the expo. Not to mention the otter, a pair of sandhills, a killdeer luring us away from a nest, hordes of little black spiders marching through the matted streamside grass, a big hawk viewed from 20 ft, a mixed hatch of mayflies & caddis, fish popping to that hatch, the distant skyline of the Tetons, and the music of the wind in the pines harmonizing with the river's song.

See, I need more time next year!

[Trout4x]

I heard about the drawing, he is probably thinking of selling it to buy his new waders now, since he just bought the 10 foot before the show.

Nightfish did win a sweet prize as well.

[Larry S.]

He did indeed!

nightfish-

You can fish all year(unless you're henpecked!). I needed to catch up on my visiting.

[nightfish]

Ok Larry, here's what you need to do...

Stick around the house being helpful. Do the dishes. put all the tupperware on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. Do some laundry. Save time with this by washing whites with other bright items, and really pack that washer full. Follow her around the house, making sure to ask "what are you doing...do you need help...why do you do it that way..."etc, etc. Ask every 5 to 10 minutes. It shouldn't take too long for her to tell you to go fishin or she's gonna call a lawyer.

[Larry S.]

...talking about you............ at the expo.................;^)

[steelie]

Originally posted by jdubya
"House Of Harrop/Renee Harrop" CDC. Perfect CDC in variety of good colors. She was fun to talk to/watch tie plus "easy on the eye

LOL - Rene Harrop - IMO - is not ver easy on the eyes at all!! LOL, that could have been one of his daughters though......

[K.B.]

"Use only 100% silicone fly dressing for modern fly lines: others clog the pores."

Are fly lines made out of porous material? That seems kind of strange.

KB

[ARW]

Yes we did real well on the auction and the show as a whole. I'm almost embarrased to tell you how much we grossed. Thanks to everybody, the money we raised will definitely help with the SFork issuses.

[Teewinot]

ARW -- It was great meeting you. Thanks for the great show. (And the free pontoon boat!)

[Larry S.]

Don't be embarrased about it. You guys (and gals) work HARD each year to put on arguably the best show in the country. And the money derived from it will benefit all.

I would just like to know when Teewinot switched our tickets!

[jdubya]

the guy from Rio told me about this. new lines have silicone on the inside that slowly works itself outside. he said if you coat with a wax base line conditioner, will block these pores and screw up the line. i am not sure who makes the silicone based line care product versus the wax based (although I suspect the Loon product IS wax based). I'm still looking: maybe Dennis or Carpman know....

ARW, somehow my ticket for the drift boat must have gotten lost. do you have an extra boat?

glad to know you made some nice jack. based on the number of people there i am not surprised.

[Trout4x]

Originally posted by Teewinot
ARW --...Thanks for the great show. (And the free pontoon boat!)


It was not free, it cost you $5.00 and probably a bribe on the side.

[Junge]

Do you think the silicone issue is related to only RIO lines with the SLICKSHOOTER Process? The reason I ask is I read somewhere never to use the silicone Muclin project, only the non-silicone. I guess I need a trip to Western Rivers to get the answer, darn it.

Here is the info on Slickshooter from the RIO site:

SlickShooter™ Process
For over three years, RIO's R&D Department has been further evolving RIO's fly line manufacturing process and, as a result, the company is proud to announce the introduction of a significant manufacturing development. All of RIO's floating lines (with the exception of the MainStream series) are now produced by the new SlickShooter Process for super slick, incredibly smooth fly lines. The SlickShooter Process is a combination of unique chemistry and manufacturing protocols making fly lines that shoot line further and perform better than ever when fishing. The added advantages of our SlickShooter Process are the self-lubricating, dirt-resistant, durable coatings that result in a longer lasting fly line that retains its slickness even after other brands of fly lines have lost theirs.

[Crosby]

You are correct on the Muscelin deal- I can attest to that.