Mayfly Lifecycle Fly Swap

[Jason]

Alright you serious swapsters and tyers, I've got a good one for you. I'm doing a swap that's a little different than the usual. Please note, our fly swap software is on the fritz so I'm doing this via email or through this forum, atleast until we get it fixed.

Here's the theme:

Tie your favorite mayfly lifecycle (ie. BWO, PMD, Brown Drake, Green Drake, etc) You'll need to tie a nymph, emerger, dun, and spinner pattern that represents the lifecycle of one mayfly specie.

I'm making it a limit of 9 tyers. So if all the spots are filled it will come out to 36 flies to be tied. This swap is not for wimps. If you don't think you can tie that many, then don't sign up. I want 9 good tyers that will commit to following through and tie all of their flies on time. I think this will be the best swap of the year with some killer patterns to be tied.

At the end of the swap I will take pictures of eveyone's flies and add them to the site.

FWIW, I will be tying the lifecycle of the Green Drake.

If you'd like to participate send me an email to jason@utahonthefly.com to reserve a spot. Sign up deadline is March 6th. Tying deadline TBD. Rock on!

[Mike]

I'm in for the BWO.

[Cory]

I'll tie a PMD lifecycle.

[Ouzel]

What a fine idea. The unique twist is what does it.
Damn it Jason that is twice in a week I've had to applaud your thinking.
Really; a fine idea that tests a tyers versatility.

[Jason]

OK Ouzel, I didn't hear what fly you were going to tie. Was it the PMD or BWO? You better sign up now. Your due for a swap. ;-)

[Ouzel]

Well I would have to open my yap! OK, put me down for the Brown Drake. 9 of each phase. Not for wimps. Serious tyers.
What am I doing here?
But since you've thrown the gauntlet at my feet, I'm picking it up!

[Don]

You can never have enough variations on the BWO. I'll join in and tie up another series of BWO paterns.

[Jason]

Actually, maybe I should have worded that differently. I'm not trying to scare anyone away, I just want some swappers that will follow through and tie up some descent flies. Nothing more.

I'm stoked to see your Brown Drake patterns. I'll have to try them out on the Henry's Fork this June.

[Curtis Fry]

I'm in for Baetis.

[jjmcmullen]

I'm not sure what I want to tie yet ... but I DO want to get in on this swap. OK? I'm psyched! And I have done one swap with this site ... and a couple with flyanglersonline.com ... so I have some experience. Let me know if there is room for me asap, so I can get on the bench.

[shazerblaze]

Hey Jason,
Is there still room for one more. I wasn't going to tie, but I just thought it would be fun. My last final is tomorrow, so I will have about two or three weeks where I can tie up some good flies. Let me know (by email or here). If it's full, next time I'll get to it. Thanks. If you need a certain pattern done I can do that too. Anyway be good.

Shazerblaze

[Jason]

Well, we've got our nine swappers. Better start tying now, it's a biggy. =) Here's the breakdown:

Jason: Green Drake
Mike: BWO
Cory: PMD
Don: PMD
Curtis Fry: Baetis
Ouzel: Brown Drake
RAW: PMD
Shazerblaze: BWO
JJMcMullen: Green Drake

I'll be emailing everyone with an update and deadline in the next day or two. Shazer and JJ, you guys can pick whatever mayfly specie you'd like. Just let me know when you decide. TIE ON!

[jjmcmullen]

OK, Jason has me psyched. So I'm going for the Green Drake. Yee ha! Might as well tie up a bunch for myself too. Last year the Green Drakes started hatching here in Bonedale around mid-June and lasted well into September (I kept a good log last year).
Man ... hope everyone is psyched! Fortunately, I tie guite a few batches of flies commercially in the spring so this will be a good warm up for me. I've had orders for up to ten dozen of one pattern to tie in a month before, so using some "production" techniques will come in handy for this project.
Looking forward to seeing everyones flies.

PS. Jason, I work for Climbing Magazine as the Art Director (I'm in the editorial department), and as the web site designer/manager for climbing.com. It's a great job, and because of our location in Carbondale, I am lucky to be surrounded by great fly fishing water (and climbing of course).

If anyone is looking for some fishing "beta" for the Fork, Pan, and Crystal Rivers area visit my personal fly fishing site at http://www.thunderriverangling.com.

[Jason]

The submission deadline for the swap will be March 26th. Better start tying now! =)

[jjmcmullen]

I finished my flies for the Mayfly Life Cycle swap this afternoon.

I tied a Green Drake Nymph, Green Drake CDC Emerger, Green Drake Hairwing Dun, and Green Drake Spinner. Over 36 flies in all — a couple of extras for the swap master.

If you would like to see what I tied you can get to the photo's from my web page at http://www.thunderriverangling.com

Can't wait to see everyones flies.

Cheers from Carbondale Colorado!

JM

[RAW]

I'm impressed JJ. Since you have your flies done so quick could you tie mine for me?

[walksinwater]

JJ,

Thanks for the peek.
Beautifully tyed flies!

[shazerblaze]

Shoot, I barely started. I'll pace myself with school and such. A couple or three per day should be good. Keep on tying.

[Jason]

Please send me and email so I can get your email address. I've seemed to lost it. Thanks.

[shazerblaze]

Finished the flies last week (weekend, really) and in the mail as of yesterday. I hope you enjoy them. I decided to tie comparaduns (my first, really). I do hope you like them. I'm looking forward to seeing all of your flies.

[RAW]

9 more to go and I'm done...just in time too. BWO are hatching on some of my favorite water!

[Curtis Fry]

Done and sent off to Jason last week. Look forward to seeing everyone's flies! As luck would have it, I ran out of Porky quill for my quill bodies, so you'll have to settle for the traditional quill style.

[jjmcmullen]

Just wondering if the flies are all in ... and when we might see them. Thanks!

[Jason]

Just got the last set of flies in today actually. I'll be sending them out as soon as I can get to the post office, either tomorrow or Wed.

BTW, all the flies are killer. I think everyone will be very pleased.

[jjmcmullen]

Cool ... Thanks Jason. Can't wait to see the flies.
Cheers!
PS. Don't forget ... I sent few extras for you. Thanks for doing the swap. Looking forward to the next one.

[Mike]

It'll definitely be cool to see everyone's flies!

[shazerblaze]

Yeah, I agree. It will be fun to see everybody's tying styles. I can't wait.

[Don]

I received my flies yesterday and they all look nicely done. I will definetly be replicating many of these patterns. Nice job everyone and thanks for the flies, it was worth the time to tie all 36 flies for the flies I received in return!!!

[RAW]

YEEHAA! Received my flies Saturday. Just when I thought I was getting pretty good at tying flies, the rest of you send your awsome patterns. Very nicely done. Very good fly tiers on this forum. I'm impressed with all the flies!

[shazerblaze]

I just got my flies today (Tuesday). The pony express is still going strong here in Missouri. I thought the flies were great. Kudos to all. I'm going to try to improve my skills up to your levels. Very good.