May Fly Tying Forum

By

Brian Garringer

The May fly tying forum at the John E. Pechmann Center, in Fayetteville NC, was lead by two of the Project Healing Water Fly Fishing volunteers, Craig Person and Terrance Straiter. 

            Craig started the session with a terrestrial pattern.  This pattern was a bee.  While the pattern itself was simple, there were some new skills required to complete it.  It started out as many craft foam pattern do by tying the foam to the top of the hook.  It then moves to using CDC as dubbing.  He split the thread and inserted the CDC fibers in the opening.  This can be even more difficult than it sounds.  First, to split the thread, spins it counterclockwise.  This loosens the individual fibers that make the thread.  A fingernail or a bodkin can be inserted between the threads to create an opening in the thread.  

            Splitting the thread is only half off the battle; you also have to get the CDC into the open in the thread.  This can be done is two way.  One way is to prep the CDC feather prior to splitting the thread.  Place a large binder clip on the edge of the CDC fibers.  Then trim the fibers off the stem of the feather.  The clip will hold the fibers in place until they are needed.  The CDC fibers can be set aside until the thread is ready.  Once the thread is split and the CDC Fibers are inserted then the thread is pulled down to place tension on the fibers.  The tension will hold the fibers and the clip can be removed. 

            The other way does not require any prepping.  The thread is split and the CDC fibers are inserted into the opening still on the stem.  The thread is pulled down with one hand to place tension on the fibers to hold them in place.  With the other hand, the stem is trimmed away the fibers.  Once the CDC Fibers are inserted in the thread, it is then spun to close the opening and turn the fibers in all directions.  Once the thread has been spun, the CDC is trapped in the thread.  It is then ready to be wrapped, as normal dubbing would be.  

            This technique creates less bulk then a standard dubbing loop.  The dubbing loop is created by doubling thread over.  The fibers are then inserted between the two pieces of thread.  It can then be spun and the fibers would be trapped in the thread   While it is easier in technique and not as time consuming to prepare.  It uses twice the thread.  In small to ultra small flies this added bulk that can be anywhere from a nuance to a disaster. 

            The second fly of the evening was a Modified Woolly Bugger taught by Terrence Straiter.  This fly was modified to all natural fibers.  Terence traded the chenille that was normally used to form the body for all natural materials.  He used two different materials to form the body.  The first was white fisherman’s wool yarn.  This was tied in and wrapped just as the chenille would be. 

            The second material was alpaca fur.  An alpaca is am animal that is similar to a lama.  Its fur is harvested and used to make wool.  For the body Terence used loosed fur it was applied to thread as a dubbing. 

            In addition to the wool and alpaca bodies, he also changed the bead.  Many manufactures of flies will place a bead to provide additional weight and flash.  He placed a glass bead to provide flash. 

            These two flies were well taught and provided a success evening if fly tying.  Fly trying forums are held on the fourth Thursday of the  month.  Check out the this programs and others at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center website.  http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pechmann/EventRegistration.aspx.