It's a good thing ... that no one has proposed a 2011 24HourCampfire Fly Swap, because snow-bound winter is such a busy time- none of us has the time to tie.

Macrabbit:

I will likely get out the boxes and vice this afternoon and work on some Axtec's. With my old, fat, stubby, spastic fingers, I have hell with the Mohawk portion handling those short lenghts of yarn.

Just thinking it would be easier for me to manipulate and lash down a 6 to 10 inch section of yarn as smaller loops. Seems it would be a bit quicker, then one could sever the tops, trim, and comb.

Stick figure type illustration.


Obviously you are more adept at tying than I. See any issues with such an approach?

For you others, I called 1minute, thought I could do a better job verbally. (I probably didn't. )
His workaround is possible, but won't be as satisfactory as the standard method; and the standard is a technique worth mastering, for many other tying applications as well it being necessary for some of the fancier Aztecs such as the Sculpin.

Here, 1minute, is a copy of the relevant part of the instructions- the Loop Method of Attachment.
The Method is introduced for tying in the Tail Yarn Loop; mentally substitute Crest Loop for TYL, and Body Yarn for thread, and you'll be fine.
It really isn't difficult, nor does it require extra-fine dexterity. Just a few Aztecs should have you up to speed. As always, practice makes perfect.
I sure wish I'd been able to make it over there last spring for squirrels. I had my tying tools and stuff with me, all ready for an afternoon of tying.

As always, Macrabbit goes way beyond just helping. Thanks,

I was just down here checking in to see if the fly swap was going to happen... Snow bound winter? No time to tie? Serious?????? Say it isn't so!!!!

I couldn't find a "tongue in cheek" smiley to use.

I'm doing my [almost] best to drum up some interest.
I haven't volunteered to be SwapMaster, want to give someone else the opportunity. (Hint- it's a good deal, because some members toss in an extra fly or two for the SM.)

them be the reasons I like to do it as well.

Well, the troops are a little slow responding. Their blood must be flowing sluggishly because of the cold.

Go ahead, Pink Lady- start up a new thread, crown yourself SwapMistress, set the rules, and put out the invitations.
Count me in.

I'd like to do a fly swap. I missed out last year. My buddy Rick too.

She's probably been making lunch (roast moose sandwiches) for Riley's return to school tomorrow. She'll get back to us with a 2011 24HourCampfire Fly Swap thread, just you wait.

What's the theme? I need ideas. I'm plum out of ideas, as I finish my photos for the AFF photo contest.

Last year was a muddler type thing, so what shall we do for this year, gents (and ladies, if you're paying attention)?

Terrestrials would cover a lot of ground. I think emergers would be cool too. I don't have a ton of good emerger patterns. I usually just strip in whatever dry I have on.

I have an immediate need to practice my dragon and damsel nymphs, so please work up a theme in which they'll fit. (I'll do one of each for the Swappers.)

Hey, I think Miss T would like Dungeons and Dragons! She would likely go all crazy with costumes and the whole thing!

Oh wait, that wasn't what you said, was it...

I think you're revealing more of your private life than we really want to know...

I think you're right.... it's fantasy.

....an emerger and its dry for a dry / dropper combo?

I could be wrong (though that's rarely likely ), but having to tie two flies might be more than many folks can manage, or manage in time.
But if our SwapMistress wants to pair up members to achieve the same result...

I've got 10 damselfly nymphs already done, will probably begin on the dragons this evening. If a couple of tiers want to come up with snake-doctor dries, we've got a match.

If we are playing, put me down as tying a Sparkle Carey Special if it is a D-n-D theme or Doc Sprately for emergers.

We're playing, but I'm not sure what we're doing... one of two different things?
Terrestrials, emergers and/or nymphs? choose two of the 3? I'm confused and I haven't even started sorting flies yet!!!

In any event, we have (Limited to 12)
Rob
Rob's Friend,
Troutfly
Macrabbit
Misty

You're back! Making those sandwiches must have taken a lot out of you.

Confusion is in the mind of the beholder.

As to a theme, you can choose no theme if you wish. ("We don't need no stinkin' themeses!")

I like themes. Otherwise we get too much of a hodpodge. So I like the idea of choose 2 of the three, but will everyone what to tie 2 sets of 12? What say thee?

And I like Themes' sister, though she never would go out with me.

I'll follow whatever program you set.
Even if I have to throw away all these cute little damselflies I've labored so hard over. Even the pink one.

No, no! We'll work them in! What can we do to incorporate both suggestions?

Well, a nymph is just an emerger in diapers. And when they're all grown up they live outside the water, so they can be considered terrestrials...

Newspeak lives!

Well, a nymph is just an emerger in diapers. And when they're all grown up they live outside the water, so they can be considered terrestrials...

Newspeak lives! [/quote]

Now there is a theory I could work with lol

I wonder if a post should go up saying "fly swap." I just happened upon the "it's a good thing" post having no idea you were thinking of starting another.

I like the idea of tying a dry and it's emerger. I think that would be very interesting to see.

Agreed. And I expect our Mistress will start a real thread, with invitation and rules, when she finally decides what she wants. I have a feeling that she's been busy with some other project.

Rounding up and cropping the entries for this year's AK Fly Fishers' photo contest and refusing to take my sage advice...

Or my Winston advice for that matter...

Damsel hatches here can be beyond magical. When they start rolling off the trout absolutely key on them...

Never seen a sub-imago damsel though it sounds interesting and dangerous...

Oh, I'm in.
art

Maybe you should beat her with a bamboo one, then.
Having a spare rod is not the same as sparing the rod...

Who said anything about a subimago? Just an everyday nymph.
Uh, subimago? ... damselflies?...

What color damsel nymphs do you have swimming around up there? (Besides shocking pink?)

You never heard of a non-sequitar?

Our young damsels are mostly olive.

Many of ours in California are, too, but they keep getting deported!

I'm ready to start this if someone else will come up with the rules and/or theme. All I can think of is tying 2 flies of the same bug, but different stages. I'm not dissing your ideas, just trying to figure out a way to keep everyone happy.

Pick two stages of the same food? How about a smolt pattern and a flesh pattern?

That would work, too.

If we are going for stages, put me down as tying a Sparkle Carey Special and a Dragon Fly adult.

Okay- I've got the nymph stage done. Anyone know how big a damselfly egg is?

A size 26 or 28 MIGHT be close lol

Okay, wise guys, the girls are coming over for brunch. We'll figure something and make a post. Sheesh!

I was thinking about cheating and doing a steak and eggs. Two stages, one fly

That is cheating!