Spey & Dee Fly Tutorial By Cameron Derbyshire
Antique Hook Posters By Ron Reinhold
Are These Blacker Flies? (Part II)
Blacker's Wings & How to Make Them By Martin Bach
Design of flies..Going with the FLOW by Aaron Ostoj
Dyeing with Natural Dyes By Charles Vestal
Facts and Folklore About Hooks By Ron Reinhold
From Anton Rist an Evangeline Variation
From Bud Guidry Elegant Simplicity
From Dave McNeese an Orange Heron and Pearl Peril
From David White A Sir Richard
From Edwin Rist A Green Highlander & Pyrite
From Gordeaux The Mary O and Purple Infusion
From Kyle Hand A Blue Baron Variation
From Stefano Farkas No 1 A Golden Lady & Popham
From Stefano Farkas No 2 A Greenhighlander & Butcher
From Stefano Farkas No 3 A Baron & Childers
From Stefano Farkas No 4 A jumbo Popham
From Stefano Farkas No 5 Three Doctors
From Stefano Farkas No 6 A Jock Scott
Growing Your Own Silk Gut by Jim Blais
Indian Crow / Red-Ruffed Fruit Crow
Indian Crow Subs by Don Colman
Lt. Col. Reid's Materials Order
Making a Chute Wing Setter by Don Colman
National Geographic Silk Gut Article
Notes on Salmon Fly Storage By David White
Raising Heritage Turkeys By Kyle Hand
Tapered Floss Underbodies By Stefano Farkas
The 2004 International Fly Tying Symposium
The high cost of tying Atlantic Salmon Flies today?
The Pine Meadow House Gang or A Fly Tyer?s Excellent Adventure
The Tinsel Belt by Tero Lannes
Tinsel Bodies by Wayne Luallen
Toppings and Tails by David White
This impressive article has been created for and offered to us by our "FRIEND" Martin Bach. I can't thank him enough. Click on Martin Bach to see his FRIENDS page.
As written by Martin:
This is my guess on how flytiers made a mixed wing in the time around the middle of the nineteenth century, based on engravings and the text in the book “The Art of Flymaking†by W. Blacker, the 1855 edition.
Please note that I am left handed, what is the reason why it seems like the pictures are mirrored.
Click on the thumbnails below to see the larger image:
1. Prepare all the materials before starting. Keep the strips for each wing parted. On the picture, the strips to the left are for the far wing and the right side is for the near wing of the fly. Notice that the strips curves downward, not upward as usually.
2. Pick one strip up, start with the longest, and place it on the pad of the forefinger, and hold it in position with the thumb.
3. Take the next strip and place on top (not above like in a married wing) of the first. Loosen the pressure from the thumb without moving it, and slide the strip under it!!!
4. Continue with the next strip the same way. Place the strips a little across each other, so the will sit like a fan.
5. Same procedure.
6. All strips are set in, still on top of each other, which is the most difficult part. Notice, as the fan spreads downward, the strips decrease in length.
7. Shifting hands: Still holding tight, grab the wing with the other hand close to the tie-in point, and hold very tight before letting go of the first hand. It is important to have a tight hold all the time.
8. With the nails of the thumb and forefinger on the hand not holding the wing, pinch the butts at the tie-in point.
9. This shows how the butts are pinched and the wing still held tight.
10. Put the wing in position on top of the fly, keeping it on the far half of the hook. Tie it on with a few tight turns as with a usual wing.
11. The fly with the far wing tied on. (Sorry for the quality of the picture).
12. The near wing is built up the same way.
13. Near wing pinched and ready to tie in.
14. Near wing tied on. Give the wing a few strokes with your fingers, and it should be in place.
15. The finished fly.