3 replies to this topic

[Peterjay]

These flies are pretty beat up from the rocks, but I think you can get the general idea. Couple of notes: The key to wrapping Krystal Flash is that you have to be gentle. It's fairly fragile stuff, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. Also, if you're going to use epoxy for the final finish, you'll want to use a flexible cement like Flexament or Flex-seal under the epoxy. Lacquer and epoxy on fly heads are a bad match. If you're going to be using Sally Hansen for the final finish, then you can use it all the way through the process.

Finish your head the way you usually do. Give it a coat of cement. Before the cement dries completely, take a strand of Krystal Flash and gently stretch it to take out the kinks. Wrap it and tie off with a half hitch. Repeat until you've got the head completely wrapped. Tie off GENTLY with a half hitch. (you may not want to snip off the end until you've coated the head once - this will help prevent unraveling) Coat the head with a generous dab of cement. Once it dries, either give it multiple coats of Sally Hansen or one coat of epoxy. I usually keep coating the head with SH until it feels smooth.

If you can't find the exact color you want, you can use a marker to color the head once it's done - just make sure the cement is dry. If you don't go too heavy with the marker, you'll still get the shine. The metallic colors will make some spectacular heads; I especially like gold and copper on anchovy flies. I also make saltwater tins and I like to dress up the tail hooks with a Krystal Flash band. I doubt the fish will notice any of this, but most of us like to give our stuff a little something extra - I think it's part of the fun. PJ

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Edited by Peterjay, 20 August 2010 - 02:07 PM.

[Kelkay]

Those look fantastic, I will have to try that. I have used different colored thread to make a band before, but never krystal flash, great idea, thanks for sharing the awesome photos!!
Kelly

 Peterjay, on 20 August 2010 - 02:00 PM, said:

These flies are pretty beat up from the rocks, but I think you can get the general idea. Couple of notes: The key to wrapping Krystal Flash is that you have to be gentle. It's fairly fragile stuff, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. Also, if you're going to use epoxy for the final finish, you'll want to use a flexible cement like Flexament or Flex-seal under the epoxy. Lacquer and epoxy on fly heads are a bad match. If you're going to be using Sally Hansen for the final finish, then you can use it all the way through the process.

Finish your head the way you usually do. Give it a coat of cement. Before the cement dries completely, take a strand of Krystal Flash and gently stretch it to take out the kinks. Wrap it and tie off with a half hitch. Repeat until you've got the head completely wrapped. Tie off GENTLY with a half hitch. (you may not want to snip off the end until you've coated the head once - this will help prevent unraveling) Coat the head with a generous dab of cement. Once it dries, either give it multiple coats of Sally Hansen or one coat of epoxy. I usually keep coating the head with SH until it feels smooth.

If you can't find the exact color you want, you can use a marker to color the head once it's done - just make sure the cement is dry. If you don't go too heavy with the marker, you'll still get the shine. The metallic colors will make some spectacular heads; I especially like gold and copper on anchovy flies. I also make saltwater tins and I like to dress up the tail hooks with a Krystal Flash band. I doubt the fish will notice any of this, but most of us like to give our stuff a little something extra - I think it's part of the fun. PJ

[Peterjay]

Glad I could be of some help, Kelly. One thing I forgot to mention is that I usually use white tying thread when I know I'm gonna be wrapping the head with Krystal Flash. Either that or a thread that closely matches it. Black thread under pearl, etc., will tend to show through. White works best by far for lighter colors.

[Kelkay]

 Peterjay, on 21 August 2010 - 08:36 AM, said:

Glad I could be of some help, Kelly. One thing I forgot to mention is that I usually use white tying thread when I know I'm gonna be wrapping the head with Krystal Flash. Either that or a thread that closely matches it. Black thread under pearl, etc., will tend to show through. White works best by far for lighter colors.

Thanks for the hint, I am just now seeing this message!