deadlystreamer

Cool idea Big Splash. Don't know if you have ever seen one of those walnut pickers. The sharp thing to pick walnut meat out of the shell, I've used one of those things for over 25 years to dab lacquer and then use it to clean the eye of every fly I tie. I keep it needle sharp and clean of lacquer. I'll bet it would be maddening to start to tie a streamer or fly on your line and find it plugged with lacquer. That would make me want to buy elsewhere. That is why a fly never leaves here on a card, or in my fly box for personal use with a plugged eye.

Hi Tailor Maid, You asked; I remember Celt asking about clear laquer in another post (somewhere) and I don't think it was ever answered (?????). Clear laquer???Anything in particular...brand name...does it matter???? I don't think the brand makes a difference. I'll tell you where I get mine and you can take it from there. These people are great to do business with and they are fast. The Angler Supply House in Pa. Phone # 1-800-362-6612 email info@anglersupplyhouse.com The lacquor is part # 1722 and is a 2oz bottle for 2.30 The thinner is part # 1762 and is a 2oz bottle for 2.00 That will be your most important purches. Pour a small amount into a little air tight bottle to use when tying. It'll harden or stiffen up and that's where you'll need the thinner.You can't beat it. Have fun this weekend. Also have a nice Easter.

Hi Jim, I personally don't care for a bobbin because it gets in my way. I use the half hitch to hold stuff in place. My way of thinking, nothing beats a good knot. But in the defense of the bobbin, If that's the way a person learns to tie, Then that's for him if he likes it. I might sit and tie 3 or 4 dozen streamers at a time and never lay my scissors down. especially when tying with buck or squirrel tail. I'm always trimming the unwanted hair off to make a nice finish. You asked if I use loose wraps? No never. Any time you use loose wraps, your leaving room in there behind your nice finished head for water to get in or just come apart with time. Always wrap each turn to leave no air or space for it to move and come apart. When you cut and lay deer hair on the hook shaft or jig hook and you make those first few turns and the ends look up at you, you could be using the hollow hair, or you could have left the unwanted fur and butt ends in that clump, remember to always use your finger or your scissors to flip that stuff loose and pull it out, Then make your first few wraps and trim anything that is in the way and continue on with your fly or what ever. The big secret is tight. That clear lacquer on top of your first few wraps will seal it up too. You cannot use to much lacquer. If it gets in the eye, let it dry and poke it out with a sharp tool. No I don't sell the buck tail trebles. I'll be more then happy to make some up for you if you tell me what size hook you want. I make some for my own use but have never sold them. The part to remember when tying a treble hook is there are two more barbs waiting to grab your finger as your tying. When I get this finished, I'll take a picture of what I've been playing with on the trebles and send it to you on your email. I'd put it here but I need to take the picture. You can see that you can do just about anything with them Oh one more thing, you asked what I tie with the squirrel tails. I use the fox and gray squirrel to make two of the Deadly Streamer patterns. I've used them on a hook set up on a night crawler harness that I've made for personal use. Once you get into this stuff and have a different things lying around, your mind will dream up all kinds of stuff to play with. It's a fun relaxing form of entertainment to amuse your self. THEN go catch a fish on it.. Hope I was of some help Jim. I'll pop that picture off to you right away.

Hey Big Splash, That sounds like a nice finish you put on your lures. I'd never get mine tied if I did all that. It's got to take quite a bit of time with the drying wheel. Do you make just one or two at a time? Just wondering. Keep up the good work.

I'll try to stick some info here, Take it for what it's worth. When using buck tail, it depends on the buck tail. The hair at the end of the tail is better then the hair at the butt end of it. That's where the hollow hair is and that's great for tying a frog popper or a bug that has a brush cut look to it. You can make all winds tight and trim the hair to get the brush cut look. Nice for making poppers. The middle and top end of the tail is good for tying jigs and streamers. But there again the chunk of hair you cut off to use has a lot of lose hollow ends in it that needs to be pulled out. If you don't pull that lose stuff out, you'll have a bulky end to tie down and that's where the trouble begins. When you get it all tied down, you can pull the hair out by giving it a good tug. That is no good because a fish might grab the end of the hair and get a mouth full of hair and you'll end up with a jig and no fish. not to mention how that fish will feel with a mouth full of hair. I've found that what ever I tie, those first few wraps are the most important because that's what will hold it together. There again is where I put a dab of clear lacquer and continue to add or finish off the head. Yes there is a lot of wasted thread in tying a jig or streamer. It's very important to make those first wraps tight and if you need to let the thread sit unattended, make a half hitch and snug the thread in tight. When I tie a buck tail or a squirrel tail, I lay the hair where I want it and make two or three tight wraps and trim the hair off that sprouts up and then as I wrap the thread around I cover it all, it's being secured tightly as I cover it up and make the head. Tight is the secret to tying a bait that will last forever. When you get a bait finished, hold it so you won't bury that hook in your finger and grasp the hair in your other hand and pull hard, if it comes out, will, that's what I mean by keeping it tight. There is where you dab a good layer of clear lacquer that will seap into the thread and make a nice hard lasting head and or collar. I used to have guys tie my streamers for me, until one day I pulled on some that they had tied and it came apart. That was the end. I tie them all myself now and I know they're tight. Good looks will sell a bait, Durability will get continued sales. One that falls apart make you lonely bait maker. Are we having fun yet? OK you guys, I tried. You both make some nice looking baits and probably know what I just said. But there may be others that read this and might learn something. That's what were about. Right?

Hi Jim, I'm in Northern Mi at my inlaws house and I just got in my email. If you use just black thread, or for that matter, Any color thread the clear would be all you need. The clear works on red thread or black or what ever. I see no reason to use colored lacquor. Even on the areas you need to seal or cover. Heck I've used it on Jiggs and I mean big jiggs and it works just fime. I ues it on the littlest dryflies. I personally don't think you can beat it.

No I didn't. Now I do. That looks great!! Glad you put the pic on for me. It really looks fine. That's some weird stuff to work with, but makes a nice looking bait. You do some nice work.

Wow!! You guy use all kinds of strange stuff. I buy clear lacquer in a 2oz bottle and also get the 2 oz bottle of thinner. I use a small jar with a tight top and use the stuff on every thing I tie. It'll last forever and won't come undone. I use the lacquer from start to finish on a fly. A dab on the thread, add something and dab it, until I'm finished, then cover the head or the finished part and hang it up to dry. Then before I package a fly, I use a pointed (Actually a walnut picker) tool and clean the dried lacquer out of the eye. It dries nice and leaves the color of the thread to be seen. For you guys that have a large area to coat with a finish. I'd use a small tool of some kind or even a small brush and put a couple coats of clear lacquer on it. Let it dry and put the second coat on. It won't dry with bubbles and will give you a smooth finish. I buy the lacquor from E.Hille. Anglers supply house in Williamsport Pa. A 2oz bottle is 2.30 and the thinner is 2.00 for the 2oz bottle. That will last you quite some time. I hope this will be of some help.

I have used that krystal Flash just a couple times to see how it works and the action it gets in the water. I like using it and haven't had that problem yet, If I did, I'd probably wrap it down the best I could and lacquer it in place. I think any thing used to tie with can be covered by a nice finished looking head. Sooo If you have unmanageable Krystal Flash, Cover it with a nice head and use a good amount of clear lacquer to finish it off.

You found it by accident?? That's cool, That means it's getting around. Great :!: :!: Pass the word..

This is an story taken from www.NAFC.com It's something to think about when your fingers, mind and eyes come in contact with a piece of balsa wood, knife, diving lips etc.. We don't need any of our bunch getting into trouble. http://www.fishingclub.com/document.asp?dID=2620

Wow Carl! I've never asked the fish about that. You can look at a fly, streamer, jig or whatever and tell it it's made on a machine or custom tied by hand. I prefer hand tied tackle myself. I don't think the fish cares one way or another. If it catches fish, then it's a good one. If it falls apart when used, then that's a bad one. I tie hundreds of Streamers every year and I don't think any two of them are exactly alike. Your jigs will be the same. There is something said about hand tied tackle. It shows that some one still cares. A machine would make our job a heck of a lot easier, but it wouldn't be the same. I don't know if I gave you the answer you were looking for, I hope I helped some. Good luck to you.

Hey Jake, Welcome! Nice to see you here. Yep The chat room should prove to be real interesting. I'll probably see you there some evening.

Welcome captbob. Glad to see you've joined us. Pass the tackleunderground.com URL around to all your friends. I think we have a good thing going here. Again, Welcome :!:

Hey Mylures, Welcome Good to see you aboard. It's starting to look pretty homey in here Ken. We can use your expertise I'm sure. Glad to see you.

I like that. That's cool.

Nathan, Tim and all else who joins us. Eveyone sing........Halleluiah.. Halleluiah.. Halleluiah......Halleluiah.... There, Do you get the felling? I just love to see our guys joining the group here on TU. I think it'll be great to have a contest and actually award a winner the prize for the effort and a job well done. Halleluiah.. Halleluiah.. See something to be happy about. But that is not the only reason we're here. Let's have fun while were at it..

Ya! I noticed that too. It's kind of like watching the score keeper of a board game. That's ok Jerry, go for it. Oh how I hate to start this again.. Window or bumper stickers? Shall we go there? What do you think? We need to get this going. I have the URL on all my emails going out and am adding it to my business cards.

Hello Funny Farm, Fur and glue. Will you tie me up a dozen of them? You probably do to a hook what I'd do to a chunk of wood and a diving lip. Guess we'd better stay on our own side of the tackle table. Man we could really screw things up.. See ya , Take care.

Hello funny farm. We broke it now we've got to spread the word. Nice to see you aboard. This will be fun and informative to all who visit.

The ice will soon be gone and the feathers and thread will soon be all over your tying table. Tis the season to tie up something great. It may not catch a fish but it looks good hanging on your vest. Someday you'll get a little wierd and put it on your line and toss it out in the open water. Bammm, A fish! On this?? Wow It works!! Been there, done that. It's a good feeling to make one that really works. If you don't have a tying vice yet, It's time to start. You don't need a dozen lessons to learn to tie. Teach yourself. It's fun. If you need any help just give a holler and we'll see what we can do. OK?? Good luck and happy fishing.