Duraceramic

Archive for the ‘Sports & Recreation’ Category

What do you think of the idea of crafting realistic artwork for an alien being? That’s what fly tying is all about: building an imitation of an insect with the hope that the result will be accepted by a fish! Well, it just might gain the appreciation of a human being and earn you a few shekels in the bargain.

Fly tying is the art of adorning a hook with thread, fur, and feathers to imitate the food of fish. Depending on the quarry the food you attempt to imitate might include insect larvae, pupae and adults; crustaceans, bait fish, fish eggs, and perhaps even small mammals and birds.

You might wonder why anyone would want to spend the time to tie their own flies when they can buy them. Firstly, with a little practice, you can tie a better looking fly with better quality materials than you can buy. Secondly, you can customize the fly to more closely match the fish food in your area or even create your own pattern. And thirdly, you might find some enjoyment in working the craft and producing colorful little 3-D sculptures.

To get started you may be able to find a class in your area – this is highly recommended. Local chapters of Trout Unlimited often host classes and demonstrations and you can join for $25. You may also locate a friend or neighbor who would deign to show you the basics. In general, fly fisher folks are quite willing to help a beginner get started, so go ahead and ask. There are loads of books on the topic and a ‘recipe’ book for flies is essential, but you are guaranteed to learn faster and better from a teacher.

The tools that are required are rather ingenious.

1. A vise is very important, for it has jaws that grip the hook while you work on it. You can pick up a decent beginner’s vise for about $60 -$80. I recommend The Thompson A model for beginners. Later on, you might want to pick up a rotary vise, but a good one of these can easily cost hundreds of dollars. If you chose to purchase a fly tying kit (more on this in a minute), don’t expect to get a vise that is usable. You will find that the vises that come in most kits cannot grip the hook with enough strength. For stability vises come with a C-Clamp to secure it to the edge of the table or a heavy pedestal.

2. The next indispensable tool is a bobbin which holds a spool and delivers thread. The tube which channels the thread to the work area can be made of metal or ceramic. The duraceramic bobbin comes at a premium but is less likely to have sharp burrs at the end and