Furled Foam Skwala SBS

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psvr3eo8ta.jpg

A take-off on yarn furled-body flies like the Fluttering Stone, John Scott's FEB series. I was looking for a body that provided a bit more floatation, trying to find a way to incorporate foam.

Got the idea while watching Jim Slattery making dubbing brushes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkxT...HaAIq&index=37

Unfortunately, a lack of additional appendages preclude photographing furling sequence so here's the text version:
1. Use a clipboard to hold one end of the foam strip (instead of my pant leg)
2. roll the foam across the surface (putting a foam sheet down greatly increased friction, making it easier to create uniform twist)
3. slide a bodkin underneath the noodle at the mid-point, lift and allow the foam to twist back on itself, creating the furled body

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psmfbbrh8j.jpg


hook - Dai Riki 280 #10
thread - UTC 140 hopper yellow
body - 2mm foam strip (furled)
wing - deer hair
head/collar - elk hair dyed olive
legs - medium foam brown
indicator - foam orange

Part 1

mash barb, start thread to establish width of head; finish a bit back from the eye

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4jtfm6x9.jpg


clean, stack, measure (hook length) a clump of ungulate hair, trim to length (add width of head to the equation and the tips usually end up eve with the bend of the hook)

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pshudrltuo.jpg


two soft loops (spin the bobbin beforehand to tighten up the thread/minimize diameter); holding the hair, pull slowly/firmly on the bobbin to flare the hair, release, allow it to spin, take a few wraps through the butts

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3kqvzwtt.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psqikvg8iu.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3jnr7szd.jpg


trim butts

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psc4w5zonf.jpg


measure body for length (extend gap width past bend), tie in, brush on a little Super glue, trim

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pscywnvdvb.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pswqhjplv2.jpg

Part 2

clean, stack, measure (body length) a clump of deer hair; tie in/trim

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjf7gt6ty.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psmfiz1rnu.jpg


push hair back, evenly surrounding hook eye

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psuixwjkik.jpg


pull hair back, take 2 soft loops, pull slowly/firmly on the bobbin

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psyeiywyau.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psteamr61c.jpg


add legs and indicator; whip, SHHAN (give the head a coating, too)

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pse5ipvkzk.jpg


trim out collar on the underside

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psj3dmebtj.jpg


dig out the Smartwool socks (with poly liners), Capilene (top and bottom), windblock fleece, fingerless gloves, go freeze your butt off and catch trout in a proper manner

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psvr3eo8ta.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjdzhaqaw.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pscxql7bwv.jpg


Regards,
Scott

I've come to really like furled bodies for many flies. They are a great way to keep the weight down (using smaller hooks) on large flies. I use them for nymphs as well as dries and like the wiggle on the nymphs. I hadn't thought to try foam, but that looks like a great idea and something I will try soon.

Neat idea, Scott. Any problems with the foam tearing when you were furling it?

Joe

I do not believe there are any skwalas in Georgia, but I don't think bream know that. That will attacked like 8 pack of chicken down at redneck family reunion.

Joe,

No tearing (maybe a bit of tearing my hair out), but until I put a sheet of foam down on the clipboard to roll the strips on I wasn't getting a uniform twist and the bodies came out a bit lopsided. That seems to have helped a good bit.

Regards,
Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by johnstoeckel

I've come to really like furled bodies for many flies. They are a great way to keep the weight down (using smaller hooks) on large flies. I use them for nymphs as well as dries and like the wiggle on the nymphs. I hadn't thought to try foam, but that looks like a great idea and something I will try soon.

---

Ditto

Scott, have you tried placing the end of the foam strip in your vise and twisting the strip and just folding the twisted body on it self? I just did and it seems to work....found out though that it is important to have the strip a uniform width.
I've played around with doing a lot of materials that way...even fly line after watching a video when a guy was playing with making a furled dragon fly adult body with fly line. I don't like it very much but the foam should be a good idea.

Duckster,

I did try it as you described and it worked okay; nice to have options.

Regards,
Scott