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Fly Christmas Ornaments
Does anybody know where I can get info on suspending flies in a clear glass bulb for tree ornaments? Our local club is decorating atree for The Festival of Trees here in Lawrence, KS. It's a charity fundraising event. I have done a search on the site, but haven't turned anyhing up. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. -Jeff
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Jeff, here's what I did to make a Xmas tree ornament. First I tied a white, green and red throat deceiver, tied on some tippet and then bought some clear glass balls in Michael's Craft Store and just stuck that fly into the ball hook point first, clinging to the tippet which stuck out of the top, and tied the tippet onto the hook on the ball. It makes a beautiful ornament. I chose Xmas colors but, of course, you could choose any colors you'd like. It also makes a nice gift for a flyfishing friend.
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Jeff, Ron is right, Craft store for the clear balls. Some have a larger hole and cap than others. I have a set of spey flies in , like Ron suggested, Christmas colors. Just suspend them on fine wire. Guess you could use limp mono too. Good luck..
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Jeff,
You're fairly close to Olathe. I'd be happy to show you how to tie a hummingbird and stuff it into a glass ornament! E-mail me if you want to!
Betty
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Trouts don't live in ugly places
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 09 November 2005).]
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I've been saving this one just for this purpose. Here is Betty's Hummer Ornament.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/JimsTest/hummer.jpg
I use a #2 bass hook. You can use a regular straight, #2-#8, but bend it where the eyes will set, to form the beak. Start your thread at the hook eye; wrap to the eye bend (where the eyes will be), back to the hook eye, then back up to the birds' eye. Figure 8 the dumbbell eyes in place. Continue your thread to the hook bend, and tie in the tail. Tail is formed with two feathers ends together, side by side (forms an upside down heart!), with a third feather overlay. Tie in the chenille (to match the bird). Wrap the thread forward to just in front of the eyes. Wrap the chenille up the hook (a very short body) to the wing placement. Wings are two feathers, concave side up, top feather smaller that base feather...can be different colors?tie them on the sides of the hook, facing up and forward (bird needs lift to fly!). Continue the chenille to the eyes and figure 8 them, then wrap once behind the eyes, and once in front of the eyes to form the head. Tie off the chenille. Continue the thread to the hook eye, and tie it off.
Thread: black or yellow
Body: Chenille; bird color (school color?have fun!)
Eyes: dumbbell yellow lead with pupils or gold with stick on pupils
Feathers: pheasant, guinea hen (school colors)
To place in the ornament: Tie a piece of fine gold wire in front of the eyes. Take a deep breath, and "encourage" the bird, beak first in to the ornament. Make sure you hang on to the wire! Once he's in there past the hook, he'll pop around and fly, suspended by the wire. Slip the held end of the wire through the hole at the center of the metal top, pop the top in place, and wrap the wire around the loop, to the proper length. If you need to take him out for any reason (usually to replace a wing ripped off in trying to get him in there in the first place?. I'm sorry?I digress!), use your long nosed tweezers, and work him beak first back out.
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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
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Oh, there is also a Christmas Mouse here: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/122198fotw.html:a4388]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/122198fotw.html[/url:a4388]
AND - stay tuned for another Christmas special about Thanksgiving from Benjo and Salovin *S*
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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
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Yes, the Christmas balls are at Michael?s in two sizes. I tied some Catskill flies (white like snowflakes) with Wally wings and in doing them attached thin mono behind the wing so the fly would balance correctly (horizontally). I also put a little sprinkle of 'pixie dust' into the ball to add sparkle and dimension - it is also sold at Michael's in small packs.
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Many years ago my Flyfishing Mentor gave me a Christmas present of a fly inside a clear glass Christmas tree ornament. The ornament was purchased at Micheals Craft store and he, of course, tied the fly himself. The fly is a large black maribou leach pattern, one of my favorites for Smallies. I still have it and it hangs on my tree every year.
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Clint
I feel closer to HIM when I'm fishing.
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When I put a Royal Coachman in the ball I hang it with fine mono. I tie the mono in the center of the hook,not by the eye, so that it is horizontal.
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Jeff, why don't you invite Betty to our meeting and she can tie a "hummingbird" for all our delight?
Get some of that 12x tippet from Yager's and hang the flies mid-shank, horizontally.