How Insane are Fly Tyers?

Well, here I am just fininshing tying of six flies for a swap and then what comes next I started ironing all my Duck and Goose quills out with a steam iron on low setting. The feathers look great non wrinkled and will tie up some great wet flies. Then I started ironing the left and right mallard flanks for more wet flies. Then it dawned on me the age old question. You must be a fly tyers when your home on a Saturday night at 10:00PM ironing your feathers. How many others out there share in this insane behaviour. Maybe I need to get a life (LOL).

Andy B

It's OK Andy, but if you start using Starch on your feathers, then it is time to start being worried... http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif

Rex

Andy B;
Most of us Andy, most of us!! I'm steaming feathers right now!

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I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!

Cactus AKA "Lucky Dog (Pirate Name)"

How insane? Totally, completely, and certifiably insane! I even have the paperwork to prove it. I would not change a single thing, having the best time of my life. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif

Steven & Andy;
I'm tying some streamers for ohiotuber they are creations of my own design and, should he catch something on one it will become the 'Connor Flannigan" in honor of his grandson!! Totaly insane!! But so much fun!!

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I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!

Cactus AKA "Lucky Dog (Pirate Name)"

Hmmm!

My son called this evening from Arkansas
where he's duck hunting with buddies this
week. Said he plucked and bagged 12 woodies
for me today. Guess I'll have to break out
the old iron too when he gets home.*G*
Warm regards, Jim

Andy, when you start to curl feathers with a curling iron, then it's time to start worrying about your sanity, not before. It's funny you brought this up, I was just contemplating asking my wife if I could use the iron to iron a few mallard quills. I've never done it, but suspected that you did, as perfect as you get those wings. I'll give it a try.
Eric

O.K. As for insanity, if I'm not there yet, I must be getting there.
Proof of that is this (I'm going to ask this question)
What do you guys mean ironing feathers?
I've never heard of this and now I'm concidering it. Must be going...
-Yaf

Yaffle:

Use a steam iron on low setting takes all the wrinkles and bends out of Duck and Goose quills that I use for wet fly tying. It also works nice on mallard flank that I use to tye Grizzly Kings and Professors with. Just a little insane smart input.

Andy B.

P.S. You can also repair a good amount of damaged quills buy steaming and shaping first and ironing second.

Hi "Berg Man",

I was insane before I started flyfishing, so the transition for me was pretty easy, even at entry level.

Later, RW

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"We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours." -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-

I just have to tell you all, I received an email this morning from a guy complaining about the string on ironing feathers. He was insulted! Now, that's insane.

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL

Why LF - he can't afford an iron? http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif I
suggest he do as I do. I've found that "bedraggled" flies fish better so I tie all mine to look like that *intentionally*.

(it's my lie, I'll tell it the way I want.)

O.K. I'll launch my complant right here!!

Why is it that I haven't heard of this ironing feathers before now?? I am outraged.

Better pay more attention from now on.

Thanks for the expanations!! -Yaf

insane fly fisher men eh. well ide like too call it a disease and im not looking for a cure. my aunt once said its good too have a passion and u only truly love something if u say ur obsessed and really mean it. as for me all i gotta say is ive fished 123 days since january, skipped i dunno how many days of school too hit the river, lost about half dozen girls this year because "i fish too much" phft i think not. spend atleast 40-50 bucks a week at my local fly shop, tye flies every night, ill stop now cuz i could talkfor ever. i no theres lots of us out there. glad too see that im not the only one

LadyFisher;
I was going to ask "what is the perfered iron for this" Guess I'd best not!!

Ironing your feathers? Um. Er. I'm not quite at that stage.

I am completely normal. Just ask anyone.

Dennis

Just a guestion - how many of the Atlantic Tyers iron feathers? Or go through whatever to make a feather behave?

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL

I was a little worried so I sat down and had a long conversation with my light dun Hoffman cape. It assured me I'm not crazy.

"should he catch something on one it will become the 'Connor Flannigan" in honor of his grandson!! Totaly insane!! But so much fun!!"

No, it would be totally insane if he named the kid Zoo Cougar. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif

Jay

[This message has been edited by Jayatwork (edited 20 November 2005).]

Nah, it would be crazy if Orvis stared to sell their own Orvis irons, and of course there has to be some traditionalists who would spurn the modern electric ones and opt for the solid, stove top heated ones.

It's the people with certificates proving their sanity that I worry about.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif

Roy

Many years ago when I was taught to tie flies my instructor was (and still is) a psychiatric nurse. About 5 years ago a friend and myself met up with another member of our fishing club and my instructors name came up in conversation.
The other member said,
"Ah yes, Alan Roe, isn't he the psychotic nurse from Blackpool?" My friend and I looked at each other turned to him and just said.
"YES." Ever since Alan has been known as the "Psychotic Nurse".

Look out Mrs Malaprop!

Cheers,
Alan.

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

I was just wondering the same thing, but about styrofoam selection. I recently purchased both electronics and (assembly needed) furniture. I have much styrofoam. Some is 'good' quality - a little more dense with smaller beads. Some is 'poor' quality - larger, lighter beads, and forms not as strong. How crazy is it to prefer 'poor' quality (nylon stocking enclosed) styrofoam to make better emergers?

As you progress through the different levels of fly tying, you will spend more time on preparation of material than on the tying.

Matching feathers into match sets for the flies your plan on tying sometime in the future. Picking apart a picked over cape, and checking and sorting each feather at to size.

I even cut my marabou into segments, so I get the maximum amount of marabou off of the feather. Url for that tying tip....

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...s/marabou2.jpg

[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part134.html:b25cd]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part134.html[/url:b25cd]

If Orvis offers an iron I might be interested. What kind of a guarantee would it have?

Hey Andy:
You could have at least had the decency to tell everyone who the crazy guy was that told YOU that ironing wing quills & flank feathers takes the wrinkles out. LOL !!

In fact, I can't recall for sure, but I think I even mentioned that in my DVD, but I'm not convinced until I watch it again. Ha! :-D It's been nearly a a year and a half since I made it & can't remember everything I said!

Hmmmm. Must be from those years of inhaling humidified "feather heat." Perhaps it kills brain cells...

Don

[This message has been edited by Don Bastian (edited 21 November 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Don Bastian (edited 21 November 2005).]

Don, your video was in fact where I learned about ironing feathers. But it took Andy's post to "push me over the edge of sanity" to try it. Yes, the feathers are less wrinkled, but I'm not sure that the level of grief I got from my wife was worth it.
Eric

Andy, RW here

I wear jeans and flannel shirts right out of the dryer. I'll be danged if I'm gonna iron feathers for a trout.

RW

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"We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours." -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-

Ironing feathers??? .......nahhh.....that's for sissies.......I don't iron no stinking feathers!!!!

But I did make these really cool hitech deluxe wrinkle and crease removers.
They are made of teflon coated space age ceramics and titanium with a spring steel hinge and they mic right at 20 thousandths thick each. You simply insert all your less than perfect feathers in between the metal and ceramic leaves, and close them then inert them into your back pockets. VOILA! all day long the wrinkles and creases are carefully and scientifically caressed out of your wing feathers and that evening they are toasty warm and ready to tie! Ha! beat that you ironing boys! Currently I'm designing a Dr Scholl style shoe insert de-wrinkler for extra stubborn feathers that require more pressure to flatten and the extra moisture from foot perspiration! Yea baby that's thinking and stinking about feather flattening!


OK- I made this up as I typed but I may just have to copyright it and get it patent pending before you folks steal my ideas. I'm thinking about a Kevlar model too because those metal and ceramaic plates leave quite the imprint after sitting on them all day! LOL!!!! actually I just rinse, heat dry and preen my feathers back into shape.

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I fish, therefore I swam.



[This message has been edited by featherchucker (edited 22 November 2005).]

Don:

Where can I get information on your video. I have a real interest in classic wets especially the Bergman plates that you do. I have big plans on attempting some this winter.

Thanks!

Bamboozel, how did you miss the nice Review of it here: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/review/062705.html:77c03]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/review/062705.html[/url:77c03]

Purchase information is there too.

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL

Thanks LF!

I guess I'm the master at missing the obvious http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif. I'm ordering one today.

Dang! My Christmas list is sure getting long! Mrs. Santa Rolfson is about to kill me. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif

Don

featherchucker, RW here

I think you are really on to something with the Dr. Scholl feather-wrinkle-remover shoe insert. This is something that an insane person can actually do and keep everyone from actually knowing about it. I wouldn't want to be caught ironing feathers in front of my wife, much less tell other folks that I actually do it. The Dr. Scholl's idea is quite brilliant if you ask me...and it kills two birds with one stone. If you would care to make a few prototypes of these I would be glad to field test them for you. I have quite a few woodie flank feathers that need flattening.

Later,RW

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"We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours." -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-

Been Tying # 32's with two screaming kids & a screaming wife in the background. That quart Fosters Beer on the fly tying table sure eases those nerves when you are tying micro midges !!!!