THE CHRISTMAS TREE - FLY OF THE WEEK - November 9, 2009

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Dale Sanders (iaflyfisher) gives us a great novelty fly just in time to tie up a few for gifts.

I used to tie snow men and trees in a similar fashion. If you will leave the tips (stacked) and use a 4x hook straightened out in a strong vise there is a technique where you will never even have to trim the hair and the tree will come out looking like a real tree. I use dark brown stacked and wrapped with danvilles brown thread for the tree trunk to make it look more to scale. I will see if I can find one of the older one and post some pics. The snow man is a little more difficult. White belly hair the brightest white you can find with a black top hat. Cut to size and then use sections of the leather from black hide to make col buttons and eyes. Orange foam or deer hair for a nose.

Nothing new under the sun...

But well done with the decorations, nice touch!
Waders

My waterfowl hunting friends exchange outdoor gifts each year. I've seen flys at Feathercraft of waterfowl (mallard,Canada goose,etc.). I'd love to tie up a bird for each of my fellow hunters (yes they also are fly fishers). Any idea where I could find the patterns?

I don't have a pattern for these but here are some pictures of a pheasant and turkey. The patten_sm is the wing burner pattern for the tails and wings.

The deer hair is bunch of stacking and spinning.

If I can find out any more I will post it.