Multi Tyer Fly Swap - Of Sorts

Hi Guys,

This is somewhat piggy-backing on an idea that 'flyangler' started on the 'Fly Tying board.

Here's what I propose:

How about a 'swap' of sorts where:
1) The swapmaster picks a somewhat complicated salmon fly.
2) The swapmaster identifies the recipe, the number of steps and lists what each step involves.
3) People sign up to do one step (however they don't know what that step will be when they sign up) of tying the fly.
4) Each person signing up gets a 'step number', picked at random by the swapmaster.
5) The fly is started by person doing step number 1, is mailed to the person doing step #2, and so on until the fly is complete. It is then mailed to the swapmaster. Each person participating will include $2.00 when he mails the fly to the next tyer. That money will pay for #6.
6) The completed fly will be photographed and each participant will get an 8 x 10 color photo of the fly.
7) The fly, and all attending information, will be sent to JC as a submission for FOTW or to post as he deems fit.

Let me hear if anyone is interested in this idea.

Allan

Allan...sounds pretty neat but how 'bout a realistic instead of a salmon fly? Not sure if I am in or not yet but GREAT idea!!!

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"GET THE DRIFT?"

Sounds like a great idea but, I can assure you folks that you don't want me involved w/ screwing-up your fly. Someday I might be able to run with you big dogs. I hope it works out, can't wait for the pics!

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Land Em',
Carp

flying carp,

Just to assure you and maybe to quell some apprehension and fear you and others may have. I am not a salmon fly tyer. I have very little and no successful experience marrying wings. I have never tried to stack wings as seen on many Atlantic salmon flies. I guess what I'm saying is that I have no preconceived notion of how a fly tied in this manner by a group of tyers will turn out. It may be a piece of art or it may a pice of junk. But it will probably be interesting nonetheless.

Come on guys, isn't any one up for a little adventureous tying where mistakes and non-perfection is expected?

Allan

Allan,
Sounds like it should be fun. Count me in.
Steve

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"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went"-Will Rogers

I must be delirious from the heat and humidity, but I'm going to jump in here! Sounds "interesting"!!

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

This reminds of an urban myth concerning a wildlife print done by four local artists. Each one was supposed to add to the print as it was received and forward it to the next. What happened was they found hidden fish in trees, swimming Eagles, and cross eyed trout. In this spirit Coach Robb would feel honored to participate.P.S Would we have to photograph our step? Then E-mail that to the swapmeister. That might be really interesting seeeing all the different vices and benches.

Coach,

Each tyer photographing the fly after completion of his, or her, step would be great. However, I don't know if this can be done. Bear with me because I'm a camera idiot:
Wouldn't that require that each person need a digital camera? Would that not eliminate some people from participating? Then each person would have to photo the fly at the completion of their step and send the photo to the swapmaster(me) and I'd have to put them all together and forward to JC, right? Not sure I'd be able to do that. I'm more than willing to try if someone would try walking me through each of the processes.
Maybe the people above can chime in?

This is a 'no rush' swap proposal. There is no start-up date yet. It was just an idea. Once some of the above questions are answered and people get back into the 'tying mode', this can get off the ground.

Allan

Allen,
Where it would be easier to send digital pictures, it's still very easy to use a disposable print camera, and run it through the 1 hour processing center at Walgreens, Wal-Mart or Target. Package the prints along with the FLY, and, at the end, send all the prints to JC.
Betty

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

Hi Betty,

Yours is an excellent idea which substantiates my ignorance about the use of cameras. (-;

Not only that, but the tyer can legibly write down the appropriate information on the back of the picture such as: material and technique used.

Thanks
Allan

[This message has been edited by tyeflies (edited 08 June 2005).]

Betty's idea makes alot more sense to me. I should have said my wife would take the pictures and E-mail them because I still take alot of digital pictures of feet,sky, and the object next to waht I'm taking the picture of.

Why not take it one step further and include a disposable camera with the fly and have each tier take their pictures and send the camera and fly along?

Of course, that might add a little to the shipping cost, but probably not too much. In the end you could take the disposable to a photo shop and have them developed directly on to a disc or at some places posted to a web site.

Just a thought, this sounds like it is going to be fun.

Tyeflies, you have made an excellant cast and the other folks are making it look like a flawless drift! I may be a taker, depending on the time of year(quite busy now). I know, IT IS ONLY ONE FLY!

RickB has a great idea with the camera/pics.
Do these types of packages experience anything such as X-RAY at the post offices that would damage the images?

"mistakes and non-perfection"-HHMMMM? That should be my nick!

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Land Em',
Carp

Everyone who's responded,

Thanks for all the suggestions. They've made a lot of sense. When this thing starts, here's what I'll do:

Once things are in place, meaning: people signed on, fly pattern selected, steps determined and people designated to tye specific steps, I'll purchase a disposable camera. I'll prepare a list of all participants (in the order of their 'step') that includes their addresses and send the camera, the list and a hook to the person doing the first step.

He will: 1)tye the step assigned; 2)take two(2)* photos of the completed step; 3)type a short description of what he did in that step; 4)package the fly, the description, the camera, the address list, and $2.00. Then he will 5)mail the package to the next person on the list who will do the same, etc.
I'm hoping that from the time each person receives the package it will take no more than a week to complete the assigned step and get the package in the mail to the next person. When all steps have been completed, the last tyer will mail the package back to me.

* (2) photos just to be sure we get a good picture.

The start date for actual tying will be in early September. In the meantime, we can start the process of signing on for this 'swap of sorts' and I'll start looking for an interesting pattern to tye.

If you want in please post below. You'll have to include your mailing address and if you feel uncomfortable doing that, just email it to me.

This could get interesting.

Allan

tyeflies,
I'm a nervous wreck! What if I get drawn for the winging and I don't have the correct mats.? "Marrying Wings"? I know just enough about tying to get me into trouble. I haven't even been through my 1st Beginners Only Fly Swap.

Oh crap--I'M IN!

I'm sure I could figure something out(w/ help from fellow FAOLers) for the wings if thats my draw. This is a wonderful site that is full of knowledge.

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Land Em',
Carp

FlyingCarp makes a good point, perhaps we should check with the post office to see what they have to say about mailing disposable cameras around.

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Fish more, work less!

To the book stores! Hadn't thought abut the married wings..s'pose counseling would help?
I'm ready!

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

This sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Count me in!

Hi guys,

Damn! I just checked with the US post office and was told that anything with a battery might be a problem and chances are good that a package would be x-rayed. So the idea about sending a disposable camera in the package with the fly won't work.

However, there are alternatives:
1) Each person can take a few photos with a digital or any camera and forward the 'hard print' to me so I can include it with the entire packet that I'll send to FAOL.
2) Each person can take a few photos with a digital or any camera and forward the picture via 'email' to me so I can include it with the entire packet that I'll send to FAOL.

In either case, a written narrative of your 'step' would be needed.

If you are interested in participating, please let me know and I'll need your snail addy. You can send that to me via email if you prefer not to post it.

Finally, I have not even looked at a pattern book to select a fly yet. For those of you somewhat concerned about complicated, multilayered, multicolored, married wings, do not fear. I am not going to pick out a Jock Scott. Nor will anyone have to spend a lot of money on Bustad, Indian Crow or other exotic feathers. If any exotic is called for in the recipe, you certainly can use substitutes and I'll even offer any alternatives that I may know about.

Allan

Tyeflies, you have mail.

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Land Em',
Carp

Just read a reply on the thread that flyangler started, which is one of the reasons why we are here.
Flymaker2 suggested a card, that all participants sign and date could be included w/ the photo.I think that is a great idea, if it doesn't complicate matters to much.
I also invited flymaker2 to join us. Keep your fingers crossed.

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Land Em',
Carp

This is going to be a great swap and fun for the tyers.

I just want to say a few words about taking close-up images for inclusion in a FOTW write-ups, based upon recent experience.

With a good digital camera which has a macro mode,using the correct lighting and having a proven technique-it is "STILL VERY HARD" to get a decent close-up images of a fly - especially clear shots of small details like hair, ribbing, dubbing etc. Paul Deiter has a post in the swaps section on this topic. He goes to great lengths in order to get great images. Even to get "Just OK" images you will need to jump through some hoops.

I think that photos taken with a disposable 35 MM drugstore camera, as suggested, will be useless for this sort of assignment. I really do.

That said-you can use most digital cameras to good affect if you are patient and have the lighting correct. One simple tip is to have a plain, uncluttered background for the fly picture. That way at least the camera has a chance to focus on the fly and not the picture on the wall http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif Construction paper works well. Yellow or pale blue can work well.

Those disposables will be great for pictures of the fly tyers!

Have fun with this swap. It is beyond my chops at this point. I'm going to follow this one for sure. Hope this helps...

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks for those tips. Now if I can just figure out how to put my camera in a macro lens setting...(I'm such a techno moron)!

Allan

Allan, you wrote " Rich-Thanks for those tips. Now if I can just figure out how to put my camera in a macro lens setting...(I'm such a techno moron)!Allan"

Well anyone can be taught to use a digital camera. However, not everyone is capable of tying perfect Size 18# Quill Body flies like you do. Me thinks you have special skills http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif

The Macro setting is usually just the push of a button-oftentimes you'll see the little icon of a flower to indicate this mode selection. This is for "Close-Up" or "Marco" mode.

If you really want to cheat, then find your particular camera at this site linked below. There is a full blown tutorial of every feature listed in 5-page documents. Easy Peasy stuiff really...

Link Here:[url=http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html:d32e8]Steve's-Digicam-Reviews[/url:d32e8]

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the comments and for that link. I found it (Nikon 'Coolpix' 3200). I'll print out the directions and hopefully figure things out.

Allan

Hi Allan and others.
As a salmon guy from the East Coast of Canada I would love to get in on this as well. This sounds like a really cool swap.
If you don't want the thought of the package travelling through Canadian customs i will fully understand and will not participate. Kindly let me know either way.
Dwayne Miller
aka Salmon Chaser
>< )))*>

Rich,
Thanks for the info on photographing flies. That will be quite handy in the future.


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Land Em',
Carp

Hello all, I just want to ask if the final photo will be posted so all of us FAOL Members can admire allyour handy work ?

Sounds like alot of fun..assumeing of course that everyone has the materials when the fly arrives to them.that would be my fear .as I don't tye many salmon patterens..tye and fish a few for bass and pannies skunks and such..
Wish you all luck..Please post the pic!!!!

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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best

"Wish ya great fishing"

Bill

Bill,

Two things ... First to alay any fears about materials. Everyone will know what 'step' they will be tying well in advance and before the partially completed fly arrives. If someone does not have a material that is called for, I'll be willing to send it to him/her.

Second, since I am a camera techno idiot, I will be sending all photos, either hardcopy photos or ones I get via email, to JC. Although I certainly hope he does, it will be his decision to place them here on the site. My guess is that one way or another the photos will get posted somehow.

Allan

Tye,
Are you finding enough ppl to complete/finnish this swap?

not sure I have logged enough time on this site to be considered for a swap,seems there would be more members chomping at the bit on this one...I know this is going to be a great one.....

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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best

"Wish ya great fishing"

Bill

Bill,

The people who've shown interest are those within this thread. Maybe when I actually post specific information about the fly pattern chosen more people will express interest. If not, well at least some people thought it was an interesting idea.

We'll see in September.

Allan

So I'm not in this swap, but have an idea for it. In most swaps, everyone gets a fly at the end. In this one, only the last person gets a fly. Why not have everyone start a fly, and pass the flies down a chain. That way, everyone gets a fly and everyone get to do each step. It would be a bit more in postage but I think it might be worth it.

Just an idea....

L

Lonnie,

Apparently you misunderstood the end result and direction of this fly. In a sense, none of the participants will actually get IT. The fly will go to the FAOL (JC) in the hope of creating a 'Fly Of The Week'. Each step will be photo'd, with a description of the technique used to tye that step and the individuals name who completed the step. The fly will be there for all to see.

Allan