Beginner's Only; November Soft Hackle Wet Fly Swap

[Steven McGarthwaite]

Saturday October 16th 2010

The November Swap is a Soft Hackle Wet Fly pattern, I want the member to use either a size #10 or #12 hook for their nymph patterns. Easier to learn on a larger hook size, and move down in size as you become accustom to dressing the pattern.

I am hoping to fill the remaining seats before the end of October, I will be mailing out the mailing envelopes, cardboard fly box for the fly patterns, the toe-tags, CD of just about all FAOL Fly Patterns, as well as the Du Bois and Dett Hackle Gauge Printouts sometime next week. The sooner everyone receives their starting packages, the sooner they can start looking for a suitable pattern and gather together all the required materials to dress the pattern.

If you are not yet a member of the 2010 Beginner's Only Fly Swap (for newbies and those who have never done fly swaps) now is the time to contact me at parnelli@comcast.net. You will be surprised how fast time goes by in these monthly fly swaps. All flies must arrive at my residence before the end of November. This applies to the other monthly swap, where the fly patterns must arrive before the end of the month. You can dress the patterns ahead of time, and then submit them when they are due. Last year the Beginner's Fly Swap got bogged down with late submissions, and no answers when member were send emails to clarify their situation. We ended up with the April Fly Swap at the end of May.....

2 weeks to the start of the November Fly Swap, and I would like to have all seats filled before that happens! ~Swapmeister Parnelli

PS: There is more information on my original posting on the Swap Board on October 1st.

[Steven McGarthwaite]

Beginner's Only Fly Swap has add it's 8th member for the 5 swaps. Only 2 seats remaining and time is getting shorter, every day you delay reduces your chances of getting a place in the swap.

Swapmeister Parnelli

[Steven McGarthwaite]

Beginner's Only Fly Swap has added it's 9th member for the 5 swaps. Only 1 seat remaining and time is getting shorter, every day you delay reduces your chances of getting a place in the swap. Anyone seated after October 31st will not participate in the November Swap, and will have to wait for the January Swap which will be Nymphs.

I already have a full plate answering emails from seated members, who have questions and are asking for advice. During the five swaps the work load will get even more frantic....

Past Beginner's Only Fly Swap I had 4 groups of members with 12 to 14 members per group, and back then they were doing 6 swaps. So I know I can handle the work load.

~Swapmeister Parnelli

[Cyberfish]

Flies dropped in the mail today.

Regards,
Jim

[Steven McGarthwaite]

Been asked why I do these "Beginner's Only" fly swaps?

Reason #1: I believe in "Paying Forward" , for help and assistance given to me by others!

Reason #2: It is a long cold winter in Minnesota, when all Minnesotan's walk on water (frozen)!

Reason #3: Minnesotan's are extremely happy, if summer falls on a weekend! (rarely happens) As every Minnesotan knows, it can be sunny monday through friday, but it always rains on saturday and sunday! On three day weekends, it rains saturday, sunday & monday, when I go fishing, even if the 5 day weather forcast is for sunny bluebird weather, before the day is done it starts raining!

Reason #4: I really enjoy being a Swapmeister, helping others who are just beginning fly tying, or never been in fly swaps.

Reason #5: Al Campbell, who was not only my friend, he also was my mentor!

~Swapmiester Parnelli

[Bucky]

So my flies are all tied up and ready to be mailed out, but I remember there were some specific postage instructions in the original swap post which are no longer there (edited after swap filled). What were those instructions again? (never done one of these before, something about the type of stamps I believe)

Thanks!

[Stage 1]

Bucky

Here is what I found
"Beginner's Only Fly Swap" , It Is Almost That Time Again!

"Beginner's Only Fly Swap" , It Is Almost That Time Again!

October 1st (it is on a Friday this year) I will officially start accepting placement in the 2010-2011 "Beginner's Only Fly Swap! There will be 5 swap over a 6 month period, from November through April.

Only ten positions in the "Beginner's Only Fly Swap" (as Swapmeister I will not occupy a position, but I might dress a pattern for all to use as a model at a future time).

I supply the mailing envelopes, box for shipment of fly patterns, toe-tags to be attach to the spear of the hook on each fly.

All that each member needs to do is dress 12 hooks with their chosen fly pattern, attach the foot tag with their name on it, and pop the flies into the plastic bag, and insert inside the cardboard box I supply, and then insert the box and the return address envelope (with stamp postage attached, No Postage Meter Strips!) inside the mailing enveloped address to me.

Patterns Name and Material List will be email to me as soon as possible. I will be notified by email when the fly pattern for the swap has been determined. I will be notified by email when the monthly fly swap flies are mailed. I will be notified if there is a problem, does not matter what the problem is, I will be notified.

November: Wet Fly (Soft Hackle)
December: I don't do December Swaps!
January: Nymph
February: Dry Fly
March: Streamer
April: Terrestrial

No applications accepted before the October 1st starting date for applications.
I in return will examine each fly submitted for each swap, and be looking for pattern balance, and also uniformity of all 12 dressed hooks. I will print a letter for each fly swap, listing the fly pattern each member chose, a picture of the fly that the member dressed, and the material list for that fly pattern. This Monthly News Letter will be sent as a attachment to each member of the fly swap. If I have time I will also post the same newsletter on the Fly Swap Board of FAOL!

The two extra flies are for emergencies, if a member fails to receive their assortment of fly pattern back at the end of each of the five swaps. All extra fly patterns from the 5 swaps will be divided among all the members of the swap at the end of the 5th swap.

Swapmeister Parnelli

[Bucky]

Thanks! I was looking for that exact post.

Cheers

[Bucky]

I just realized I was looking in the wrong thread. Was looking in the open for applications thread. Woops. Thanks again.

[Bucky]

Flies dropped in the mail today.

Cheers,
Bucky