I Finally Found A Use For Old Guitar Strings.....

[Gigmaster]

I am a pro musician, and have several guitars, which means I have to change strings often. I have always hated throwing them away, but the only use I ever found for them was using the Phosphor Bronze 1st (E) strings for weed-guards on lures and flies, and metal leaders for saltwater fishing. All the other Bronze strings are too stiff to be able to wrap around a hook. Well, I changed the strings on my classical guitar the other day, and decided to try to use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings (nylon) for flies (on a classical guitar, these are all the same diameter......)

The result was a great looking bluegill buster pattern. The string gave the body some incredible definition and segmentation. I tested it out in the river behind the house, and all the fish tried to destroy it, Redears, sunfish, SM Bass, a few trout, and even a crappie (which I didn't even know was in there...) all attacked it with murderous abandon. Since this was the 3rd string (G), I am calling the fly the G-String.



G-String

Hook: #10 2X Nymph
Thread: Red 6/0 Unithread
Eyes: Large Bead Chain, tied Clouser-style
Tail: White Sparkle Craft Fur
Underbody: Red Unithread
Outer Body: Used Nylon Guitar String, in this case, the G-String (3rd)
Hackle, black Craft Fur in a dubbing loop
Legs: medium black rubber legs

[Uncle Jesse]

Gig, Is the red from the thread underneath the string or did the string have some color to it. I am completely non-musical so I have never looked at a guitar string for more than 10 seconds.

[Gigmaster]

The red is from the red thread showing through, sort of a translucent look. On classical (nylon) strings, the first three are plain clear nylon (usually) and the last three (bass) are wrapped with a soft metal thread, usually bronze.

I'll be experimenting with some other styles shortly, maybe using the wrapped strings for a sort of Copper-Johnish type fly.

Gig, Is the red from the thread underneath the string or did the string have some color to it. I am completely non-musical so I have never looked at a guitar string for more than 10 seconds.

[Silver Creek]

Natural gut strings from tennis racquets make great looking caddis pupae when wet. You could try these flies with the guitar strings.

http://www.flyfisher.ro/en/catgut-a-...r-tying-flies/











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaNwsEXf5A

[Uncle Jesse]

Thanks for the link Silver, now I know what to do with the white fur that comes off our cat.

[Gigmaster]

Great-looking bugs.
What size hook, and what are you using for the hackle? I'll give them a shot.

I love recycling......

Natural gut strings from tennis racquets make great looking caddis pupae when wet. You could try these flies with the guitar strings.

http://www.flyfisher.ro/en/catgut-a-...r-tying-flies/











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaNwsEXf5A

[CharlaineC]

love the look great idea

[Fly Goddess]

As another professional musician, I have yet to figure out how to incorporate "BASS" strings into a fly. Heck, the string is thicker than most my flies I tie.
I use clear stretch cord for making jewelry. Plus a #28

[Gigmaster]

Nice tie....

I play bass guitar also, but my bass is an Ashbory, with silicone rubber strings. They are way too thick, even for a saltwater fly. Regular bass strings??? I dunno...maybe you could tow a car or boat with them????

As I said earlier, you can use the 1st (E), and 2nd (B) steel strings (or bronze) to make wire leaders and weed-guards. I am sure any guitar player would be happy to donate old strings to any non-musicians who wanted them. I go through more strings than I could ever tie flies on. So far, it looks like one nylon string will make about 12 medium (6-10) size streamers, and probably even more smaller nymph-size flies.

[Greg H]

I am a drummer, so not much material there unless a drum head provides mylar for scud backs (but way too heavy). However I have gone to the music store to purchase BLACK nylon guitar strings to cut and heat to make eyes for larger nymphs, small muddlers, and grasshoppers, etc. Worked great!