"Antron" in LaFontaine's famous Sparkle Pupa patterns

[Gene]

Gary's sparkle patterns evolved a bit over the years. Early patterns used three strands of yarn veiling the body and a head of marabou strands twisted together. His sparkle caddis patterns in later years used the touch dub method that Allan mentioned. Then he used two strands of yarn veiling the touch dub body. Also he switched to a dubbed head in place of the marabou. Personally I like the sparkle aire over the dazzle aire, the dazzle aire is too soft and pulls apart too easy. Unfortunately as far as I know sparkle aire is no longer available. Kind of funny my original skeins were purchased at a Ben Franklin in Manchester Vermont probably 35 years ago while visiting the Orvis store. Also in the sparkle yarn the clear antron fibers are much more noticeable.

[AlanB]

Sorry if this isn't directly on topic but I just want to say thanks to Planettrout for that reference. I've maintained for years that dubbing and felting are related. Now I have a really good quote to back it up.

Cheers,
A.

[Byron haugh]

Gene,
I did notice some of those changes. Presumably they were improvements.....either in effectiveness or ease of tying.

Sure wish he was still around. Who knows what he might have brought forward by now.

Just in case some might not know....

LaFontaine convinced his advisor to allow him to do his thesis (in psychology, I believe) on what causes trout to take a fly or some such topic. It led to his book a Caddisflies.

Someone please correct me where I have this wrong as it has been a long time since I read about that.

Anyway, regardless of the exact history, it certainly demonstrates his ingenuity.

[gordo7]

Byron haugh-

"I believe this differing color pattern is called "variegated" yarn."

AKA: Goldmine

[Allan]

Well, FWIW, here's some updated information about the 'DAZZLE - AIRE' yarn we're talking about. Apparently there's a new version that has a different chemical make-up. Anyway, here's information about what GLF was talking about back when:

Name Dazzleaire (Vintage) discontinued

Brand Caron

Weight Aran / 10 ply (8 wpi) ?

Wraps per inch

Yardage 190 yards (174 meters)

Unit weight 85 grams (3.00 ounces)

Gauge 18.0 sts = 4 inches

Needle size US 8 - 5.0 mm

Fibers 60% Acrylic
40% Nylon (Polyamide)


Texture brushed

Machine wash? yes

60% acrylic 40% nylon
This yarn was discontinued. (my emphasis)

Just checked and it appears that some years back Caron began to make a new 'Dazzle-Aire' and it's 80% acrylic, 20% nylon. Not the same.

Allan

[Gene]

Allan, dazzle aire was not the product he used originally, sparkle yarn was. He and others had to settle eventually for dazzle. It does not seem to have the qualities of the original sparkle yarn. If you want a sample of this yarn let me know, I'll part with a little.
Gene

[Byron haugh]

Gene,

Can you provide a link to "sparkle yarn"?
Thanks
The only place I have found is the Bookmailer site. I can't find a product for sale by that title.

How did/does "sparkle Uarn" differ from Dazzle-Aire....the original dazzle-Aire?

[Allan]

Allan, dazzle aire was not the product he used originally, sparkle yarn was. He and others had to settle eventually for dazzle. It does not seem to have the qualities of the original sparkle yarn. If you want a sample of this yarn let me know, I'll part with a little.
Gene

Gene,

First, several years ago I was sent about 10 yards each of a dozen different colors of the yarn GLF used. I think they are still in the shipping box and if I have it, I hope the senders name is on it. It may take me a day or two to find and I'll post any information about the sender/materials.
Second, I have the book, Challenge of the Trout('76), by GLF on my lap. On page 111 there is the following conversation between GLF and Bill Seeples during an experiment in observing insects and a material in a pool on the Jefferson River.
"At the river, while Bill positioned himself fifteen feet downstream, I scattered clumps of a synthetic material. I spread nubs of a new type of Sparkle yarn in the current to shimmer with irradiating reflections of its clear filaments.
Bill popped quickly to the surface. "What is that stuff?"
"It's the material we need for the pupal sheath."
"You won't believe how perfect it looks," he insisted. "I'll scatter it while you dive."
The sparkling yarn, capturing the translucent similarity of the pupa, was a nylon/acrylic material with clear interwoven filaments. Marketed under various brand names - Dazzle, Sparkle, Souffle - it was available in a total array of color."
There's also a reference to articles in the UFT Roundtable magazine and the CT Flyfishermen's Assoc. newsletter.

Allan

[Byron haugh]

"challenge of the Trout" is a 1983 book. Apparently 1982/1983 was pretty early in the game for the "sparkle" patterns, and the photo of the note LaFontaine wrote citing, among other brand names -dazzle-Aire was March 25, 1982..,,
I have ordered some "sparkle yarn" from the Bookmailer and will see how it compares to my, now discontinued, Dazzleaire and let you know.


Although......the Book Mailer claims the first sparkle pupa was tied in 1972.,,,,,,,




.....".....and the beat goes on.....and on......and on...."

[sandfly]

I carry the original antron material, my supplier has the only load of real original antron left. its a train car full from DuPont. he has papers on it and used to do gary's stuff after the yarn went off market. its long for tying the sheath but dubs nice. see my webpape.