Three Tenkara Varivas Flies

[Donald Nicolson]

Here are three Tenkara Varivas Flies
http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page438.html

[TyroneFly]

Donald,

For the silk, do you treat it with wax and if so what brand and type do you use?

[EdD]

Donald, as an indicator of what sort of "bad influence" you've been on me, I've got Trout Flies in New Zealand by Keith Draper being shipped to me.

Regards,
Ed

[Donald Nicolson]

Tyrone,
Yes I do use wax with silk, silk threads are not waxed and need some
at the beginning to grip the hook better. Also it helps grip materials so that
not so many turns are required to hold them. I also use wax to change the colour of
silk bodies. I use a lot of different waxes, hard wax from Veniard, BT's tubes, and others
I have forgotten the names.

An excellent book Ed, there are a lot of really good streamers in it.
There is a much newer book, with more modern patterns. I'll dig it out and give you
the author and title, Ron Eagle Elk will tell you, I'm hooked on books, and pass on
the addiction at the slightest opportunity.
I really like the Matuka wings and Zonkers, although I don't get the chance
to use them much these days.

[EdD]

Donald,
You might try using pine squirrel zonkers for very small Matukas. They might work on your small streams. Every time I watch Last of the Summer Wine and see those streams I wonder if they hold fish and wish I could wander them and find out. I realize that's a bit to the south of you and across that fearsome border, but I have been told that Scotland has areas like the Yorkshire Dales as well.
Stay well.
Ed

[AlanB]

Ed,
I hale from just over the border (Lancashire, can't bring myself to name the other side) from "Last of the Summer Wine country" and I can assure you that stream does hold trout. Getting to fish it though is a different matter. A few miles south of there though is a length you can fish for free. Had a great day on there a few years back catching both brown trout and grayling.
Cheers,
C.

[Donald Nicolson]

Hi Ed.
This is a book worth reading if you like Lures (Streamers etc), highly recommended -
"The Complete Guide to New Zealand Trout Lures" by Derek Quilliam (1999).
This is a beatifully photographed book, I think there is a picture of every pattern and
there are hundreds. It is not cheap, but as the old saying goes -
"Ye canna get ought for nought that is worth anything".
That is translated from the Braid Scots.
There is a label on the back of mine from Stackpole Books, which is an American
company and it says $32.95. I bought mine via ABbooks and I think I may have paid
about that price. You might get a look at a library copy first.

[EdD]

AlanB,
To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, "It is more important that Heaven should exist than that I get there." The same applies to the fish in those streams and I'll be happier knowing that the streams are as they "should be". Thanks. BTW, judging by the way you referred to the geography, I take it that the term "Middle Counties" isn't one of you favorite phrases. I read George MacDonald Frazier's book, "The Steel Bonnets", a few years ago. It was most interesting.

Donald,
I just ordered Amazon's last copy of the Quilliam book. Since I have to finish at least a half-dozen tech books for work this Summer, I might not get to spend much quality time with it for a while. But I certainly plan to spend a little time with my new fly-tying books. I might even take them up to the MIFI in case of rainy (with lightning) afternoons.

Thanks again,
Ed

[AlanB]

Ed,
Being a pure bread Lancastrian I need all sorts of passports, visas and inoculations to cross that boarder. Usually I just raid their streams, and get back before I'm caught. Well I did before moving to the Highlands.

Back on topic. I was once shown three flies that were found amongst the papers of Mrs Twining (of Twining's Tea). They are Tenkara flies, at least a hundred years old, and have gold heads! Not beads, they are tied onto blind irons and the gold sintered onto the head of the fly after it was tied. Real gold that is. One of them had gold on the tag as well. Wish I had a picture.

Cheers,
A.