Im about to start salt fly fishing just as soon as my new 9 wt arrives and im really wanting to try my hand at some epoxy slt flies like the ones I see at the local fly shop. Can anyone steer me in the right direction as to what to buy and a good source of info online.
Sorry if it seems like a dumb question but im still a new hand to tying fresh flies as well as fly fishing.
I am sure the pirates here can help. Check the main board as well. Not being a saltwater fisherman (yet) I have not done a lot of reserach here on FAOL on saltwater stuff. A lot of the westcoast salters look to Dan Blanton’s website. Here is a link. http://www.danblanton.com/
I use Softex instead of epoxy - I like working with it a whole lot better.
The best thing you can buy is a fly dryer, they make the heads come out perfect everytime and they dry alot while you continue to create more deadly flies
Might I suggest you try being a bit more targeted in you information request. What application are you wishing to attempt, is this strickly a head shot of epoxy, the whole wing or body, material your considering useing and perhaps just a general discription of the fly. Its realy reather hard to answer questions without some idea of direction to persue. 8) Capt. Paul Darby
I use 5 minute epoxy from the hardware store.
It works great.
You just have to get the mix right…half and half then mix it well!
do you guys who use epoxy for finishing heads make the mixture and then apply to all of your flies as the finishing step? I can’t believe that you mix it up a little at a time for each fly or two.
Yes, Fritz you do them in batches. I use hardware store 5 minute epoxy. I thin it w/ a little rubbing alcohol to thin it a bit and to delay the set time. You just about have to have turning motor to keep it from sagging. If there is any tackiness when the glue has cured then coat it w/ Hard as Nails. You can do about 6 flies per batch of epoxy this way before it sets. Some like to use slower setting epoxy for larger batches of flies.
Slower curing epoxy will not discolor as quickly as the 5 minute stuff, but you will need to use some kind of rotating drying wheel.
Also use a metal or plastic utensil to mix up the glue. A wooden stick will also cause the epoxy to yellow
I use " SIG" brand epoxy that I purchase at a model airplane hobby store. It comes in two 2 oz bottles, dont but the two push tube type. With the two bottle I can mix drops for one fly or a large amount accurately. I mix it on paper, using it rod building,flies and in the wood shop. A dryer is easily made from a rotiserie motor and a foam disk from a craft store. Cabelas motor is $25. BILL
To be honest Im not sure what type of flies ill be doing yet.
Dudley, I got to tell ya , your signature is the neatest thing since sliced bread. Bud
[quote=“hcmiller”]
Dudley, I got to tell ya , your signature is the neatest thing since sliced bread. Bud[/quote]
No doubt. But JC is likely to try to get him to double haul… 8)
Ed
My suggestion if you are just using it on heads, save yourself a lot of trouble and get a bottle of Sally Hanson’s Hard as Nails.
You are so right–I have red black and clear to give it the gloss BILL
[quote=“William_Fitzgerald”]
You are so right–I have red black and clear to give it the gloss BILL[/quote]
Isnt that just head cement?
NO------ladies nail polish BILL
A tip for mixing, I like to make a few pallets up for mixing my epoxy out of milk jugs…I just cut out and use the flatest sections of the walls…after the remnance cures on these pallets I can just peel them off and reuse the same ones over and over, As the epoxy does not stick to the smooth plastic of the inside of the jugs…
Also as stated do not use tooth picks to mix your epoxy…as it will make ANY brand/type discolor with age…I buy cheap packs of home repair needles and use the larger sizes for mixing and applying…
JRA
I often use Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails as head cement on salt water flies for flies like Clouser Minnows and Lefty’s Deceivers. You can find step by step instructions for tying these in the fly tying archives here on FAOL.
But if you’re interested in epoxy flies like surf candies etc. I use 5 minute epoxy. I tie them up similar to this:
http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/surfcandy/
Usually I’ll tie up a bunch, say 6 or so, and apply the first coat of epoxy (two light coats are better than one heavy one because heavy coats tend to sag) and stick them in a cork wheel that is attached to a rotary thing ( I bought a battery operated thing in Chinatown in NYC for $5). Some folks use a rotisserie motor.
After the first coat is dry ( about 20 minutes or so at least) I apply gills with a red permant marker and prismatic eyes, then coat them with a final coat and dry them on the wheel again. If you don’t use a wheel, the epoxy will sag. The only other option is to do one at a time in your hand and keep flipping the hook to prevent sagging or manually turn a wheel with a few at a time.
I save jar lids to mix up epoxy and apply with a toothpick.
Not sure where you’re going to fish, but surf candies are great imitations of sandeels and are pretty indestructible. Along with a few 2/0 blue and white Decievers and some 1/0 chartreuse clousers you should be all set for stripers. Hope this helps.
peregrines
Here’s a link I found for building your own inexpensive epoxy fly dryer for maybe $30 or so . You’ll need a motor that operates at around 5-7 rpm (maybe you have a disco ball in your basement you’re not still using…?) an AC/DC converter and some other stuff you already have laying around the house. Fancy smanchy ones in fly mag ads etc can set you back big bucks.
http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10185.htm
Personally I would use a larger diameter pice of foam or cork to be able to dry more flies at once. With a set up like this you could use 1 hr epoxy (instead of 5 minute) to tie up a bunch of these flies at once and let them run. ( With battery operated one I have, I always worry about the batteries conking out in mid cure, so I have to watch it closely.)
peregrines