Hi Allan, the three products you mention all may of been available back then. The color of the product called sparkle had the best color selection. A nice gold that he used in his tapes was sparkle, brown, black and a nice green for the green caddis were also quite easily available. We had a few fly shops back then that would card it up and sell it. The clear interwoven filaments he mentions are the clear antron, his take on the clear antron was it would hold bubbles, resembling the emerging caddis. Maybe the early Dazzle was as good I don’t know since I went shopping for Sparkle yarn. I was involved with the CT. Flyfisherman Assoc. back then and had all the newsletters, I wish I had saved some. If you could see the two products side by side you would notice the difference. I know you fish the Catskills as do I we may meet up sometime.
Byron hopefully you will be pleased with your order, I may do so myself just to check for different colors. Byron I know of no Link to sparkle since it’s a product that’s not available anymore. All I can say is stay away from the solid colors of antron at least for this purpose. Even though it may work if sparsely dressed over a touch dub body?
Gene
Amazing! I’m sitting here with the book on my lap within 12 inches of my eyes and I’m looking at the publishing page.
"[b]Copyright @ 1976
Mountain Press Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
LaFontaine, Gary J.
Challenge of the Trout
ISBN 0-87842-058-4[/b]"
And, although I said I had the book on my lap, was looking right at it when I cited the year published, you questioned that information and said it “is a 1983 book”. Perhaps the above will convince you that the book was published, as stated in 1976. And some of the book had appeared in 2 other regional publications prior to that publication date.
As far as the possible names of material he used, maybe they all worked? Maybe the names changed since '76? As I read the few lines (quoted in previous post) I interpreted his ‘test’ to mean he had used ‘white’ fibers and that he was saying that the material also comes in a wide variety of colors. But that’s is just a guess on my part.
Anyone have a sample of one color of ALL the brands mentioned? Maybe placing them side-by-side would allow us to see any differences for ourselves.
I meant to say 76 and for some reason typed 83.
Okay, lol.
I think this dead horse has been well beaten…
Just catching up with reading posts today. I nominate this for post of the year. Pert near spit soda out my nose…