Hi,
A friend of mine is selling my Bing Lempke made old extended body tool. There is some disagreement as to how the hook and vise should be positioned in order to tie the extended body. I believe the vise head should be positioned “pointing” away from the post holding the spring loaded hackle pliers.
Any help appreciated! Thanks
Byron,
I know that one of my old FLY TYER magazines(from the original publisher) has an article about that tool and the flies Mr. Lempke tied. I’ll try to find it and post the information you’re seeking. Hopefully tomorrow if I can find the magazine.
Allan
I’d like to see the aforementioned Fly Tyer article and photos.
I watched Bing make that fly once. More than once actually. But the details are long gone.
Bing was a fun guy.
===> http://montana-riverboats.com/index.php?fpage=Fly-Tying/Bing-Lempke <===
[QUOTE=Allan;422917]Byron,
I know that one of my old FLY TYER magazines(from the original publisher) has an article about that tool and the flies Mr. Lempke tied. I’ll try to find it and post the information you’re seeking. Hopefully tomorrow if I can find the magazine.
Allan[/QUOTE
Hey Allan,
Thanks That would be much appreciated!!!
Byron,
My apologies. I just went through all my old FLY TYER magazines but did not find the issue with the article. I could’ve sworn that I had seen such an article in one of the issues I had of this magazine. Maybe over the years I misplaced that particular issue or maybe it was in another magazine, which I doubt. I will continue to look around and maybe I’ll find something.
In the meantime, I seem to recall it was a type of ‘gallows tool’.
Here’s a photo and article from this site: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/knit5.jpg
“Knit Picking Mayfly - #279 FAOL”
Maybe they will help.
Allan
" I believe the vise head should be positioned “pointing” away from the post holding the spring loaded hackle pliers. "
1) that’s how I remember it. I watched Bing tie that fly more than once. I remember Bing swapping hands a lot, when
wrapping the extended body.
2) that’s the only way (I can think of) that makes sense. Are there alternatives?
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I tie lots of extended bodies. But I tie them on an ultra-thin, horizontally-mounted beading needle (#10 – #13) and then slide the body off the needle prior to mounting it on the hook. There are a few tricks to learn–to get the needle method to work well in a variety of contexts. But it’s all pretty easy once you know the tricks. And by far the best overall technique, in my seldom humble opinion. :=))
So…pittendrigh, is it that you seldom have an opinion, or that it is humble,…or seldom is it humble…? 
Seriously, I’ve been having trouble with the extended body thing, and after trying your method with a beading needle, I
think all my trouble is behind me… Best tip I’ve seen in awhile, Thank you 1000 times, pitt.
by the way… that’s a very excellent mayfly imitation…my compliments. Modoc Dan
The needle method is the one I always use for extended body flies. Here’s a couple with foam bodies.
Cheers,
C.
Nice Alan,
Wally Wings?
FWIW, when making an extended body with a needle and foam, I find it easier if I spread some wax on the needle first. The body slides off easier.
Don’t know if this would matter or not when using deer hair.
Thank you Dan. I’m seldom humble. I fake it all the time. But in reality me as humble is, well, deceptive at best. :=)) Perhaps this should be moved to a separate thread. I didn’t want to highjack the original Bing Lempke topic.
I learned the needle body technique from a late 1980s fly tying article in Rod and Reel written by Chauncy Lively and John Betts. They used it for making damsel fly bodies with blue-colored latex balloons (if I remember correctly).
I buy beeding needles by the pack, from #10 – #13.
#15 beading needles are available too, but hard to find and hard to use. They are too flexible for me.
I put the needle in the vise horizontally and immediately wrap a spot on the needle (close to the jaws) with at least a dozen tight wraps. Then I hold some body material next to the needle and wrap 3-4 loops around the body material. And then make two or more tight half hitches. Now I make the fly, on the needle, sans hook. I make mayfly bodies out of duck flank, zelon wings, ribbing, micro-fibettes, what ever. Then whip finish while still on the needle. Then I slide the whole works off the needle and mount it on a hook.
The original 12 tight wraps (that went around the needle BEFORE anything was attached) now forms a curlicue of squiggly waste thread that does NOT further unravel due to the tight half hitches at the start of the tying procedure. Now trim off the squiggly waste. Now mount the body on a hook. You might want to add a horizontal parachute at this point. That’s for a mayfly, winding between scud hook and body. But I use the needle for modular nymph and streamer bodies too…for all sorts of odd stuff.
Some times I wet the length of the extended body with thinned-out water based fabric cement (like Tear Mender). I cut Tear Mender half and half with water, so it soaks in and holds stuff together without making a thick translucent skin.
What’s the technique for adding a tail?
Yes Steven, Wally, or Pealed, Wings. I also have another winging technique I sometimes use with cock hackle. It gives a wider base to the wing more like the natural. Those were a rush job so I opted for the quicker wing.
To add a tail tie it in the full length of the body then tie it to the hook shank first. Then tie in the body down.
Cheers,
A.
Alan, nice flies
Very cool wings Alan, Nice!
Skip
I am just learning to tie body’s using a needle technique and have enjoyed reading your post and seeing your fly pictures. I am working with foam body’s right now and look forward to using other materials as I lean more. Thanks
Great! And as to having or having seen Bing Lempke’s extended body tying setup?
Made something similar from coat hanger wire years ago but didn’t get on with it. I found that there was less to get in my way just placing my hackle pliers on my left ring finger. Then I was shown the needle method and have used that ever since.
Cheers,
A.
Care to share the other technique?
I’m very partial to Wonder Wings.
I will do but it will be a while. I’ve had a camera disaster and broken the lens mount. As soon as I get it sorted I’ll do a series of pics. In the mean time here is the wing. On a similar fly.
Cheers,
A.
