Does anyone know of a domestic source of a lead, or substitute, ribbon foil such as used by Davie McPhail in his videos? One such video is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICq9dNuQ7VE&feature=related
Elsewhere he actually builds-up a tapered underbody by using several layers of material.
I tried flattening some fine solder and it works, but it is inconsistent and messy.
Larva Lace LED is a lead ribbon. Costs less than 3 bucks.
Thanks for the reply Diane. I don’t see it listed in any of the mail order catalogs I have.
Can you suggest a specific source? Thanks again.
Sorry, Ray. I don’t know where I found it. But after looking at that video, the larva lace led is wider, thicker and duller and probably a lot more bulky than whatever he’s using there.
Are you talking about lead tape or zonker tape?
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/fly-tying-eyes/053526209013.aspx
http://www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-3183-lead-tape.aspx
http://www.jsflyfishing.com/cgi-bin/item/TW-000650-0000/search/Rumpf-Lead-Adhesive-Zonker-Tape.html
Here is some:
http://www.flytyingspecialties.com/index.php?cPath=19&osCsid=8e2dcc40f2938d2ab0677cdb7617ab02
i think you asked about the same thing here??
Flat wire. Thats a new one to me, but I can definitely see advantages. Wonder why it took so long to add that to the fl tying material arsenal.
Come to think of it, that reminds me of flat match solder strips Radio Shack used to carry. About 1" long by 1/8" wide and maybe .010 thick if that. Made to wrap around a wire splice and it would melt from a match or lighter. That would be perfect for fly tying. One piece is probably long enough for an average nymph, maybe 2 for a streamer?.
Ayone already thought of or use this stuff?
I bought some based on Davie McPahils videos as well, but bluntly I have yet to use it. Sometimes I wonder if I buy fly tying supplies to tie flies or just collect different materials. :lol:
Bluntly, getting it out of the package, then cutting it to size then putting it on the hook vs, just grabbing the spooled bobbin with lead wire in it hasn’t even been a contest. I just grab the spooled wire. Now if I could just tie like Davie, I might use it more. 
I think what he is using might be “Lead Tape”.
There is also “Square Lead Wire” that I heard is the bee’s knees, though not what he is using in that video.
you mean to tell me that fly cannot be tied with round lead wire?? it needs flat lead to be tied??
what did we do for all of those years where only round lead wire was available??
My exposure to LED has been as a spooled flat, narrow lead “wire” that could be wrapped around your leader and used in place of split-shot to weight un-weighted nymphs or to add weight to weight4ed ones when required. It has a few advantages over split shot in that it is not as easily dropped, you do not need to carry pliers to clinch it down ( or cause your dentist’s eyes to light up by clenching it with your teeth), you don’t need a highly specialized tool to remove it from the leader when you desire to do so, and you only need carry one size!!. You just twist it on and twist it off. It comes (came?), on a neat little flexible plastic spool like some chenille comes on. It is (was) a spooled version of the paper-match-book lead strips that bass_bug mentions and which used to also be available in the fly shops as an alternative to split shot. The furor over lead shot back in the '90’s, and the banning of the use of split shot in YNP, may have resulted in it’s no longer being made in this country.
If you must have the lead foil that Davey uses it’s listed in the link Jayatwork provided. Sticky Backed Lead Foil.
What makes it unique is how thin it is. Easy to build nicely tapred underbodies of lead.
REE
Bassbug, you ever see “Twist-ons”? Matchbook-type lead for weight on a nymphing leader. Check out the split shot section of your flyshop.
My local Sportsman’s Warehouse stocks an adhesive backed lead sheet - you can trim off whatever width strip you need. Worls great for Czech type nymphs.
Cliff
Watch Davie tie and you might want to buy some too Normand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFxwVW5y1w&feature=PlayList&p=9C736945226F69FF&index=67
I make my own non-lead flat wraps, but using non-lead round wire, and laying it on a hard surface, and running the metal tube along the round wire, and flattening it into flat wrapping weight.
I have not found flat non-lead wraps, locally. But have had lot of success with my process.
I have found that the thread does not get caught in the grovers between the flat wraps, and takes less thread to secure the weight to the hook shank.
It also allows a less bulky body build up on the hook shank by the non-lead wraps.
I do not use lead in fly tying.
There is also Quick Descent Dubbingby Hareline Dubbing Inc. Made from very fine strands of aluminum. I reported on this product a few years back in “Tying Tips” on FAOL.
~Parnelli
i have watched the video and NO it doesnt make me want to buy unnecessary lead foil to tie that fly or any other fly that supposedly uses it.
will my fly be as effective if i tie it using round lead wire, absolutely!
That link looks like a great place to buy “stuff” - lots of hard-to-find things.
I can see the appeal with the adhesive back, especially for doing layers like in the video, and if you’re looking for a thinner body but weighted it would makes sense, but it may not be as convenient as having a spool of lead wire on a bobbin.
I don’t see a right or wrong here just different options for a weighted underbody. Every material has it’s application. Some work better for others.
For example, the lead tape like this would not be as effective for jamming in the back a bead to center and secure. Likewise, lead wire is not effective for Zonker under bodies either.