I am TRYING to tie a Henry’s Lake Caddis as originated by Marvin Nolte and shown in Tying Emergers by Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson on page 78. It calls for preening woodduck feather barbs backwards toward the bend, then pushing forward to create a bubble and tie off with a 6 inch tag end of the thread from the initial tie on using a couple of half hitches. How does one tie these half hitches without catching the bobbin thread? My success in trying to do this so far has been zilch, nadda, etc. All suggestions will be appreciated.
if I am understanding correctly, I would take the tag end pointing toward the back of the hook. Catch the tag with my hackle pliars about 1.5 inches from the fly. pass the remaining tag over the material and hook and back under. now I have the tag in my fingers and the hackle pliars with the other end of the tag on the same side of the hook with the hook in between the hold points. pass the free end of the tag through the loop created between the hackle pliars and original tie in point. Put the hitch where it needs to be and pull on the free tag end as you let go of with the hackle pliars. I think that is what you are trying to do but I may be wrong. If I am right you can probably simplify the method once you know where the thread needs to go. Post again and let me know if this helps, or if I am confussed also.
Flyrodde - Thanks for the help. I think that is what the instructions are saying. It looks like it may be a half hitch. The only thing that concerns me is the knot does not seem to be as tight as a half hitch usually is and the hackle can be slid fore and aft under the knot without too much difficulty. A little head cement will fix that. Another option I have is to finish dressing the fly and after whip finishing the head and trimming the thread I can go back and tie a couple of half hitches without too much trouble.
I just was wondering if this is the fly; www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/121205fotw.html
Doug, - Yes, that is the fly. I see that the Beatty’s use a whip finish for the tail, while Leeson uses a couple of half hitches. I don’t think I would have any better luck trying to tie a whip finish over the bobbin, but maybe I’ll give it a try tomorrow. I’ve tied a few already (with half hitches) but I’m not very satisfied with them.
Guess I’d finish the head stuff first …then finish the tail…
If I may be so bold, you could track down Al Beatty’s PM on this BB and see if he has any input.
Ducksterman’s idea makes sense also.
Doug
After looking at the fly from the link I have a better idea of what is happening.
If you are still having trouble with the whip or hitches at the rear of the fly try tying it differently.
Instead of wrapping the bubble at the front of the fly and pulling the fibres back, strip the fibres from the quill and tie them in as a tail first. Dub your body then pull the fibres forward and tie them down. To get them around the whole body either roll them around the shank as you tie them in (similarly to spinning deer hair) or push them down around the shank then wrap them in place carefully.
Try it all ways and see what results you like best.
You may also try leaving a lot more tag length, finish the fly and whip your head. Then tie down the bubble fibres by hand with the tag, just 2 turns, then using your whip finisher to whip the butt of the fly.
If I think of anything else I’ll be sure to keep you posted.
use a half hitch tool.
Here is a suggestion…
After step #3, where you tie in and form the hackle collar behind the eye, do a 2-3 whip finish and remove the thread bobbin. Then use the long thread created in step #1 and your whip finish tool and whip finish at the tail tie in point. Then restart your thread behind the eye like you would when beginning to tie a fly.
Just a suggestion on how I would do it if I was going to tie this pattern.
Better Loops,
I checked in with Marvin and put your question to him. Here is what came back.
Marvin starts by using a tying thread to match the seal’s fur body material. The tag end is left fairly long, well longer than the 6".
Once you reach the point in the tying sequence for doing the bubble, put on a whip finish with the main tying thread, and snip off.
Create the bubble by whip finishing (hand whip finish perhaps easier here than using a tool), using the tag end you left. Next trim.
Re-attach tying thread for remainder of the fly, now switching over to a black or dark brown thread, and complete the fly.
Cheers,
Hans W
Marvin explained it better than I did.
WarrenP, Hans W,
Thanks, I was coming to the same conclusion, but I haven’t had the time to implement the procedure yet, to see how well it works. It sure is great to hear how the originator of the pattern does it. I still have a question though. What is the seals fur body material to do with this pattern. I assume the tan slf dubbing in the Tying Emergers book replaces the seal fur that Marvin Nolte used on the original pattern.
Is that assumption correct? :?:
Better Loops,
What is the seals fur body material to do with this pattern. I assume the tan slf dubbing in the Tying Emergers book replaces the seal fur that Marvin Nolte used on the original pattern.
Seal’s fur is what Marvin told me when we spoke today. I simply repeated his words, and did not have the Schollmeyer/Leeson book available to reference.
Use the body material of your choice 8)
Cheers,
Hans W