Mardi-Gras Bead Fly Swap

All about flies Fly Swaps
1

Here’s the latest Update

ALL FLIES ARE IN, ALL FLIES ARE OUT

I mailed all of the flies out on Thursday May 25

Swap Members

  1. Ed Engelman engelm14@cortland.edu Mardi-paca
    Finished
  2. Ed Engelman engelm14@cortland.edu Eyelash snake
    Finished
  3. Richard Zieger ziegeria@grm.net
    Received
  4. Jeff Row jlrow@cox.net
    Received
  5. Mike Bernardoni mikeb@pso.siu.edu
    Hard Hackle Worm
    Received
  6. Matt Schroeder cutthroat.trout@yahoo.com
    Received
  7. Dan Harriman kc5gxl@sbcglobal.net
    received
  8. Buster Wolfe busterwolfe54@yahoo.com
    received
  9. Mark Delaney
    Received
  10. James Baxter
Received

  11. J. G. White
Recieved

Thank you all

Ed

Mardi-Gras Bead Fly
First posted on FAOL on Fat Tuesday 2006

Well, yesterday was the last day of parades and revelry. It was your last chance to get beads tossed from floats, HOWEVER today is another opportunity for you to sign up for this swap!!!

This swap may be the answer to your problem, what do I do with the beads now!

I will be tying two patterns for the swap. One is my mardi-paca. I started tying this last spring. It has become a go-to fly for me especially when fishing new stillwaters. The snake pattern that I am also tying uses Bernat Disco yarn which I have been having great fishing success with. Both of these patterns of course use Mardi-Gras beads

For a thought provoking article on this year?s Mardi Gras celebration throughout the area devastated by hurricane Katrina I recommend that you read the following article from the Shreveport Times.
[url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/LIVING/602250308/1004:e7e2d]http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/LIVING/602250308/10 04[/url:e7e2d]

Perhaps some of you in this swap who live in the swath of Katrina would like to post your experiences/reflections. A cousin of mine recently returned from the area as part of a volunteer crew to assist with repair of some storm damaged homes. Much more needs to be done and we can all help.

All fly patterns for this swap must use one or more Mardi-Gras beads. I think we will all enjoy this one

For those of you who do not know me:
here is a web page from a swap that I hosted a couple of years ago, [url=http://edengelman.com/Chuck/swap.html:e7e2d]http://edengelman.com/Chuck/swap.html[/url:e7e2d]

an article I wrote that is on this site, [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part318.html:e7e2d]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part318.html[/url:e7e2d]

and my home page: [url=http://edengelman.com:e7e2d]http://edengelman.com[/url:e7e2d]

Ed Engelman

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2

I can endorse Ed as I have been in a few of his swaps before.

Rick Z

3

Is this thing full? I’m not sure how to read your needs here. If there is a slot I’ll try coming up with something. If not, I’ll go fishing. JGW

4

There are nine people signed up and five places left in the swap. I will add you to the list. You will be #10. Thank you for your interest.

Ed

5

John White has joined the swap. There are now only 4 more openings.

Ed your swapmeister

6

Sent mine to Ed Tuesday.
Kahuna

7

4 Places Open in this swap

Today’s mail brought Kahuna’s flies to my door. They are way cool!!!

I may go out and cast one onto the snow and ice of my favorite pond!

Ed

8

The sign-up period for this swap will close on Saturday March 11, 2006.

At this time there are 4 openings in this swap.

Ed

9

So we have ten flies to tie? I’m still struggling but have settled on and tied a few glorified “Clousers” I’m calling a Dolly Pardoned. It’s a streamer of sorts, one that is Mardi Gras Festive and just might catch a fish or two. My original intent was to use a yellow bead as the head of a #4 zonker streamer. Well the beads are not hollow but filled with parafin, and while I can drill the parafin out to width of the string, it is impossible to get it around the shank. When I tried use the first drilling as a pilot for a large bit the beads broke apart. After a half dozen attempts I settled on the “joke” fly. This is a quite colorful and festive fly honoring my love of New Orleans and the people I know in Lousiana. JGW

10

Drilling plastic can be tricky and dangerous. Wear goggles! Also high speed of the drill combined with very slow travel rate of the drill gives the best results. Then there is the problem of holding the bead. Too little pressure and the bead spins with the bit. Too much pressure and snap crackle pop!

I haven’t run across parifin in any of my beads yet. Sounds like another challenge. Hmmmmmmmm…

Ed

11

The swap is now closed.

There are eleven in the swap.

Tie 11 and you will receive a complete set.

Ed

12

Two sets of flies are in!!!

Rick Z and Kahuna have tied some pretty amazing flies.

Ed

13

I’m tied and will mail Monday. Hope they’re no trouters amongst us for this is certainly not a trout catcher. Think it’ll nail a largemouth or two, though! I’m betting more than the farm on it – I’m betting my reputation. JGW

14

In this fly swap we are recycling Mardi Gras beads. But more than that we are saving some from landfills and from being lost forever in the deep dark recesses of closets and basements. This website surfaced during one of my recent web ramblings. It portrays the stark reality of the fate of some beads that are not elevated to objects of art by fly-tyers.

Enjoy

Ed

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From the website: [url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/photos/after_mardi_gras/index.html:3a087]http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/photos/after_mardi_gras/index.html[/url:3a087]

Introduction

One of the rituals during Mardi Gras in New Orleans is parade participants throwing plastic beads to those in the crowd. The pictures in this gallery show what happens to some of the beads after all the parades have passed by.
Photos by PETE SOUZA, Tribune national photographer based in Washington, D.C.

Enter Gallery [url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/photos/after_mardi_gras/index.html:3a087]http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/photos/after_mardi_gras/index.html[/url:3a087]

15

Ed:

Would you please let me have your s-mail address so that I can get my flies in the mail to you. Thanks.

Jim.

16

I sent all members of the swap my address today. If you didn’t get it, please contact me at:

engelm14@cortland.edu

thank you

Ed

17

How is everyone doing with their flies??
Kahuna

18

Mark Delaney’s flies arrived today. I like the way the beads are used. I’m headed to the vise right now to give his method a try!

Ed

19

Matt’s flies are in.

Matt, I hope you tell us how to tie this fly.

They look cool.

Ed

20

The last two sets of flys have been slowed by personal and family health issues.

Let’s hope for a speedy recovery and the best possible health outcome for all.

Ed