In a thread that asked what we were tying, RonMT mentioned he was working on an order of 10 dozen size 20 Biot Parachute flies.
For the tying angler 10 dozen of one size is a bit out there conceptually.
My question is purely for enjoyment and to maybe give some insight into the type and quantities of materials a commercial tyer burns through in tying 10 or 12 dozen.
So…RonMT if your reading,…when tying this 10 dozen flies for your account…
How many spools of thread will you burn through?
What material will you use for wing posts and how many packs or feathers would that generally mean off the wall of a store shop?
What type of hackle will you use and what does this equate to in terms of a neck or saddle?
Same with tailing materials.
Again, its really to gain more an appreciation of how much material you go through in completing the order since most of us more than likely purchase materials in much smaller quantities.
Looking forward for an answer and I hope others chime in on their experiences cranking out the dozens and dozens that fill the shops bins around the country.
RkyMtnGuy
P.S. It would be interesting to see if answers come forth on…traditional dry flies, wets, nymphs, streamers…and lets not forget some of the big Stonefly nymphs.
This won’t take any of the thunder from the answer I’m sure RonMT will provide. I’m sure he will answer based on the particular fly he’s tying. Allow me to answer with flies I’ve tied in that quantity.
Let’s look at 10 dozen size 12 a)Light Hendrickson comparadun and same but b)Catskill style.
Comparadun:
tail - less than 1/2 a pack of microfibbets
body - 1/3 pack or less of ‘Spectrumized’ dubbing
deer hair wing - maybe a 1-1/2 inch x 2 inch piece of deer hair patch
thread - maybe 40 yards
Catskill:
tail - roughly 20 or so quality spade hackles
wings - roughly 80 wood duck (or mallard) flank feathers
body - 1/4 pack or less of ‘Spectrumized’ dubbing
hackle - anywhere from 20 quality saddle hackles, to 240 neck hackles depending on quality
thread - maybe 60-70 yards
Hope that helps.
Allan
[This message has been edited by tyeflies (edited 26 September 2005).]
[This message has been edited by tyeflies (edited 26 September 2005).]
[This message has been edited by tyeflies (edited 26 September 2005).]
I have tried to answer you three times and have got cut off all three times and lost everything Tieflies is correct it does not take as much materal as most people think it does to tie orders with. But finding good materails that is the trick… The main cost I find is good hackle and the hooks. The rest or at least a lot of it I have contacts with to get things I need for a trade of flies. Like WoodDuck skins, Pheasnat Tails, Grouse skins and such. I use Whiting saddles for 90 percent of my dry fly tying. Just like the size #20 Beatis I am doing now I get from 12 to 15 parachute flies from each hackle and it is good hackle so I know the client is getting the best I can offer. There are other hackle growers that advertise on here that have great hackle to but I have to buy wholesale and so I but whiting.
Thanks Tie for helping me out. I was getting a little mad after losing everything that I wrote three times LOL. Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 26 September 2005).]
When typing a verbose response you may want to get into the habit of typing it up offline in an editr or word processor. If the latter, can even set it up for a frequent timed backup, to safeguard your work.
Based on your answer, I would have thought atleast another package of microfibetts (maybe two or three per side is too many)and the real kicker was the small sized swatch of deer hair required, even for a size 12 Comparadun/Sparkle dun type wing.
Now ya know some of the pain (& expense) production tyers go through Mikey (& why I get a little impatient when some material orders are late in comeing or back-ordered).
You get used to cranking out several dozen of a certain pattern ( & even start getting into a rhythm). Believe it or not, AK’s book
on production tying is a big help. Allan is very much accurate in his materials inventory. It is sometimes amazing you can make a profit (with the expense of some materials & hooks). My wife never lets me forget that one, especially when I have just bought more materials !!! Like Ron, I use Whiting Hackles. You can get standardized size & superior quality !!! Customers wonder why the price of certain patterns go up (figure it out for yourself) !!!
Tieflies is correct it does not take as much materal as most people think it does to tie orders with. But finding good materails that is the trick… The main cost I find is good hackle and the hooks. The rest or at least a lot of it I have contacts with to get things I need for a trade of flies. Like WoodDuck skins, Pheasnat Tails, Grouse skins and such. I use Whiting saddles for 90 percent of my dry fly tying. Just like the size