Hopper Wings

[Peter A. Collin]

Hello All,

I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used patterns,
I want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much
experience with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I have
always used turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a neater,
trimmer profile that I want. Any suggestions?

Pete Collin

[Wayne]

Peter A. Collin wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used
patterns,
> I want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much
> experience with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I
have
> always used turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a
neater,
> trimmer profile that I want. Any suggestions?
>
> Pete Collin

fish a streamer

Wayne
to fish is human....to release Divine!!!

[Herman Nijland]

Peter A. Collin wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used patterns,
> I want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much
> experience with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I have
> always used turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a neater,
> trimmer profile that I want. Any suggestions?
>
> Pete Collin

Organza comes to mind, or maybe the stuff that is sold as 'sedge wing',
altough it is ridiculously expensive.

--
Herman

[Frank Reid]

"Peter A. Collin" > wrote in message
...
> Hello All,
>
> I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used patterns, I
> want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much experience
> with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I have always used
> turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a neater, trimmer
> profile that I want. Any suggestions?
>
> Pete Collin

I use "thin skin" for wing cases. I also use plastic raffia. I like the
raffia because its cheap and I can fold it and glue it with fingernail
polish to get the right effect. Sometimes, I sprinkle the appropriate color
of hare's mask inside whilst folding. This gives it a mottled appearance.
I also use tyvek from overnight mailers. This can be colored with permanent
markers then cut. Additionally, I've got some tyvek survival maps used by
military pilots. These are already colored perfectly.
Herman mentioned organza. Its very nice stuff and can be purchased cheap at
your local fabric store. Buy the right color and BANG, instant wings. I
like to cut a long thin rectangle, tie it in perpendicular to the fly, then
tease out the weft. Done with sparkle organza (ask for it in the store) and
its an instant spinner wing. Darker colors, sealed with head cement or
heated (the edge will fray), make very good hopper wings.
Waterproof clear tape and feathers. Lay the feather of your choice on the
tape and cut out a wing shape. Works great. It has the durability of
synthetic and the color of the feather. Its also a lot easier to work with
once its on the tape.
Hope this helps.
--
Frank Reid
Reverse email to reply

[Wayne Knight]

Peter A. Collin wrote:

> I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used
patterns,
> I want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much
> experience with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I
have
> always used turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a
neater,
> trimmer profile that I want. Any suggestions?

if God had meant for synthetic anything to be used on a trout fly, he
would have made roosters out of graphite and elk out of fiberglass.
Screw the synthetic stuff, use real feathers. <g>

[Peter A. Collin]

Wayne Knight wrote:
> Peter A. Collin wrote:
>
>
>>I am doing some winter tying. Having made all of my most used
>
> patterns,
>
>>I want to get into some more extic stuff. Does anybody have much
>>experience with synthetic materials used for a grasshopper wing? I
>
> have
>
>>always used turkey, but believe that a synthetic would give me a
>
> neater,
>
>>trimmer profile that I want. Any suggestions?
>
>
> if God had meant for synthetic anything to be used on a trout fly, he
> would have made roosters out of graphite and elk out of fiberglass.
> Screw the synthetic stuff, use real feathers. <g>
>
Ah, but I will never let go of my Antron yarn for LaFontaine Caddis!

[Wayne Knight]

Peter A. Collin wrote:

> Ah, but I will never let go of my Antron yarn for LaFontaine Caddis!

I thought his caddis imitations suggest antron dubbing instead of the
roped yarn? Regradless I prefer to use dyed rabbit.

[rw]

Wayne Knight wrote:

> Peter A. Collin wrote:
>
>
>>Ah, but I will never let go of my Antron yarn for LaFontaine Caddis!
>
>
> I thought his caddis imitations suggest antron dubbing instead of the
> roped yarn? Regradless I prefer to use dyed rabbit.
>

It's funny how tastes differ. I much prefer the creative use of
synthetic materials over the same-old same-old "traditional" patterns
using just feathers and fur.

I've been tying sal****er patterns lately, in preparation for an
upcoming trip. Without flashy synthetic materials, sal****er flies would
be really boring and probably relatively ineffective.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

[Wayne Knight]

"rw" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> It's funny how tastes differ. I much prefer the creative use of synthetic
> materials over the same-old same-old "traditional" patterns using just
> feathers and fur.

The hypocrisy in the all natural argument is the coated threads, tinsels,
and ribbing used of course. As you know, I have this thing for natural
things in fly fishing for trout.

> I've been tying sal****er patterns lately, in preparation for an upcoming
> trip. Without flashy synthetic materials, sal****er flies would be really
> boring and probably relatively ineffective.

If I could tie sal****er flies, I'm sure I'd be forced to use synthetics
too. They just don't make too many animals with sparkling fur and feathers.

[Peter A. Collin]

Wayne Knight wrote:

> Peter A. Collin wrote:
>
>
>>Ah, but I will never let go of my Antron yarn for LaFontaine Caddis!
>
>
> I thought his caddis imitations suggest antron dubbing instead of the
> roped yarn? Regradless I prefer to use dyed rabbit.
>
You just cut up the roped yarn and swirl it in a coffee grinder. Presto.

[rw]

Wayne Knight wrote:
>
> The hypocrisy in the all natural argument is the coated threads, tinsels,
> and ribbing used of course. As you know, I have this thing for natural
> things in fly fishing for trout.

The distinction between natural and synthetic can be pretty arbitrary.
All the stuff is made of atoms, right? :-)

Is absurdly long and uniform genetic hackle "natural"? The chickens sure
look weird to me.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

[Cyli]

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:30:10 -0500, "Frank Reid"
<moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf> wrote:

(snipped)


>Herman mentioned organza. Its very nice stuff and can be purchased cheap at
>your local fabric store. Buy the right color and BANG, instant wings. I
>like to cut a long thin rectangle, tie it in perpendicular to the fly, then
>tease out the weft. Done with sparkle organza (ask for it in the store) and
>its an instant spinner wing. Darker colors, sealed with head cement or
>heated (the edge will fray), make very good hopper wings.

Would it make it more interesting to the fish if you left the trailing
edges of the wings go and fray?

I won't address the obscenity of cutting up maps. I won't. Well,
only just that mention. Aaaaaaaaarrrrgh!


Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: (strip the .invalid to email)

[Charlie Choc]

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:30:26 -0500, "Wayne Knight" >
wrote:

>The hypocrisy in the all natural argument is the coated threads, tinsels,
>and ribbing used of course. As you know, I have this thing for natural
>things in fly fishing for trout.
>
You wear natural rubber waders then, I suppose?
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

[Frank Reid]

> Would it make it more interesting to the fish if you left the trailing
> edges of the wings go and fray?
>
> I won't address the obscenity of cutting up maps. I won't. Well,
> only just that mention. Aaaaaaaaarrrrgh!

The worf and weft is extremely loose in organza. The whole wing would
fray out in one or two casts.
I agree with you on the maps, but I've got tons of them, only use one
and these were destined for the dumpster. The one I use was marked up
and damaged.
I worked extensively with maps for many years. I'm very visually
oriented and have memorized many. So yeah, I can understand the
reluctance to damage them.

--
Frank Reid
Euthanize to reply

[Wayne Knight]

"Charlie Choc" > wrote in message
...

> You wear natural rubber waders then, I suppose?

I suppose not

[daytripper]

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:50:14 -0500, Frank Reid > wrote:

>> Would it make it more interesting to the fish if you left the trailing
>> edges of the wings go and fray?
>>
>> I won't address the obscenity of cutting up maps. I won't. Well,
>> only just that mention. Aaaaaaaaarrrrgh!
>
>The worf and weft is extremely loose in organza. The whole wing would
>fray out in one or two casts.
>I agree with you on the maps, but I've got tons of them, only use one
>and these were destined for the dumpster. The one I use was marked up
>and damaged.
>I worked extensively with maps for many years. I'm very visually
>oriented and have memorized many. So yeah, I can understand the
>reluctance to damage them.

Wow.

I wouldda bet major money that I'd get through all of 2005 without ever seeing
the words "worf" and "weft" used in a sentence...

/daytripper (Frankly, stunned ;-)

[Wolfgang]

"daytripper" > wrote in message
...

> Wow.
>
> I wouldda bet major money that I'd get through all of 2005 without ever
> seeing
> the words "worf" and "weft" used in a sentence...
>
> /daytripper (Frankly, stunned ;-)

Hell, I'd have bet the farm that I wouldn't see the word "worf" used
anywhere! :)

Wolfgang
who supposes it comes as no surprise to anyone that he hasn't made in big in
agribusiness. :(

[rw]

daytripper wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:50:14 -0500, Frank Reid > wrote:
>
>>
>>The worf and weft is extremely loose in organza. The whole wing would
>>fray out in one or two casts.
>>I agree with you on the maps, but I've got tons of them, only use one
>>and these were destined for the dumpster. The one I use was marked up
>>and damaged.
>>I worked extensively with maps for many years. I'm very visually
>>oriented and have memorized many. So yeah, I can understand the
>>reluctance to damage them.
>
>
> Wow.
>
> I wouldda bet major money that I'd get through all of 2005 without ever seeing
> the words "worf" and "weft" used in a sentence...
>
> /daytripper (Frankly, stunned ;-)

It's "warp and weft." I believe Worf was a Klingon in Star Trek.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

[Wolfgang]

"rw" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> daytripper wrote:
>> Wow.
>>
>> I wouldda bet major money that I'd get through all of 2005 without ever
>> seeing
>> the words "worf" and "weft" used in a sentence...
>>
>> /daytripper (Frankly, stunned ;-)
>
> It's "warp and weft." I believe Worf was a Klingon in Star Trek.

I mean, good God, Dave.......don't you know ANYTHING?!

Wolfgang
help mithter witharrrrd!......i don't wanna be a thavant no morrrre!
:(

[vincent p. norris]

> I've got some tyvek survival maps used by
>military pilots. These are already colored perfectly.

>..... I've got tons of them, only use one
>and these were destined for the dumpster. The one I use was marked up
>and damaged.

If they're colored perfectly and you have tons of them,Frank, why not
hire a Rider truck and bring them to Penns Clave, instead of
Dumpstering them?

>... I can understand the reluctance to damage them.

Me too! I'm a dedicated cartophile. I have a small number of
Sectional Aeronautical Charts old enough to show the Adcock ranges
that were the means of aerial navigation prior to about 1955 or '60.

Most contemporary pilots have never even seen one. I want to leave
them to an aviation museum when I check out.

vince

[Frank Reid]

>
>> /daytripper (Frankly, stunned ;-)
>
>
> It's "warp and weft." I believe Worf was a Klingon in Star Trek.

Yeh, my wife noticed that and told me how dumb I really was, as in "you
got GW Bush syndrome."
--
Frank Reid
Euthanize to reply

[Frank Reid]

> If they're colored perfectly and you have tons of them,Frank, why not
> hire a Rider truck and bring them to Penns Clave, instead of
> Dumpstering them?

They were on the way to the dumpster when I rescued them. I'll bring
some up to Penns.
Note to self:
Bring contents of house, including tyvek charts, wool and carding combs,
pornographic fishing quilt to Penns for Vince.

--
Frank Reid
Euthanize to reply

[vincent p. norris]

>> If they're colored perfectly and you have tons of them,Frank, why not
>> hire a Rider truck and bring them to Penns Clave, instead of
>> Dumpstering them?
>
>They were on the way to the dumpster when I rescued them. I'll bring
>some up to Penns.
>Note to self:
>Bring contents of house, including tyvek charts, wool and carding combs,
>pornographic fishing quilt to Penns for Vince.

No, not for Vince; for everyone--except the quilt, of course.

Growing up during the so-called Great Depression (which didn't seem
all that Great at the time), I learned not to waste anything useful.

Especially if it can be used to tie flies--although I didn't learn
that till later.

vince

[Cyli]

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 08:01:54 -0500, Frank Reid >
wrote:

>
>> If they're colored perfectly and you have tons of them,Frank, why not
>> hire a Rider truck and bring them to Penns Clave, instead of
>> Dumpstering them?
>
>They were on the way to the dumpster when I rescued them. I'll bring
>some up to Penns.


What places are they of? (I assume that's lousy grammar, but I'm not
willing to think enough to put it properly.)

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: (strip the .invalid to email)

[Frank Reid]

> What places are they of? (I assume that's lousy grammar, but I'm not
> willing to think enough to put it properly.)

Yemen
Frank

[Cyli]

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:36:24 -0500, "Frank Reid"
<moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf> wrote:

>
>> What places are they of? (I assume that's lousy grammar, but I'm not
>> willing to think enough to put it properly.)
>
>Yemen
>Frank
>
Thanks.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: (strip the .invalid to email)