On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:01:17 -0600, chas
wrote:

"Mike Connor" wrote:
Yep. Clip the wings close to the body, and borax the knuckles. skin the
birds, remove all meat etc, and borax the skins When the skin no longer wets
the borax, wash the lot, skin and wings in warm soapy water, rinse
thoroughly, and allow to dry thoroughly. Place in the freezer for at least
three days. Add moth crystals before final storage in zip loc bags or
similar.

That was it.

TL
MC

Mike,

I know you're experienced with this. I have some feathers that have been in
moth crystals for a long time, and they smell strongly of the stuff. A few
years ago I tied some wet flies with these feathers and they just wouldn't
catch any fish. I blamed the smell, do you think that makes any sense? I'm
sure it wouldn't matter in dries, but nymphs, wets, steelhead, and salmon
flies, what do you think?

Thanks

Chas
remove fly fish to e mail directly

Put them in a (fairly, at least) airtight container with some _plain_
charcoal briquettes - i.e., no "self-lighting" type soaked in starter.
In the alternative, put them in with a small dish of vinegar. Both
tricks are good for a variety of odor problems. For example, a few
briquettes under the seat of a car can help keep the air inside "smell
neutral." I just ask my SO to save her "run"...er, "ran"...well,
whatever they call them.. stockings and use the foot section to keep the
dust contained and the charcoal securely under the seats.

TC,
R