More Quill body questions

Since my server hasn't shown a post here today, allow me to continue with a
thought. Can anyone recommend a website with instructions on how to tie
quill bodies, preferably with pictures? And is there any reason we can't put
quill bodies on lots of different types of flies? Do they sink easier, or
something? I find that this might be a perfect use for all those feather
remains I have from tying hackles.

thanks

--riverman

"riverman" wrote...
Since my server hasn't shown a post here today, allow me to continue with a
thought. Can anyone recommend a website with instructions on how to tie
quill bodies, preferably with pictures?

Here's a good one: http://www.tie1on.net/quillbod.htm
--
HTH,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

"riverman" wrote...
Since my server hasn't shown a post here today, allow me to continue
with a
thought. Can anyone recommend a website with instructions on how to tie
quill bodies, preferably with pictures?

Here's a good one: http://www.tie1on.net/quillbod.htm

D'oH. Couldn't be any simpler, could it? :-)
What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do you just wrap it
loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

--riverman

"riverman" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
SNIP
D'oH. Couldn't be any simpler, could it? :-)
What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do you just wrap
it
loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

--riverman



You can do that, but it is not very robust. You would be better off with a
synthetic there. Something like larva lace or similar.

TL
MC

"riverman" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
SNIP
I find that this might be a perfect use for all those feather
remains I have from tying hackles.

thanks

--riverman



Quill bodies are not very buoyant, ( to say the least!), but if coated with
varnish they will not soak up water. One false cast and the fly body is dry.
They are good because they look very natural. You can use a quill body on
any fly. The main problem is that they are not very robust.

TL
MC

"riverman" wrote...
"Tim J." wrote...
"riverman" wrote...
Since my server hasn't shown a post here today, allow me to continue
with a
thought. Can anyone recommend a website with instructions on how to tie
quill bodies, preferably with pictures?

Here's a good one: http://www.tie1on.net/quillbod.htm

D'oH. Couldn't be any simpler, could it? :-)
What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do you just wrap it
loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

I've never used a quill for that kind of segmentation, so I'm hoping someone
else who has will answer this. I've either used wire, thread, or palmered
hackle.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

While I don't tie quill body flies I have a friend and he does. I have watched
him tie them for six or seven years now and they look very cool. He does not
use any underbody other that the thread and ties most of them in size 16 and
18. He fishes them for trout in the Big Thompson River and others in that
general area of Colorado. He finds they seldom catch more that one trout before
they come apart. He ties them in the style that A.K. Best ties his quill body
flies. Steve buys the stripped quills and keeps them in moistened paper towels
while he ties them. One of the reason he likes tying them is that they give the
fly a very slim abdoman that he just cannot get any other way. He prefers to
use hen wings and the spent hen wing spinners are tied with overlong tails so
that they look more like the naturals. His boxes of these flies always bring
good bucks at out local club auction because they are things of beauty. I am
sure that there is quite a learning curve to stripping your own quills and the
proper selection of which feathers to use for the quills for which size flies.
I have tied a few with him looking on as I tie them, but I tie a lot more
gurgler knock-offs for the bluegill that I fish for. I prefer to tie much more
durable flies for the bluegill and usualy fish hoppers, beatles, and soft
hackle flies the few occasions every few years that I fish for trout.

Big Dale

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

"riverman" wrote...

What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do you just wrap
it
loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

I've never used a quill for that kind of segmentation, so I'm hoping
someone
else who has will answer this. I've either used wire, thread, or palmered
hackle.


Hmm, have you ever tried tying the palmers (if that's the right conjugation)
towards the tail, and laying the next wrap over the barbs so that it lays
flat? Is that possible?

--riverman

"riverman" wrote...
"Tim J." wrote...
"riverman" wrote...

What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do
you just wrap it loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

I've never used a quill for that kind of segmentation, so I'm hoping
someone else who has will answer this. I've either used wire,
thread, or palmered hackle.

Hmm, have you ever tried tying the palmers (if that's the right conjugation)
towards the tail, and laying the next wrap over the barbs so that it lays
flat? Is that possible?

I don't understand "laying the next wrap over the barbs". Please elaborate.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

"riverman" wrote...
"Tim J." wrote...
"riverman" wrote...

What about how to tie quill so that it has a wide wrap? Do
you just wrap it loosely over a dubbed abdomen?

I've never used a quill for that kind of segmentation, so I'm hoping
someone else who has will answer this. I've either used wire,
thread, or palmered hackle.

Hmm, have you ever tried tying the palmers (if that's the right
conjugation)
towards the tail, and laying the next wrap over the barbs so that it
lays
flat? Is that possible?

I don't understand "laying the next wrap over the barbs". Please
elaborate.
--

I'll try it tonight to see if this is nonsense, but what I'm imagining is
this:

Start wrapping the hackle normally, but from the middle of the hook (where
the abdomen meets the wing) instead of from the bend. Once you go around one
time, with your other hand, gather the standing fibers and pull them down
toward the bend of the hook, and wrap the next loop of hackle over them,
trapping them under it instead of letting them stand up like normal. Keep
doing this all the way to the bend of the hook, and tie down the hackle.
Then wrap the thread in wide loops back over the hackle, locking it down a
bit more.

In my imagination, this will produce a widely spaced wrap, where the spaces
between the quill is filled with hackle fibers so it gives it a place to
trap air, and a more segmented appearance. Like I said, this might be
nonsense, and not work at all IRL (I'm a novice with an overactive
imagination), but I'll try it and see if does anything.

--rm