Tying wings

Do you guys think a particular type of wing style works best. I like
divided calf for about all of my flies, because I can see it easier, but I
wonder if its better to use a different style.

Better how, Ben?

If you can see 'em and the fishes take 'em ...


Steve

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in
news:vGgFf.1330$VX2.731@trndny04:

Do you guys think a particular type of wing style works best. I like
divided calf for about all of my flies, because I can see it easier,
but I wonder if its better to use a different style.




Depends on many things-- profile you're trying to achieve, how the fly is
supposed to sit on the water, how long you want to spend tying a fly,
materials on hand.

For downwing midges, I like something like Z-wing. For many mayflies, I
like a Usual, if I want the fly to sit low in the water. It's easy and has
no hackle.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

I was just reading an article that was saying about different styles of
wings providing better profiles, that would make the fly appear more
realistic. I was just wondering if there was really a difference to
anything but us. The best fly fisher I personally know never ties wings at
all, he just uses hackle and catches a ton fish. I was just curious if
anyone had ever used a different wing style on the same pattern and noticed
different (i.e. better) results with a particular style.

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:SQJFf.1579$VX2.1071@trndny04...
I was just reading an article that was saying about different styles of
wings providing better profiles, that would make the fly appear more
realistic. I was just wondering if there was really a difference to
anything but us. The best fly fisher I personally know never ties wings at
all, he just uses hackle and catches a ton fish. I was just curious if
anyone had ever used a different wing style on the same pattern and noticed
different (i.e. better) results with a particular style.


Not quite what you asked, but one thing that I have noticed is that feather
wings, as in an Adams, will tangle your leader. The wings have some
aerodynamics, and unless they are ungodly perfect, the fly will spin as you
false cast and within a few casts your leader will be all twisted. For that
reason alone, I'm abandoning feather wings. The main purpose of hair wings,
afaik, is to make the fly easier to spot in the water. I'm not at all sure
the fish really cares.

--riverman

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in
news:SQJFf.1579$VX2.1071@trndny04:

I was just reading an article that was saying about different styles
of wings providing better profiles, that would make the fly appear
more realistic. I was just wondering if there was really a difference
to anything but us. The best fly fisher I personally know never ties
wings at all, he just uses hackle and catches a ton fish. I was just
curious if anyone had ever used a different wing style on the same
pattern and noticed different (i.e. better) results with a particular
style.




I'm a big believer in the idea that if something is easier to omit, yet the
practice persists for decades anyway, that there's a reason to include it.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Scott Seidman wrote:

I'm a big believer in the idea that if something is easier to omit, yet the
practice persists for decades anyway, that there's a reason to include it.

So I take it that you believe in god, heaven, hell, angels, Satan, etc.

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

rw wrote in
nk.net:

Scott Seidman wrote:

I'm a big believer in the idea that if something is easier to omit,
yet the practice persists for decades anyway, that there's a reason
to include it.

So I take it that you believe in god, heaven, hell, angels, Satan,
etc.


Well, I stand corrected. Let me specify that my earlier statement reflects
my views on flies and tying materials.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Hair Wings, double/single wings (Lee Wulff said the Grey, Royal etc.
worked just as well with a single upright wing) I've used them both:
the double seemed to cock the fly better for me, but fish didn't seem
to mind.

Also used hackle tip wings in place of calf in Wulffs (and vice versa
in some other patterns) and can't recall a fish getting snotty about
them. The calftail were easier to see though.

There is a school of thought that a conventional hackle is also
representative of a wing.

Steve



Steve

Another cause of that twisting can be overhackling.
Even harwings, overhackled, will also result in a mangled tess.

(going up a tippett size or to stiffer material can help if you get
caught short on flys)

Steve