These are the type of eyes I use most often. They consist of a lathed aluminum dumbbell eye (they come in black, silver and brass) and stick-on dome-shaped pearl eyes. I like these eyes, but they are expensive at between $0.60 and $0.90 per set.
If you have questions, drop me a line. E-mail me.Best wishes,
Clive
These
are the type of eyes I use most often. They consist of a lathed aluminum
dumbbell eye (they come in black, silver and brass) and stick-on dome-shaped
pearl eyes. I like these eyes, but they are expensive at between $0.60
and $0.90 per set.
This first series of images shows how to attached eyes and wrap body fur.
Great Pumpkin Tying Sequence
1 and 2)
Tie in eyes
3) Attached
body materials of choice. For the GP use orange synthetic "fish hair" fibers
and brass holographic mylar flash material--I use mylar Christmas tinsel.
Add
generous amounts of glue.
I prefer
colorless nail hardener for head cement on large flies. Strong, dries fast,
inexpensive and comes with brush applicator. Perfect!
4) Clip
about 10 mm of fibers from the body fur as shown to provide an anchor space.
5) Anchor
in the body fur (BF) as shown. It is most important to get the fibers started
in the correct position and direction as shown.
6 and 7)
Wrap the BF forward as shown. Keep the wraps tight to each other. Here's
where it can get tricky. In theory, all you have to do is continue wrapping
forward over the eyes. Sometimes that works and you carry on. However,
more often than not, the BF fibers want to point forward now. Sometimes
you can pull them backward and keep wrapping. Occasionally it becomes hopeless
and you'll have tie off the BF behind the eye, and re-attached in front
of the eyes. Make sure to push the
BF tightly
backward toward the eyes.
8) Tie
off and double whip finish. (i.e. do two complete whip finishes for insurance.)
DO NOT APPLY HEAD GLUE YET...the fur trimmings stick to it!
9) Trim
the head to the desired shape. Now glue the head. You're done.
This second series of images shows how to make inexpensive eyes and how to use pipe cleaners as substitute for body fur.
The above
fly costs close to $2CAD because of the fancy materials used. Hooks run
about 35¢, eye sets about 90¢, body materials about 30¢
and body fur about 30 to 50¢. If that does not suit your budget and
yet you like eyes (I do ... I think they trigger fussy pike) and fat heads,
there are less expensive options.
Craft "pony"
bead and "weed eater cable" eyes
Eye sets
can be made with simple materials which are inexpensive. These dumbbell
eyes are made with "pony" beads from a craft shop. They cost less than
1¢ each. The bar material is plastic "weed eater" cable. You can paint
black pupils on the eye ends with markers or acrylic paint. These eyes
set are about 2¢ each.
You can make fat heads--if that suits your style--with 12-mm pipe cleaners also available at craft shops. They come in various colors. White pipe cleaners will hold felt marker well, so you can color the heads as you wish.
Here is how it is done....just tie in the eyes, add the body material, glue, anchor the pipe cleaner, wrap it forward and tie off. Trim to shape as desired. This is not rocket surgery. You will want to cut the pipe cleaner metal wire shaft with a cheap pair of your wife's scissors. :)
Clive Schaupmeyer
Coaldale,
Alberta, Canada
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