flies for pugdom

[sandfly]

Craig tied these for ya while we talked thought you would enjoy..

 

[pugdom]

Wonderful ties, I especially like the top one. What is the wingcase and wire/cable material?

Thanks
Pugdom

 

[sandfly]

Craig,
tails, antennae and legs are grouse(fresh off the skin)
abdomen is colored ultra wire (ginger for top one)
wing-case is my imitation raffia (dyed by bmfs)
Thorax is Masterblend dubbing..

 

[McSneek]

Sandfly - I tied some stones with raffia wing cases like these awhile ago. When the rafia got wet it expanded and no longer laid flat. The folded wing cases looked great until that point. Is there some technique to using rafia or is that just what happens to it once it's wet? I haven't used it since then even though I think it's a lot easier to tie with than natural feathers.

 

[sandfly]

was it real raffia or imitation, I coat mine with sally hansons top coat (dries in 30 seconds) real swiss straw might swell, try the imitaion I have no problems.

 

[MKern]

Yeah coat it with something, like fingernail polish. Or treat it ahead of time with super glue.

 

[sandfly]

just noticed the pics are of Quill "Z" wingcases i am doing instead of raffia..I use both depending what I want to do. Quill"Z" is used for wingcases and quill bodies..