Pool noodles

[jifigz]

Today, as I floated around on a noodle in my aunt's pool, I had an epiphany: pool noodles could be EXCELLENT tying material. I typically use craft foam from Walmart, and I like it well enough. That foam is vastly different than pool noodles, however. Pool noodle foam is very light and airy and floats really well.

Who has tied with pool noodle before? I'm going to destroy one and attempt to use it at the vise.

 

[riverwhy]

Just make sure it is fished on bamboo. Could become a classic.

 

[JerryC]

I messed with them, but didn't particularly like the material. It's hard to shape and tough to make a cup face. You're really limited to punching out cylinders. I can do a lot more with 3 mm and 6 mm craft foam.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

hard to tie down without cutting with thread. Not worth it IMO

 

[jifigz]

Alright. I guess yinz fellers changed my mind on that. I guess....

 

[TimMurphy]

Alright. I guess yinz fellers changed my mind on that. I guess....

Dear jifigz,

But if you are like me and wade like a clumsy water buffalo, a piece of bright orange or viral green pool noodle taped to your fly rod above the grip might make it easier to recover should you fall. Just sayin'.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[nfrechet]

 

[Bamboozle]

hard to tie down without cutting with thread. Not worth it IMO

I'm not advocating pool noodles as a fly tying material nor have I ever tried it, however I use a lot of foam in tying and I always use 3/0 unbonded thread (think Gudebrod or Danville Flymaster) to tie in and tie off my foam.

Unbonded thread lies flatter & wider and the heavier size helps even more to prevent the thread from cutting the foam.

 

[laszlo]

View attachment 1641236890

Do you tie while swimming?

 

[jifigz]

Do you tie while swimming?

In this kind of weather, I do!

 

[tomgamber]

I slit one side and pop thrm on the crossbars when I roof my kayak.

 

[nfrechet]

Do you tie while swimming?

under water with scuba gear and boxing gloves

 

[CRB]

About 10 years ago met a gentleman at a sportsmans club who used cheap dollar store flip-flop foam for bass poppers. I made a few and they do work well much cheaper than fly shop popper foam and worked just as well.

 

[TimMurphy]

About 10 years ago met a gentleman at a sportsmans club who used cheap dollar store flip-flop foam for bass poppers. I made a few and they do work well much cheaper than fly shop popper foam and worked just as well.

Dear CRB,

Before the advent of foam fly shop cylinders that was a common practice. Somewhere I have a copy of C. Boyd Pfeiffer's "Tackle Craft." I bought it when I was teen-ager long ago from the Outdoor Life book club. It had a lot of neat ideas you could do on the cheap.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[Bamboozle]

I have that book in my library. If you need me look something up, let me know.