Decided last week I will no longer be throwing store bought flies unless absolutely necessary. However, some of my most productive flies are less than easy to make, i.e. bubble heads and small tailing poppers. I know kits are offered with styrofoam bodies already made, and all you have to do is glue to the hook and color, but lets face it. . . . .that is not tying, its coloring. Having successfully carved some of my own duck decoys, I decided to try and carve popper bodies out of Balsa wood. I cannot be happier with the results, now with a few strokes of the knife, some kip or buck tail, I can make a pattern that moves exactly like I want in the water. This is my first, batch and I am still learning, but IMO I am liking the looks of my flies over the store bought stuff. I did the best I could with pics, but you really have to see these to truly appreciate them.
Starts out like this:
Cut a block the size you want to carve:
Rough out an outline:
form with knife and sandpaper or dremel tool (note the concave head):
Paint:
Tie in tail matierial, coat in epoxy and sprinkle with glitter. Then place on drying wheel:
Add eyes, gills, and one more coat epoxy, place on drying wheel:
I hope the fish get the message:
id eat a few…and i swim pretty fast…downstream
