an updated protrait
One of the problems with publishing trade articles, whitepapers or leading seminars, you get to have your picture splashed around or worst listen to your voice in recorded teaching seminars! After seeing the same cheesy picture of a peer (business-friend), I kept thinking what an old and outlandish mouse-tache you got there Ernie.
Then I looked at my trade images, last paper was in November, and thought – yuck. And yes, another paper goes to press next month, so it was time to get a new me out there.
Going around my man-cave?
An updated look at what is in my man-cave – fly-tying room.
- A – Chest of drawers holding tools, long hooks and paint.
- B – A Rubbermaid bin used to hold all my materials required to tie the fly in progress.
- C – Tape, used occassionally to hold together groups (feather bunches in a dye).
- D – OHaus Scout fine weight scale (0.1 to 200 grams) use to weigh eyes, hooks, lines, et cetera.
- E – Grundig Radio, a Yacht Boy 400.
- F – Fly turner, battery operate – Spring was replaced with a plastic-foam block.
- G – Pens and Markers, with a recent preference to Copics.
- H – Peacock and miscelaneous items in cups. I keep a set of plastic glasses for storage for work in progress.
- I – Custom Holder – 10 Alligator Clips in a Board.
- J - Sharps - A cardboard used to collect retired flys.
- Behind J is a labeller, used to mark boxes. Acknolwedging the demands of my work, I have shift to, and recommend the Brother P-Touch PT-1650.
- K – Renzetti Traveller Vise, purchased in 1995, with a jaw change out a decade later.
- L - 50W Halogen Light.
- M – Small rubbermaid container with water, to soak biots, gut, et cetera.
- N – Renzetti Presentation Vise, with holding magnets.
- O – Custom back board to help hold tiles or other backing for photographs, such as the SBS for
- P – My Glue and epoxy collection.
- Q – Waldmann Omnivue flat vision magnifier and 27W lighting – recommended!
- R – Custom tool holder.
- S – Pony Clamp used to hold the vise in-place when tying the Woven Czech Nymphs.
- T – Custom scraps “bucket” – a very valuable tool that keeps my bench and work-surface clean-usable.
- U – 10W (x3) Back-lighting halogens.
- V – Modular Arlink WorkBench, with two shelves above and one below.
- W – Hooks in Umpqua Hook Boxes
- X – Flies in 3600 Plano Boxes. Boxes are taken with me on trips, to replenish lost flies.
- Y – Spice rack and bottles holding beads.
Not shown:
- Above on Arlink Shelves: Fly-Tying Material stored in Rubbermaid Container and Zip-Loks.
- Below on Arlink Shelves: More material in Rubbermaids and thread-floss-wire in Artbin Containers.
- Floor in front, a Pearl Harley Drum Throne (my seat).
- Garbage Can and vaccum.
Heron Wing Style – how low?
I have gone back to using Spey Hooks (AJ Spey, Sizes 1 1/2 and 3), which are longer than previous go with Daiichi 2441. Yes, the longer hook helps and after I did some dying of feathers (using Jacqard 624 Turquoise), I have tied a few of my Winter Ice Herons.
As a style, I prefer my wings set (tented) low, but here I have experiments with “How low?”.
It is interesting, in looking and thinking of the flies, the differences seem more dramatic when the fly is on the vise, versus here in this review. First set of pictures, with the camera slightly below the hook’s lateral axis, so looking up.
The second set of images with camera “even” with the hook’s lateral axis.
When the fly, is on the vise, and I set the wings really low and was concern I am hiding the body too much. But as I post thie review and given the view of the fish is more likely to below, I am incline to keep to the very low setting.
Now, I have master my fault to why I set the wings to far back, but given the front angle this does not show. The wings ends are in front of the hook end.
The recipe and notes:
- AJ Spey Hook in Silver, sized 1.5 and 3 (above are 3s)
- With Danville Flymaster 6/0 in White.
- Twisted Oval Medium Tinsel. I prefer little tinsel and use it to counter wrap the hackle.
- French Floss, tinted Silver Doctor Blue
- Hackle is a Whited Eared Pheasant lightly dyed in Jacquard 624 Turquoise
- Seal Dubbing on Floss, tinted Silver Doctor Blue (I need to start dying seal to).
- Teal, but please wrap from base to tip for a small head.
- Generic Bass Cape Feathers, lightly dyed.
- Head is finish with Venard’s Cellire.
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Spectral Spider SBS
I have added to my photolibrary a SBS (Step-By-Step) with notes, on my tying a Spectral Spider.
Please note that I have posted some earlier notes and observations for those who may be interested in the details of the recipe and construction (original and-or mine), which is link to a photograph of a Walt Johnson Spectral Spider, my first go, or a critical review.
Some additional notes:
- I have access to a real Asian Kingfisher now, which I am using for the cheeks .
- I have looked for craft fur. I did not find the spectrum that I like at a Craft Store, I do believe that Rainy’s Craft Fur would be a good use. Rather than spending the 20+ USD for more material, I kept to the using Arctic Fox.
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White Vinyl Shout-Out
Two thunbs up to White Vinyl’s Solar Beat > a fun “app” that illustrates our solar system (not to scale) and functions as a “random” wind chime for your computer.
Continental to United Merger Failures – Prison Seats
With high density of wireless (mobile – cell) telephone service, high energy costs and complex access rules, Southern California is a place I frequent. It usually involves about 6 hours in the air and a couple of fligths. Unfortunately, the service-options to fly to the right airport (SNA – Orange County – John Wayne) has degraded over the past 2 years.
- Air Canada – stop their direct flights from Toronto.
- United- Mixing their flights with Continental – and the merger is making it worse.
- Passenger Information enabling frequent flyer information and seat selection is not properly transferring from system to system. This trip, I spent an hour on the phone to clean up the reservations, another 30 minutes to try and correct the online check-in and then another 30 minutes at each check-in actually completing the fix.
- Yes, the problems were there before, but it is getting worse and consistently each trip is requiring a lot of time to fix! I have left messages with Customer Service, but to date, but no response. It is evident the merger is making it worse.
- …. Months ago, buying the more leg-room option at initial purchase stopped.
- …. No longer always accepts my frequent flyer number. Might, might not. In this trip, 1 of the 2 flights per leg was correct.
- Though I waited 30 minutes at the United check-in to fix my flight (which is aggravating), the United Airline staff there were kind. One reason I like John Wayne Airport, the airport has a good vibe to it, from the car rental agencies to the airlines to TSA.
- Continental - Travelling in the still tube, especially Continental – sitting jammed in a seat, in a full plane, in a seat you could not select, beside a person with bad breadth, with a small screen 12″ in front of face constantly seeing the same advertisement for DirectTV for 4.5 hours is a form of prison – with the only good news, you know you will be released soon!
- Practice your zen, consider taking up airplane seat yoga.
- Share breadth mints with those sitting beside you. Strike up a nice conversation, and when it is going well, offer them a mint.
It is clear to this frequent flyer, the United-Continental merger is failing. From the tool integration or the stewardess who refused to provide coffee - ”They took away our serving tray, so I cannot bring you coffee, so leave a message with your customer survey”. Well I have before, but no response and the only changes are worse.
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Southern California Desert
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Small scale wonders
Small scale wonders – The Eiffel Tower and the Sphinx (Earthworm Jim)
a 50-something on fly-fishing, art, cooking, and life outside of the city.
