Best material for articulated patterns?

[nookslayer]

I have been experimenting with different types of lines, wires, etc to connect the waddington shanks to the hook below and have had mixed success with all. Is there one type of material that any of you have found to be the best? I have been using 40lb spiderwire but I think it lacks the stiffness for the action I would like to see. Ideas?

thanks,

Nook

[slinger]

30lb Berkley Fireline is the best I've found. It seems to be stiff enough to prevent most hook fouling, and it retains the stiffness well. Another option is 20lb Cortland Toothy Critter wire.

-NRK

[dirtyCut]

dont know if its the "best" material, however Ive never lost fish with the way I do it. I use 20lb dacron.

the only reason I logged in was to ask if anyone had ideas on how this particular pattern may have been done.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/le4.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/le3.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/le2.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/le1.jpg

I know you probably cant tell a whole lot by the pics, hopefully someone else ties like this and can shed some light on this method.

I've always tied with dacron, and usually use a long shank on the front and a long #6 or #8 on the back for the length - but the way this one swims is more natural than the way I do it. Might not catch more fish - maybe it does. Just drives me nuts I cant figure this out.

thanks for any insight on this.....

KC

[crobarr]

moal leach. done with 2 vices, rabbit strips, and super glue. pain in the butt.

[blazerman]

Nookslayer,

I've been playing with 20lb Cortland Toothy critter. It's a platice coated wire. I'm happy with it so far, the trailer hook stays straight at the back of the fly, and it's strong. I rig it with a size 2 owner, and with a little work you can swap the hook out when the one your using gets dull. I don't use waddington shanks though, I just cut off a long streamer hook and dull the edges with a dremel tool. I tried the 30lb Berkley stuff first but the diameter is too big for anything less than a size 1 hook and even then you can't change out the hook.

[dirtyCut]

i figured it was a pain in the butt after trying a few failed attempts. i dont think i'll be messing with that method much since the way i have been doing them for years now puts a few fish on the bank... i just really liked the way that one swims.

thanks for the reply...

KC

[nookslayer]

thanks blazerman, I haven't trued that yet so I will go and pick some up. The part I am most interested in is keeping the trailing hook in check but still having some action.

[sothereiwas]

That fly looks like its tied with the hide cut off the rabbit strip and is made into a hackle using a dubbing loop tool. I tie them like that. The hide gets soaked with water and makes them hard to cast. Also when you remove the hide you get a much fuller finished fly. Here is a link to the tying instructions if you are interested in giving it a shot
http://flyfishnw.com/content/view/97/60/

Brad

[D3smartie]

if you want stiffness in your flies like i want in my poppers, i use fireline.
If you want small diameter use 50# power pro. Not stiff, but it holds up well.

[sothereiwas]

I use 65lb Tufline when tying these. By the time you get done palmering all the way to the front it will stiffen up significantly. For intruders I use Fireline.

Brad

[dirtyCut]

sothereiwas - thanks a ton. was pullin' my hair out tryin to get that. seems like alot of work - i'll give it a shot though.

thanks again...
KC

[sothereiwas]

They take a while to tie but that it will be worth is when you get out on the water and try and turn them over. Much better without the hide. The second fish I posted on the Steelhead Challenge was caught on one. Good luck.

Brad