clear mono

[chadk]

I've seen some recipes calling for 'cear mono' for thread. Is this a special thread or just regular fishing mono??:confused:

[Steve Rohrbach]

Chad, it is special tying mono. Comes on the same spools as thread. All fly shops will carry the stuff. It is great on Clousers as it lets the multiple colors through and finished nicely with head cement or laquer. The stuff is pretty tough. Good tying, Steve

[chadk]

Thanks! I'll pick some up :)

[Kent Lufkin]

Makes a dandy rib for scuds as well.

K

[Don Johnson]

From what I've heard, the only thing special about it is that it's on a different spool so you can stuff it into a bobbin. Gudebrod makes a smoke color too that I guess makes it special.

Try picking up Varivas tippet material in about 10X (.0030" dia) or 12X (.0026" dia), transfer it to an empty thread spool and try tying with that; it's expensive but it works pretty well if you need small diameter clear thread. I don't know what the breaking strength of those diameters are but the thickness is between Gudebrod 3/0 (.0025" and G (.0035"), if that gives you a point of reference. (Uni 6/0 is .0029)

Conversely, try using the Gudebrod tying mono for tippet material; works great for trout and small panfish!

[halcyon]

Go to any sewing shop and you can get clear mono sewing thread in several diameters for much less than in a fly shops. This sewing thread is all that the fly tying clear mono thread is just spooled on smaller bobbins.

Regards,

[Anil]

We sell the 200yd. spools of Uni clear mono for $1.95. If you guys buy enough I’ll be able to retire later this year.
Anil

[Don Johnson]

Wow Anil...either you have high hopes of selling miles and miles of mono or you like Top Ramen and living in tents from WalMart.

[ibn]

Try picking up Varivas tippet material in about 10X (.0030" dia) or 12X (.0026" dia), transfer it to an empty thread spool and try tying with that; it's expensive but it works pretty well if you need small diameter clear thread. I don't know what the breaking strength of those diameters are but the thickness is between Gudebrod 3/0 (.0025" and G (.0035"), if that gives you a point of reference. (Uni 6/0 is .0029)


Are you serious? There is no way that buying 30 yards of tippet material is less expensive then 200yds of mono thread for 2$. Maybe availability is an issue?.... Am I missing some point?

[Daryle Holmstrom]

I use invisible mending thread from the local JoAnns fabric store. Plus you get to check out a few other materials not found in fly shops. Always looking for new ideas.
Daryle

[Don Johnson]

Ibn,
I never said it was cheap...in fact the quote "it's expensive but it works pretty well..." pretty much sums up my position. Since I don't know what the diameter of normal mono thread is, I was offering the Varivas as an option for small diameter, clear, mono thread that I know to work well. Maybe you have a micrometer and can tell us what the diameter is of that inexpensive spool. In my experience, the Varivas seems more supple and smaller diameter than the Gudebrod mono I have used in the past.

And yes, I guess I am serious. Most of the time I am the consummate tightwad but if I find something that works I don't mind shelling out some $$$. If I was worried about dough that much I'd use a Vise-Grips to hold my hooks.

What kind of vise do you use?

[chadk]

What kind of vise? The 'free' kind :)

I found some mono thread at the shop. Tied up some flies with it already just messing around:

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/medium/various_trout_flies_027.jpg

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/medium/various_trout_flies_034.jpg

It seems pretty limp, which is good. Decent price (about the same as other threads). Figuring out how to tie it off was the trick...

[ibn]

I missed the part you said it wasn't cheap, sorry about that. I guess to me that's like using a gold chain instead of rope for an anchor on your boat. Just seems a little silly to look for a more expensive replacement for a 2$ spool of mono that functions as expected.

I don't mind shelling out cash for fishing gear either, and I do all the time. As for vices I've got a regal.


Ibn,
I never said it was cheap...in fact the quote "it's expensive but it works pretty well..." pretty much sums up my position. Since I don't know what the diameter of normal mono thread is, I was offering the Varivas as an option for small diameter, clear, mono thread that I know to work well. Maybe you have a micrometer and can tell us what the diameter is of that inexpensive spool. In my experience, the Varivas seems more supple and smaller diameter than the Gudebrod mono I have used in the past.

And yes, I guess I am serious. Most of the time I am the consummate tightwad but if I find something that works I don't mind shelling out some $$$. If I was worried about dough that much I'd use a Vise-Grips to hold my hooks.

What kind of vise do you use?

[Randy Diefert]

The clear Mono that I've got loaded on one of my spools says .oo4 and it's pretty small. I think that I paid $1.95 a spool so, that's a good deal for 200 yds. that Anils offering. And it tyes crystal clear. The only thing that I had to get use to is that you need a couple of extra tight thread wraps to get started; because of the slippery hook surface. once it's on it becomes no problem though.