Steelhead Skater Swap

[Will Atlas]

anyone up for swapping some skaters. I though maybe we could make the due date a couple months out so everyone would have them by the June 1 opener. I know there are some excellent steelheaders on this board (They've been in other swaps with me) and I always love seeing what all you guys are fishing. I think we should aim for 12 tiers, possibly a few more if there is interest. I just love tying skaters...let me know if you're interested. For my part I'll be tying a purple muddler minnow.

[Cameron Derbyshire]

I'm interested; I just have to find the time to tie up a dozen. I'd tie up a bomber type pattern, elk mane tail and wings with caribou spun & clipped body. All on a #2.

[halcyon]

I am interested. Due date and not being larger than 12 max will decide.

Regards,

[Mark Bové]

Ah im in if we keep it to like 6 ish

[halcyon]

Ah im in if we keep it to like 6 ish

Speykid,

Might be a good idea to complete the overdue swap you have hosted before signing up for new ones;)

Regards,

[D3Smartie]

I'd be interested. if i can find any foam i;ll tie that little wog with the orange back...

[Will Atlas]

ok. Speykid, I'd love to have you in this, but I'm hoping it will get a little bigger than 6 so we can see a fair number of sweet skaters. I'm thinking two months from now for a due date, so think of it this way, tie 1.5 flies a week and you're money. D3, hell if you cant find any I'll send you come in the mail!

Will

[D3Smartie]

with all the fly shops going in and out of business around here i should have grabbed some when i had the chance. I've got black foam if it comes down to that, but the orange is much more visible and better to watch in tough light conditions.

[Will Atlas]

so here's what we've got:

D3Smartie: foam back wog
Cameron Derbyshire: caribou bomber
bhudda: tube skater
Speykid:?
Cacadekiller: #6 purple muddler
Jergens: Quigley Dragon Gurgler
theWaker: Nerf Surfer
scott behn: crystal caddis

Tightlines,

Will

[Will Atlas]

the king of double posts

[Will Atlas]

we'll give this thing a couple more weeks and then close it up so folks have a long time to tie.

Will

[seanengman]

what constitutes a skater?

[D3Smartie]

my deffinition would be a fly designed to be fished on the surface. Muddler, bomber, wogs...

i am having trouble finding 2mm orange foam if anyone has some they could send me. My local shop is ordering it but i dont know when it will show. i went to 3 shops the other day and no one had it. Sportmans had 6mm foam... what would you use that for?

[seanengman]

So basically a large dry fly?

[D3Smartie]

they are a large dry fly in a sense. But not like any trout dries. I think the idea is trying to cause a distubance on the surface like a caddis would make.

ok... got the phone call and the foam :)
Sat down to tie my first one a promtly F'ed it up... oh well. I'll knock out a few more practice flies and get them done. :)

[seanengman]

I'm in. Can anyone direct me to a book or website with good skater ideas/patterns.

[D3Smartie]

type steelhead dry flies into google and take a look. should produce all you need.
I have skated up a lot of fish with #6 elk hair caddis with an orange body. very simple to tie.

[seanengman]

I am a huge fan of the elk hair caddis, I'll tie that one up if nobody minds.

[Will Atlas]

cool sean, good to have you in the swap. One thing to remember is that a big steelhead will often destroy a trout hook so you'll want to think about what hook you tie those caddis on. I'll put you on the list. D3, I've got some foam I'd be happy to send you, just PM me your address and I'll get it to you.

Will

[D3Smartie]

sean- take a look at a "crystal caddis" on google. or type in skater october caddis and you should come up with ideas. I;d tie your pattern on an up eye light wire hook. I use Daiichi for most of mine. But Gami makes a fine hook too.

c- got the foam. thanks

[Jeremy Floyd]

I would love to do this swap but I really dont have the time. The skater I tie is brutal on time consumption. Wish I could. This is a great swap idea.

I tie on a thin piece of round plastic I pull from the corner of a hanger on top of the back of a size 4 or 6 which has been melted and shaped to a 45 degree bevel. You can just barely see the edge of it in front of the wing, sticking out in front of the eye. I color it black w/ a sharpie.

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/500/Skater_nose.jpg
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/500/skater_number_1.jpg


They take like 45 min each.

[seanengman]

Those are awesome! Can you pm or post your recipe.

[Will Atlas]

subtlety is there another skater you tie that doesnt eat up so much time? That one does look sweet though.

I've been asked for the address to send these to, so here it is...

Will Atlas
621 16th Ave E
Seattle WA, 98112

Dont forget to enclose a couple bucks so I cant get the flies back to you.

Tightlines,

Will

[Jeremy Floyd]

I lay down a base of thread, then i attach the plastic piece, then I cover the plastic front to back with thread. Hit it with Zap a Gap and let it dry. Then I start at the back and attach the wire followed by tying a dubbing loop and fill it with whatever color you want of dubbing and then wrap dubbing to the almost the eye, tie it off and then wind the wire to the eye and whip finish. Then continue with the dubbing loop to the front of the plastic leaving about 1/8"-3/16" for the wing and tie it on normal and then shape with some curved scissors.

The nicest thing about having a big plow on the front is it rides high and makes a beautiful wake even in really slow water conditions.

(edit) a tiny bevel on the back side towards the hook bend on the plastic makes it so you dont have to build up the ass as much with thread to make a smooth transition from hook to plastic.

The other nice thing about this design is unlike a riffle hitch which usually skates with the hook pointing sideways this always skates with the hook down so it improves hookups IMHO.

[seanengman]

I'll give it a try and see if I can even make one. They look sweet

[Scott Behn]

I know this is late, but is it still open for tyers???? If so I'll tie up some crystal caddis. It's pretty much the only skater I'll use...'cept for some punks down the street!!!!!!!

:cool:

[seanengman]

Let him in! Let him in!

[Will Atlas]

sure, no problem

[D3Smartie]

hows progress guys? i finished mine this morning. hope everyone else is moving along.

[Bryan Lowrie]

Good Day
I'll get involved in this but as I am a new member I just want to clarify a few things:
- 12 participants, 11 flies ?
- 2 months to complete ?
If so I'm in, pattern Kispiox Dragon.
Bryan

[Bryan Lowrie]

Oops, sorry I thought this was a newly listed swap.
Bryan

[Cameron Derbyshire]

My flies are done and will go out in the mail tomorrow.

[Will Atlas]

got them cameron. they look great. I've gotta finish up some school work before I can really get down to the tying. I need to send some guys PMs to make sure they're still game.

Will

[D3Smartie]

whats the deal here Will? are we still on? i know CD sent in his flies, mine are here and ready to go if we still are on.
I can take over and run the swap if you are too busy with school if that would help you out. :confused:

[bhudda]

got room for one more?

[Will Atlas]

Bhudda. Halycon dropped out so there is room for one more if you want, we love to have you. I'll organize. My address is

621 16th Ave E
Seattle WA, 98112

Thanks Fellas,
Will

[bhudda]

i just realized how old this thread is, wow. ill get mine done by the 2nd week in may if that works for folks. deerhair tube skater.

[Will Atlas]

sweet, glad to have you

[Will Atlas]

I got thewakers flies, they're phenomenal. hows everyone else doing?

Will

[D3Smartie]

whats going on will?