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Soft Hackle/wet Fly Swap

5839 Views 68 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  john gates
Hey everyone,

I ran a swap this past summer and loved it. I got some great patterns and made a few new friends in the process. With work and crappy weather limiting my days on the water this time of year, I've been spending more time on the vise and thought it would be a good time for another swap. I fell in love with soft hackle flies last summer, so I propose a swap focused on those. I don't want to be too restrictive, though, so any wet fly pattern designed for a swinging presentation will do. Here are a few ideas for the rules (all of which are negotiable):
  • Any soft hackle or other wet fly pattern designed for moving freshwater
  • 5-10 participants
  • 2-3 patterns per tier, depending on total number of participants
  • 2x each pattern
  • Due date end of winter (March 1st?)
Let me know if you're interested!

Steve
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@Bajema @Philonius - Getting the band back together! Where's @john gates??
Last I heard he was over at Rocky Ford casting Tarpon flies and raving hysterically.
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Been on a wet fly kick lately and really digging it.
Head Eye Feather Insect Arthropod

Pollinator Eye Insect Arthropod Moths and butterflies

If this is the kind of stuff you are looking for, count me in.
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@James St. Clair Yes! Looks like you'd be a valuable addition to the group!
How many flies are you asking for? 3 patterns * 2 of each is 6. with 5 to 10 tiers, I don't understand the distribution pattern. But that's someone else's problem. So 6 wet/soft hackle flies; I'm in if there is room.
Great, sign me up @SeattleFarq! Are we naming/describing the patterns we tie (once the group is full) so we don't double up with anyone else?
I'm trying to figure out the numbers as well. If this is 2X3 patterns = flies, no worries. If that is per participant X10 = 60 flies, not sure I have that time/patience. If it is 20-30 flies total I can probably swing it.
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Hoping for the same Rob (20 - 30 flies). As I read it, I took it to being (for 5 tiers) as 3 patterns per tier, 2 flies per tier per pattern (minus yourself). So, 3x2x4 = 24 flies. If there are 10 participants, I would guess it would be dropped down to 2 patterns per tier, and 2 flies per tier per pattern, so 2x2x9 = 36 flies. Is this correct @SeattleFarq?

If you are tying a soft hackle without a wing (Partridge & Orange, e.g.), 18 of those shouldn't take too long. If you are tying a winged wet, and are as anal retentive as I am, one fly (at least the winged portion) might take you an extra 5 minutes per fly, which is considerable when you multiply by 18.

I'm into tying the winged wets right now though, so I am in as long as we set the max at 36 flies. Over that and I think I might have to pass. Maybe we can get some clarification today. I would also be fine with 3 patterns with only 1 fly, so 3x1x9 = 27 (assuming 10 tiers).

Anyone interested in Parmechene Bells, Trout (Fontinalis) Fins, or similar color schemes? Or are we more interested in bug representatives? I want you all to get these baby's wet (possible poor choice of wording...), so I don't want to tie a bunch of flies that are going to sit around in a box cause they are too off the wall or too colorful.
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I fish mine dude! I love this style of fly and absolutely crushed trout in NC on old school fancy wet flies (especially trout fins!) with a micro spey rod I built.
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Awesome @yellowlab03! I will probably do 1 of those (fancy pants style ;)) then, and then 1 more buggy/hatch matcher style, assuming 2 flies.
That is what I was planning on doing too. Looking forward to this!
Hoping for the same Rob (20 - 30 flies). As I read it, I took it to being (for 5 tiers) as 3 patterns per tier, 2 flies per tier per pattern (minus yourself). So, 3x2x4 = 24 flies. If there are 10 participants, I would guess it would be dropped down to 2 patterns per tier, and 2 flies per tier per pattern, so 2x2x9 = 36 flies. Is this correct @SeattleFarq?

If you are tying a soft hackle without a wing (Partridge & Orange, e.g.), 18 of those shouldn't take too long. If you are tying a winged wet, and are as anal retentive as I am, one fly (at least the winged portion) might take you an extra 5 minutes per fly, which is considerable when you multiply by 18.

I'm into tying the winged wets right now though, so I am in as long as we set the max at 36 flies. Over that and I think I might have to pass. Maybe we can get some clarification today. I would also be fine with 3 patterns with only 1 fly, so 3x1x9 = 27 (assuming 10 tiers).

Anyone interested in Parmechene Bells, Trout (Fontinalis) Fins, or similar color schemes? Or are we more interested in bug representatives? I want you all to get these baby's wet (possible poor choice of wording...), so I don't want to tie a bunch of flies that are going to sit around in a box cause they are too off the wall or too colorful.
There was a guy trying to start up a married wing swap a couple of years ago. He only had two people sign up.

I'd get in this swap but don't want to tie that many flies up.
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