[Iain Goolager]

I was speaking to Sandy today regarding wee flies for Broonies & I typically considered 16's - 18's small (although I've been experimenting with Klinks to see how small I can go). He was quoting 'micro' stuff like 20's -28's!

Anyone else regularly tie /use flies this small as a norm when the conditions dictate?

Aaahh......yet another new challenge

here are a few I've tied in 18's & 20's bar the wide gaped Klink on a #16 B100



Iain

[Mike Barrio]

here are a few I've tied in 18's & 20's bar the wide gaped Klink on a #16 B100



Iain

I reckon you've tied them on size 10's and then reduced the size of the photo    

Cheers
Mike

[Iain Goolager]

Mike,
Damn! I'm busted

Iain

[Alex Burnett]

Iain

I've tied & used Dry Flies down to size 22;






Alex

[Irvine Ross]

Tying anything that small is difficult enough.
My problem is seeing them on the water once I have made the cast
So I have a few down to size 20 in my box but they never get used

Irvine

[Barry Robertson]

Think i managed to tie a size 20 buzzer!
Have fished size 20 dries but like you said irvine its hard to see the fly on the water, personally i just keep my eye on the end of the floater for takes!
 

[Sandy Nelson]

Heres a topic right up my street.
I like tying tiny flies and have caught lots of fish on them too (well hooked lots caught a few)
They have their place on many waters especially when the trout are dimpling all over and refuse anything that looks normal. They only need to be simple like a small ball of dubbing with the head picked out, but it can be great fun trying to see what you can do.
Excuse the photography but the wee camera found it quite hard to focus on these in macro .
Hopefully the new one will be better

A size 22 caenis imitation



A size 26 olive parachute



A size 24 black klinkhammer



Size 24 black buzzer



Size 24 parasol buzzer



Size 28 griffiths gnat



I have lots more but i thought these show what can be done with small hooks

Sandy

[Cameron deBoth]

They look great Sandy, must get round to buying some small hooks. Next swap possibly? 

[Barry Robertson]

They look great Sandy, must get round to buying some small hooks. Next swap possibly? 

Sounds like a good one 

[Iain Goolager]

Yes,
I did wonder about the possibility of this featuring in a swap

[Barry Robertson]

Does no one work on here - plenty of day time posters 

[Sandy Nelson]

Does no one work on here - plenty of day time posters 

Whats that

[Irvine Ross]

Heres a topic right up my street.
I like tying tiny flies and have caught lots of fish on them too (well hooked lots caught a few)

Sandy

Can you see those things on the water, or do you just lift when a fish rises anywhere near the end of your leader? I have used them on the dropper with a bigger sighter on the point. That's OK for still waters but I don't like fishing two dries together on the river. Too much drag.

What size tippet do you use with small flies?

cheers

Irvine

[Sandy Nelson]

do you just lift when a fish rises anywhere near the end of your leader?

Pretty much I can often see them at reasonable range, just lucky i guess.
I tend to use 7x tippets with the really small stuff.

I got my new camera this morning so have been playing, the close ups are better

Size 28 griffiths gnat



Size 22 orange spinner



Heres one for scale a size 28 griffiths gnat and a size 10 March brown



Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Nice pics Sandy

New toys are good

Cheers
Mike

[Iain Goolager]

Cracking flies Sandy,

right what will I tie????

c'mon April

Iain

[Peter McCallum]

I remember Allan Bramley(of Partridge fame) telling a story of a mustad agent bringing a single example of a new size 32 hook to a kenyan tying firm to show them, only one in africa. The manager took the hook inside to his best tyer who dutifully tied an immaculate dry fly on the almost invisible hook. He then rushed outside to show this to the rep..........





a gust of wind blew it out of his hand!!!

[Tam Greenock]

Does anyone tie flies that small commercially, l used to tie a 22 with a minute gold seed bead and some hairs ear dubbing, caught a fair few brownies and rainbows 

[Sandy Nelson]

Does anyone tie flies that small commercially,

I used too, it help fund my apprenticeship.
It also put me off flytying for about 5 years Very sad given i started tying them before i started fishing them. Happily back in the groove now and tying for fun again

As to other suppliers i'm not sure, i have never bought flies, someone must make some though, perhaps some of the specialists that actually make the flies in the UK. I would imagine they would have to be made to order though.

Sandy

[Iain Goolager]

This might be a silly question but when tying small flies does anyone use a magnifying device? I've photographed a few paraduns and the 'tag' of parachute hackle left when trimming this appears disgustingly prominent.

My eyesight isn't 20-20 but it's not bad so should I just accept this as it appears tickety boo to the naked eye?

Iain

[Alex Burnett]

Iain

When I am tying small stuff these days I use a Medical lamp like this, don't half make a difference when the eyesight starts to go.



Alex

[Barry Robertson]

I used too, it help fund my apprenticeship.
It also put me off flytying for about 5 years Very sad given i started tying them before i started fishing them. Happily back in the groove now and tying for fun again

As to other suppliers i'm not sure, i have never bought flies, someone must make some though, perhaps some of the specialists that actually make the flies in the UK. I would imagine they would have to be made to order though.

Sandy

You never bought an orange blob Sandy????? 

[Peter McCallum]

Another 'wee fly' story. A friend once mentioned he was catching on size 26 hares ear at lintrathen.

When I asked how he tied such small flies he said he got a bundle of fine hares ear fibres on a piece of white paper, put a tiny drop of superglue on the hook and dropped it into the fur.................. ???

[Sandy Nelson]

but it's not bad so should I just accept this as it appears tickety boo to the naked eye?

Yup If its too long it can upset the balance of the fly during casting and cause it to spin twisting the leader, but otherwise its for your benefit, with parachutes the hackle hides the post from the fish. Not like wings in a traditional hackled fly, which the fish can see

Lucky enough not to need a magnifier yet I do wonder though, if you needed a magnifier to tie it, would you need one to tie one on?

Sandy

[Alex Burnett]

Lucky enough not to need a magnifier yet I do wonder though, if you needed a magnifier to tie it, would you need one to tie one on?

Sandy

No the glasses do OK for tying onto a leader but it is just easier on the eyes tying them up using a magnifier also gives you the added advantage of a light right where you need it.

Alex