Prepping Ritual

[kcskypilot]

Every year at this time, I always end up having to do something because I'm chomping on the bit to get out on the ice. And obviously the ice doesn't exist yet! But often it helps if I can keep myself busy preparing.

I also really like seeing what the rest of you are doing to get ready. It gives me a lot of ideas on how to prep for myself.

So this year, I decided it was time to start upping my game on tying my own ice flies and jigs. I'm slowly getting better with it. Enough so, that I decided it was time to buy a fly tying bench. Unfortunately, it would have cost as much or more as a new ice shanty, or sonar! So like I do with a lot of things, if I like something and can't afford it, or can't find exactly what I like, I end up making my own. So here's a picture of the fly tying bench I just made for myself.

I haven't used this new post image app that ice shanty is now using, so hopefully this will show up okay.

[kcskypilot]

And here's the finished product with my tools on it. Now it's time to start tying some ice flies!

[kcskypilot]

I know there's a few other of you guys on here that also make your own ice flies or jigs. If you don't mind, throw some pictures on this thread! I'd like to see them.

[hounds]

Looks Awesome, hope you enjoy putting it to good use.

[kcskypilot]

Thanks, Hound!

Just tied my first jig on it.

It's called a "Squirmy Wormy."

I used a tungsten bead and have the lead free wire wrapped to make it as heavy as I could. I'm thinking this should make a good bloodworm imitation for perch down deep...?

[ftwwalleye]

Looks like a great bench. I am an avid fly fisherman and make mu own ice jes and jigs. I would say that your bench looks way better than mine. I just have an old station in basement that always looks like a tornado hit a chicken farm...ha. beer fridge within arm reach though.
Welcome to the world of tying and a new addiction .
Chad

[kcskypilot]

Looks like a great bench. I am an avid fly fisherman and make mu own ice jes and jigs. I would say that your bench looks way better than mine. I just have an old station in basement that always looks like a tornado hit a chicken farm...ha. beer fridge within arm reach though.
Welcome to the world of tying and a new addiction .
Chad

I know what you mean! All I needed was another expensive hobby. 

Fortunately the tools for this are less expensive than my woodworking addiction.

[TeacherPreacher]

Here’s my actual tying set up. Other one I temporarily set up on compuer to look at YouTube patterns

[kcskypilot]

Here’s my actual tying set up. Other one I temporarily set up on compuer to look at YouTube patterns

Whatever gets the job done, right? I'm making a matching phone/ipad holder for that exact reason.

Let ne know when you're ready to upgrade! 

[kcskypilot]

Just finished a little tying session...

[ftwwalleye]

A few bugs. This is also a rare pic of my clean tying area. Beer on tap to the right side and a fridge on the left...not pictured.

Honey, I'm going down to "tie" some flies..ha

[kcskypilot]

A few bugs. This is also a rare pic of my clean tying area. Beer on tap to the right side and a fridge on the left...not pictured.

Honey, I'm going down to "tie" some flies..ha

So, how many times do you "tie one on" before the flies start looking funny?
 

[TeacherPreacher]

ftwwalleye, those are some really good looking flies. What are you using as a finish coat? I use Hard As Nails but your's look better!
Teach

[ftwwalleye]

ftwwalleye, those are some really good looking flies. What are you using as a finish coat? I use Hard As Nails but your's look better!
Teach

Thanks teach. Appreciate the kind words.
After a few years of trial and error got a formula down. Some of the bugs are tungsten scuds and I then stretch latex or vynal wrap before I clearcoat them. All of them I finish with U.V loon resin. I found that it would get smudged or tacky still. I will then apply a thin spray of krylon fixative over the final product. Good sheen and dry finish.

[kcskypilot]

Thanks teach. Appreciate the kind words.
After a few years of trial and error got a formula down. Some of the bugs are tungsten scuds and I then stretch latex or vynal wrap before I clearcoat them. All of them I finish with U.V loon resin. I found that it would get smudged or tacky still. I will then apply a thin spray of krylon fixative over the final product. Good sheen and dry finish.

Nice!

Question, how do you attach the scud bodies to the hooks? I have some D rib but haven't figured out the initial attachment.

[ftwwalleye]

Nice!

Question, how do you attach the scud bodies to the hooks? I have some D rib but haven't figured out the initial attachment.

Start your thread on hook and build up a small layer. I put a drop of superglue on the thread and then do some wraps over body

[abishop]

A few bugs. This is also a rare pic of my clean tying area. Beer on tap to the right side and a fridge on the left...not pictured.

Honey, I'm going down to "tie" some flies..ha

those look sweet. nice work.

[TeacherPreacher]

Super job! Thanks.
Teach

[kcskypilot]

A few years ago, I was watching some guys just nail the crappies and bluegills with an ice fly. We were over 4 feet of water and they were jigging just inches below the ice. I've been trying to find the jig that they used but finally tied one myself.




It's wire weighted so it sinks otherwise it would be neutral buoyancy. I then decided to add a tungsten bead head to sink faster.





Now bring on the ice!!!

[ftwwalleye]

A few years ago, I was watching some guys just nail the crappies and bluegills with an ice fly. We were over 4 feet of water and they were jigging

It's wire weighted so it sinks otherwise it would be neutral buoyancy. I then decided to add a tungsten bead head to sink faster.



Nice. I use a lot of tungsten. Sometimes with a "slow" day the unweighted flies are what give you the upper hand. The super slow drop and buyoncy gives them something other than a bright pink jig slapping them in the head over and over..ha

[wax_worm]

A few years ago, I was watching some guys just nail the crappies and bluegills with an ice fly. We were over 4 feet of water and they were jigging just inches below the ice. I've been trying to find the jig that they used but finally tied one myself.




It's wire weighted so it sinks otherwise it would be neutral buoyancy. I then decided to add a tungsten bead head to sink faster.





Now bring on the ice!!!

Just a note....sometimes the slow fall is what the crappies (and Gills) want.  They don't want a missile dropping by them to fast.  Always have some that sink slowly along with some you are adding tungsten bead heads to.  If fishing just under the ice the lighter the better most of the time.  It is a pain to fish when there is any wind as they sink so slow, but they can be the difference in biters vs lookers too.

[kcskypilot]

Just a note....sometimes the slow fall is what the crappies (and Gills) want.  They don't want a missile dropping by them to fast.  Always have some that sink slowly along with some you are adding tungsten bead heads to.  If fishing just under the ice the lighter the better most of the time.  It is a pain to fish when there is any wind as they sink so slow, but they can be the difference in biters vs lookers too.

Agreed!

That's why I did one style with tungsten and one style without.

I used both fishing from a dock yesterday.  The bigger fish were biting on the no-tungsten version more readily than the other. I stopped putting spikes on them to keep the little ones off.

Bite was neutral to negative until dark.