Filling the boxes...

[Craig Thoreson]

With a recent relocation I am back to chasing warm water fishes again and time to fill the boxes, lots of ties left to go but here is my start.

Thanks Dave and all the others who have welcomed me home. 

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

YOU ARE HOME BUDDY AND WE ARE ALL GLAD TO HAVE YA ..... GREAT LOOKING FLYS !!! MOVE OVER LUCKY WE GOT A NEW TIER IN TOWN !!!!!!!

[Craig Thoreson]

I love to tie and this has been a great winter for vise time, though with a bum shoulder half a dozen at a time is my limit. 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I rarely tie more than three of anything. I'm new to fly angling, and I don't really know what works. I'm hoping to sort through some of that this season.
Tonight I tied Red Head Briminators - these are inspired by the old red/white patterns of yesteryear.

[Craig Thoreson]

That is definitely the best way to go until you know what works, some of my new to try patterns I'll only tie one or 2 just to test the waters. 

[jim cosgrove]

nice craig all good ties i use those exact same flies on the right,same colors.i also tie them on a minnow head jig,a 1/48 i believe.go to my page and look at my pics i think they are on there.i stiffen up the red hackle with nail polish,seems to make em wobble more.

[Craig Thoreson]

Good idea on the hackle, these are size 4's with about 19 turns of .035 lead. 

[jim cosgrove]

i think stiffening the collar was part of the instructions for the fly.fly tyer magazine?i taught myself to tie pre internet.i weight them different amounts to no weight.they really do swim.tapering the body i think is the key.gonna make some smaller ones for crappie and lake perch.one of those flies that works and is an easy tie.i'm in no illinois so in the same boat with the weather

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Nice Craig!
The ones on the right are red head wobblers, or something like that?
I've seen them on Ward Beans site.
So where are you now?

[Craig Thoreson]

That they are, Red Head Wobblers. I've been cruising his site and also learned about the Bronze Goddess from Mike Jacobs which is how I ran across Wards' site. Currently in Robins, Iowa essentially a burb of Cedar Rapids at this point for reference. 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Great! Ward Bean seems not to be active much on his site, but what he has left up for us is a wealth of knowledge. Great stuff.
I tie mostly for panfish, and concentrate on sizes 8-12.
Never been to Cedar Rapids, but I hear it's nice.

[jim cosgrove]

my uncle lived there for years and my grandparents retired there.nice place,besides the river got some nice streams.being raised in chicago i could not get used too how nice and friendly everyone was.

[james bluto gillette]

those look good craig