Thought I should start a new thread instead of stealing Dryrods thread about the guide he found on the internet.
"Pocket Guide to Basic Fly Tying"
Gary Lafontaine seems to have been a very good innovator in fly fishing and fly tying techniques.
His biggest contribution may have been the use of Sparkle yarn - Antron.
How has Gary's works contributed to your personal fly fishing and fly tying experiences?
[signature]
[font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3]I really wasn't acquainted with this gentleman's work before now. Did find a bit of his bio at the following:[/size][/green][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3][/size][/green][/font] [center][url "http://www.rideforlife.com/archives/000042.html"]http://www.rideforlife.com/archives/000042.html[/url][/center]
[signature]
His publication and website continue on.
Some of his fly creations have the patterns on his website.
One of things that he developed was touch dubbing which you can buy at some fly shops. You can also buy it at his website along with his books.
[url "http://www.thebookmailer.com/"]http://www.thebookmailer.com/[/url]
Hopefully others will chime in with how Gary has or has not affected their fly fishing experience and knowledge.
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Gary Lafontaine was the best of the best. A hero to most ff for sure.[/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
I watched a guy at the ISE tie a Lafontaine Sparkle Pupae and have been in awe ever since. It is a fly i will never use but it is a masterpiece. Like fine art.[cool]
[signature]
[reply]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Gary Lafontaine was the best of the best. A hero to most ff for sure.[/size][/black][/font] [/reply]
I have no doubts. Has he had a direct impact on your fishing or fly tying?
He has had an impact to me on my fly tying as I have one video by Al & Gretchen Beatty, Paul and Char Stimpson demonstrating how to tie a number of Gary's Flys so I can say that those videos have helped in showing me how to tie. unfortunately there is only one fly in the videos that I have found to be mildly successful for me.
[signature]
The sparkle puppa is the one fly of Gary Lafontaine's that is brought up a enough that one might called it a basic fly for trout. Whereever you have caddis hatching it is one of the patterns most of the shops recommend. But there are certain color combinations that seem to work better in some rivers.
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I took a fly tying class several years ago (more to humor my ol man than anything, cause they asked me why I was taking the class, I already knew what they teach[laugh]) But the sparkling Emerger was one of the flies we learned. I agree, on colors, I use orange, tan and green. Great all year fly fished at different zones. Multi task fly, add some weight and it can represent a scud.[/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
FG
The Lafontaine deep Sparkle Pupa has the dubbed body and then it has the antron shell surrounding the body. What colors do you do the body in and what color do you do the shell in.
A brown body with a bright green shell works well size 14. Tan body with a clear antron shell has not worked well for me.
for those wondering what fly I am wondering about.
[url "http://www.thebookmailer.com/Flies/Emergers/deepsparklepupa.html"]http://www.thebookmailer.com/Flies/Emergers/deepsparklepupa.html[/url]
[signature]
[reply]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I took a fly tying class several years ago (more to humor my ol man than anything, cause they asked me why I was taking the class, I already knew what they teach[laugh]) ........[/size][/black][/font] [/reply]
I have a friend that has been tying thousands of flies for local shops since he was in high school. I don't know how old he is but he is at least in his late 40s. I was surprised when I found out that he takes some tying lessons from a one of the well respected local fly shop owners who happens to be a number of years younger than himself.
He also happens to tie flies for this shop owner.
He says we all can learn new tricks, materials, and patterns from others.
[signature]
Try a red body with sparkling Orange shell. I use brown on the tan and red or chartrues on the green.
[signature]
I've read a few of Lafontaine's books, and have to say I love the "FF the mountain lakes book"([url "http://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Mountain-Lakes-Gary-LaFontaine/dp/1585747742/sr=1-1/qid=1164749896/ref=sr_1_1/104-6705337-2712728?ie=UTF8&s=books"]http://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Mountain-Lakes-Gary-LaFontaine/dp/1585747742/sr=1-1/qid=1164749896/ref=sr_1_1/104-6705337-2712728?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url]). I'd love to have the time to get up and do more of that type of fishing, with a goat carrying my gear
I'm unable to get out much, so books like this, keep me going until the times I do.
[signature]
I bought that book a number of years ago with the intent of hiking to high mountain lakes to fish. But that just has never happened.
[signature]