Cheaper fly tying materials and fishing gear
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Fly Tying
Forum Description: Swap tips and techniques for Fresh and Saltwater fly patterns
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24067
Printed Date: 31 Jan 2026 at 1:10pm
Topic: Cheaper fly tying materials and fishing gear
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Subject: Cheaper fly tying materials and fishing gear
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2007 at 7:00pm
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OK, the other thread has exposed ez-body and dryshake... my other one off the top of my head is Flexament fly tying cement. Great stuff. Tough, flexible.... Buy a $12.00 tube of Shoo Goo, use Zippo lighter fluid to thin and you have virtually the identical product sold as Flexament in little bottle for $15.00 a pop. One tube, plus thinner equals about $15.00 and is a lifetime supply for most.
For the saltwater guys it is also perfect for cementing connections on braided loops etc too....
------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier 
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Replies:
Posted By: Onecast
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2007 at 7:21pm
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Clark; I have been intending to give Flexament a try for a long time.
Your info on how to use a substitute has hooked me and I will be giving it a go very shortly. Thanks for the heads up. Jax ------------- A man is only as big as the things that annoy him RIP 'Onecast' Jax Murray |
Posted By: Onecast
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2007 at 11:17am
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Here is a tip to kick things off. For nice cheap easy to get Winging Material from Dries to BIG S/W Flies. Polyprop Carpet Edging Material. Comes in many colours and different Textures and Stiffness. Great fun to use. Jax ------------- A man is only as big as the things that annoy him RIP 'Onecast' Jax Murray |
Posted By: paddy
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2007 at 9:27am
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hi guys I go to craft shops to get some of my fly tying stuff like flashabou / angel hair as it is used in making dolls hair at about $2-3 a pop for 50 grams and more colors as well, polypropolene rovings for indicators and glow bugs at $5-6 a 500gram bag . Head cement is from the 2 dollar shop it's nail varnish at 2 for $2 Some craft foams are closed cell and come in thin sheets for foam flies. Thread nippers make great tying scissors at $2 to $10 each I have used a pair of $2 nippers for a couple of years now and still sharp as. My wife is into quilting so a lot of time spent in craft stores and a bit of lateral thinking save some coin. cheers Steve. |
Posted By: ghostly
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2007 at 11:00am
| I must be a bit slow -which thread "exposed" dry shake and e-z body? |
Posted By: sooshee
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2009 at 11:28pm
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To make quite serviceable plastic dumbell eyes:
- Obtain 2 tiny plastic beads (you get 100s of these for a few dollars from craft shops) of the colour of your choice (yellow or while make great pupil colours)
- Insert a heavy mono line (diameter to just fit nicely) into the hole for one of those beads
- Burn the end of the nylon and flatten to create a mushroom head
- Insert the second bead from the other end of the mono, butting against the first bead, and cut the nylon leaving about 3mm of tag
- Melt the tag end and create a mushroom like before
You now end up with a set of dumbell of eyes held together on the mono. You can choose to superglue for added strength.
An example tied with those eyes below:
 PS- If the above was yellow, I'd call it the Big Bird fly
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Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2009 at 1:52am
Dry-Shake is just Cab-o-sil a product used in the fibreglassing industry. $10.00 will get you a lifetime supply.
Ez-Shape body is just t-shirt paint. Buy the Pearl with glitter... about $2.50 a bottle and most of them have a better consistency to work with than the original.
The old post is ages old and I don't have time to scan the archives for it. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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ghostly wrote:Posted By: Darryl
Date Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 12:51pm
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Hi Clark
Is the Dry-Shake / Cab o sil a version of dry fly floatant?
If so - how do you apply it and how does it compare with other products such as Gink?
I lost my bottle of Gink on the riverbank over the weekend, so looking at sorting out a replacement.
Cheers
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Posted By: sooshee
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2009 at 11:21pm
Here's another option to making eyes....from sequins
An example where I combined 2 different sized sequins (black/silver):
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Posted By: fooling fish
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2009 at 1:22am
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Nice one mate.
Thats a gret tip.
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Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 4:39pm
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There is also the dubbing subs in the $2 shop - balls of knitting wool, take lengths cut small and blitz up in coffee bender, mix colours and make soft and add hair for spiky 'buggy' dubbing. Also there are flea combs for dogs at the $2 shop - great for hair work. Just browse around and you will find heaps to turn into wicked looking flies. Jeanne |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 4:42pm
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I bought sequins from the craft shop Spotlight about 3 years ago and couldn't think on how to use them - I had an idea they could be used but, well, now I know ----- thank's for that tip SooShee. Jeanne |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 4:50pm
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Clark - where do you get this Shoo Goo from please? Is it available here in NZ? I already have the Zippo lighter fluid, but would like to find this Shoo Goo if possible. Jeanne |
Posted By: sooshee
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 8:05pm
| Jeanne, you can get the shoo goo from shoe repair shops |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2009 at 11:34am
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Got the Shoo Goo from our local cobbler - he said the new stuff they are importing is rubbish and he won't stock it now, he then looked around and found a supplier of the orginal product - so I got 2 tubes @ $15 a pop. takes heaps of zippo to thin it down though -- how do you know when it's thin enough to use without it turning to a really thin watery state and becoming useless? Or doesn't it matter how thin it is? What I'm trying to say is - how much do you thin it down please? Jeanne |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2009 at 12:07pm
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If you over thin it you just leave it out for a bit and the thinner evaporates... put the lid back on when you have the consistency you want. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2009 at 3:31pm
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Thanks Clark, I feel more confident in thinning it down and using it now. Jeanne |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 07 Apr 2009 at 11:16am
Clark - I have mixed up and lost 2 -3 jars of the shoo-goo mix now, it is not thinning down properly and is setting almost as fast as I am trying to thin it down.I am using a glass jar with a tight fitting cork for a lid ---- what am I doing wrong please? I have now nearly used half the tube of shoo-goo and was only able to use it once before it set in the jar. I really need your help on this one. too expensive to lose so much product with not being able to use it. Jeanne |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2009 at 9:54pm
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You're trying to mix way too much. I just p[ut a small dollop (About the size of a large glo-bug) in a film cannister, cover it with zippo fluid, put the lid on, leave for 15 mins or so, shake like heck then stir it with a kebab stick. IOf it's too thin let it evaporate, if too thick add more fluid. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2009 at 11:35am
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Will be trying again with the amount you said and this time I know it will work because I was trying to mix a dollop the size of a large walnut with small amounts of zippo at a time. Thanks Clark for helping me on this. Jeanne |
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2009 at 5:27pm
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Is there anything special about the fly tying Chenille?
Notice knitting chenille is dirt cheap and I could probably steal it from my mum. |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2009 at 7:55pm
Steal Mum's  ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2009 at 2:46pm
She does not have any 
Any reason why sheep wool can not be used instead of chenille? |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2009 at 2:50pm
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'ain't no rules Mili so if you want to use wool, go for it.
If using say, 4 ply for building a body, take two of the peices & reverse one, head to toe if you know what I mean.
It helps to iron out the ridges or bumps that would otherwise form.
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Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2009 at 3:05pm
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Thanks, I think I know what you mean.....
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Posted By: Jonny rotten
Date Posted: 08 May 2009 at 9:07pm
what about goats tail or hair instead of buck tail..... i cull goats up here in the north some times and chuck the skins.... but if i/we can use the hair for flys ill keep them? i also cull off the od wild horse for dog food but lets keep that on the down low 
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Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 28 May 2009 at 9:52pm
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have stumbled on a material called angelina hair, looks a treat and reckon it should tie up well. Got it at the local bernina shop. have also found it available on line http://www.sarniecreations.co.nz/fibre.htm - here
$3 for a 5 gram bag on line as opposed to $6 in the bernina shop |
Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2009 at 9:33pm
| Bugger! just went to order some and they are no longer doing it however have found http://zigzag.co.nz/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=polymer&Category_Code=H%20 - zigzag does it as well as a few other interesting looking bits and pieces! |
Posted By: ghostly
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2009 at 8:49am
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You can get this stuff online sold as flytying material as well http://shop.siman.cz/ - http://shop.siman.cz/ .The black (onyz) works well but I haven't used many other colours .Has lttle movement but has attractive sparkle .I don't know whether the siman stuff is the bondable stuff or what deckle means. |
Posted By: o2flyfish
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2009 at 4:05pm
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Angel Hair or any kind of fine shredded mylar makes a great little bait fish imitations (Mushmouth type flies). Also good for blending into dubbing or ultra/ supreme hair.
Here is a Mushmouth (Needs a bit of a trim  )
Im not sure on how much you get on that web site, but you can get it cheaper from Rod & Reel or Saltwaterflies.com |
Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2009 at 9:06pm
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5 gram hank for $6. Without actually getting hold of some actual angel heir I can't say if its the same. Huge colour range too.
Am on a bit of a budget at the moment so have been bargain buying only. Importing materials from aus seems to be a lot cheaper too. You can also get self adhesive foil sheets both solid metalics and laser sparkle for $2.99 for 5 sheets,and doll eyes in a mixed size pack from te warewhare. Couldn't find the fiskars scissors but. |
Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2009 at 1:35pm
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Hi All, have found the warehouse also does 2mm eva foam sheet, adhesive backed, looks just the ticket for crease flys and the like $1.99 for an A4 sized sheet in a range of colours.
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Posted By: Michael Jenkins
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2009 at 3:00pm
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Does anybody know of any arts and crafts type places in the central auckland area? a search of the yellow pages hasn't come up with much and $2 shops are a bit hit and miss, looking for some sequins and beads to |
Posted By: Hardy
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2009 at 7:33pm
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Spotlight has heaps of stuff Hardy |
Posted By: sooshee
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2009 at 10:32pm
| Michael, as hardy said Spotlight has heaps and you will also be surprised how much there is at The Warehouse too. I bought a packet 10 A4 pack of foam sheets for $4 and 2 sheets of A4 foil stickers for $2 from the latter over the weekend. |
Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2009 at 3:58pm
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They also have packs of A5 size self adhesive mylar sheets in solid colours and laser sparkle (2.99 and 3.99 respectively). they make great bobs bangers when wrapped around the foam stuff you can get from bunnings and mitre 10 that plasterers use (backing rod??) Packs of assorted doll eyes for $1.99
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Posted By: Michael Jenkins
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2009 at 11:22am
Thanks guys i'm sure my  |
Posted By: TheBadger
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2009 at 1:22pm
| Anyone got a cheap source of pheasant tails? I know a lot of you guys shoot pheasants and I was wondering if I could bum some off of you? I'm happy to send a S.A.E with a few $ in it. They are fairly dear at shops. |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2009 at 1:36pm
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PM me your address ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2009 at 7:19pm
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RE: cheap source of pheasant tails and peacock herl Anybody out there know any cheap sources? Expensive as heck in shops, and I use both materials on a lot of my flies. Used to go to the local aviary and scrounge, fine as a kid, but not a good look as an adult... Cheers Rudy |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2009 at 10:05pm
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I’m not cheap but might be able to find you some free stuff. Drop me a PM with your address and I’ll see what I can rustle up. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2009 at 11:17pm
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Thank, PM sent And thanks to everyone for the inspirational flies and fly recipes/techniques/ways of making cheaper flies! I've re-discovered my passion for tying! Rudy |
Posted By: Joker
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2009 at 10:43am
| In the $2 shop they have feather dusters on a stick that have fibres about 3" long rather than feathers in many 4 colours: red, yellow, blue, green that look like mylar fibres that should work ok. |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2010 at 10:52am
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Hi StPaul, I would like to get some of this 'Angelina Hair' but do not know what I'm looking for. Is it called that by the Bernina shop? What does it look like? Is it loose, or in a ball like wool? $NZ 6 is not a bad price if it can be bought locally - and most important -- is it easy to use?? I have a lot of other question's, but I guess the most important one is - is it easy to get? I mean how many shops did you go to before you found it? Jeanne |
Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2010 at 10:56am
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EVA foam Anyone know a cheap source of neutrally coloured sheets of EVAfoam? I've tried Warehouse (don't stock it), Pararubber (too thick), various craft stores (only in garish colours), $2 shops. Spotlight did have some, but it only came in a multipack of 6 colours - and only 2/6 colours are useable. Not cheap at $11 a pack. Have looked at Bunnings/Mitre 10 etc for those adhesive foam strips for sealing windows/doors etc, but all far too thick foam, and still $15 a meter or so. The best foam is still the stuff sold in fishing stores, but it's priced accordingly. Any ideas? Cheers Rudy |
Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2010 at 11:10am
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While we're at it, you can get EVA foam cylinders, for use as hopper bodies and the smaller diameter for wing posts on klinkhamers etc. I've seen pictures of the stuff coming on a roll, I've seen it in grey, white and black. But that was overseas. I can't for the life of me source it here in NZ. Any ideas? Thanks |
Posted By: StPaul
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2010 at 8:00am
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found this at te warewhare $1.99 a pack, they are strips of self adhesive holo mylar, add a dot with a permanent marker, and twist off to create an eye. they also have self adhesive solid sheets (about A5 size) in metallics and dazzle/holo in an assorted pack of the same colours. Also check you local discount stores, have found a 2,3,4 and more store in blenheim selling krystal flash for $2 a pack. Regarding my earlier post on Angelina fibre. try your local quilting supplies store (for some bizarre reason picton has 2 of these and a bead gallery!!0  |
Posted By: jmeyerc
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2010 at 10:07am
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Thanks for the heads up about the mylar dots and the Angelina Hair St Paul. Jeanne |
Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 3:53pm
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Spotlight in Christchurch has a whole section devoted to feathers used for who-knows-what. They sell packets of goose biots for $6.99, about 5-6 feathers/strips of biots to a packet, in white, red, black and purple. I don't know how waterproof the dye is - I use the red for buzzer wing-buds which are varnished, so it's not a problem. The white ones are great for Prince Nymphs. They also sell ostrich feathers and nice speckled guinea feathers, in a whole range of (mostly garish) colours. Another great one is Marabou in different colours, including black and white. They do stock whole Pheasant Tails as well, in natural and black, but they're $17.95 for 5 to a packet, so might be cheaper than tackle shop - not sure. |
Posted By: Ritual Groove Meister
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2010 at 1:36pm
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Heads up glue sniffers, 3 min epoxy in ready to use syringes $3 No need for hair dryers and vertical turntables |
Posted By: Rudy
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2010 at 3:31pm
| Nice - where from? |
Posted By: pigballoon
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2011 at 7:43pm
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bump i have been experimenting with audio tape for wing cases on nymphs and stretched tight as ribbing on bodies and it give a good effect. havn't tested it for fishablity yet. i have also heard of ppl using latex dishwashing gloves (the yellow ones) for willow grubs. any one else got any other ideas
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