single yarn eggs

[dandan]

hey guys, i'm new to tying my own flies and i can't figure out how to tie small egg without getting a seperation in the middle from the thread. i have no problem with larger eggs, but when i want to size down to around a trout egg size i get the seperation. wondering if anyone has any tips to help me out?

[JIMBO]

i by no means am a good fly tier but you can try this.
get some "mcfly" egg material. it's a bit more elastic.
then after tying it on you hook, wrap the base if each side of your yarn
on top of the hook,(3-4 x) pulling it tightly togather. (simular to a parachute?) whip finish. then pull it all out tight & cut close to the hook.

[Data]

Or try this-

Go to any sewing/craft store (Michaels, Wal Mart, JoAnn Fabrics etc.). Ask them where the pom-poms are. Buy a bunch of 5mm poms in whatever color you want to tie (orange, red, light pink, white). They'll cost you all of about 75-95 cents per 50.

Size 10 hook of your choice (TMC 105, TMC 2457 or Gamakatsu or Daiichi whatever). Flatten the barb with a small pliers, push the hook point through the center of the pom. It helps if you can find the point the pom is tied around. Most times you'll see what looks like a faint line running around the pom. Push the hook point through the middle and perpendicular to this line- They'll last longer.

Slide the pom up to about one eye-width behind the hook eye. Run a thread bumper behind the pom to keep it from sliding down the hook. If you can, try to catch a little of the pom material in the thread. You only need about 6-10 wraps total for this. Plain white flat thread works great for all colors. Whip finish.

You can add blood dots using fabric pens or fabric paint if you like.

One egg takes about 45 seconds start to finish, comes out perfectly round every time. Depending on the hook you use, these flies will run you about .12 cents/fly. Poms come in 3, 5, 7 & 10mm which covers the entire range of trout and salmon egg sizes.

Still working on a reliable dyeing method for custom colors. The poms are acrylic for the most part and dyes either don't take or fade too quickly.

Regards-
Data

[chromedoggy]

Use a thin strong thread like GSP 50 or Laguartan xxs and keep your wraps to 2 or 3.

[dandan]

thanks data, but i enjoy catching trout on flies that i tied, buying the quick fix takes away from whole idea of it. for me anyway.

[Data]

Fair enough. I was going off the the new tier remark... The pom method is still tying, you're just skipping a step.

As for yarn/mcfly foam, Chromedoggy nailed it. As you go to smaller diameter eggs, you need smaller diameter threads and as few wraps as you can get away with. All stacked on top of eachother also helps.

Kevlar threads tend to be too bulky for smaller eggs but have the strength needed to crank down on the yarn to get a nice round bug. The GSP's (gel-spun polyethelene) are better because you can find them in smaller nominal sizes. The 50 denier is good stuff for smaller eggs.

Pull down hard on the thread each wrap and be sure to keep tension on the thread as possible while tying. That helps to flare the yarn/foam.
Regards-

[dandan]

thanks , i'll try gsp's and see how i do.i appreciate all the help from all. thanks and tight lines to all.

[roger7066]

Great advice for beginners. No one told me that, when I first started.

[FiveWeight]

I just use standard 6/0 thread. It will break occasinally but if you spin your bobbin so it twists you usually get a pretty strong grip and it's thin enough to tie smaller eggs.