Fly Tying: The Chosen One, Silicone BULKhead - TANIC

[@TheCanary24]

I can't stop myself to watch all series even I have to sleep and charge myself for the new coming day:) I've just a single word to describe what you do: Perfect! Wishing to being successful one day like you!

[@lukeboyd1776]

respect for giving credit to bob for his ties that inspired you

[@ChrisSmith-jcs1111]

Cool video. It's got me juiced to tie with silicone again. I got into it back in the '90s when Popavics came out with the Pop Fleyes tying video. I started tying silicone bunkers, the Poplips series, and others. I found a good substitute for the Photo-flo is Ivory dish soap. It's clear, thins out the silicone wonderfully, and makes clean up a snap. I'm sure any clear dish soap would work. I also sprinkle a small amount of very fine craft glitter on the first coat to give the fly a little extra pizzazz.

[@mikeking453]

You are one of the most Innovative an amazing fly tyer

[@RGRIMOWEN]

Hi Gunnar,thanks once again for the tie... I use silicone a lot ( joiner), and to finish/smooth it, use washing up liquid and water at a dilution to suit...you don't need much.

[@frankbush2943]

Another great instructional video Gunner. You rule buddy!

[@iamamt]

I love these techniques and thanks for sharing them. One variation I thought of is to use white silicone sealant for a belly. I'm giving it a try today.

[@hankvana2149]

Great stuff Gunnar! Like the way you distribute the silicone by tapping in into place. I used to fast-cure silicone by putting it under an incandescent lamp to warm it. Guess that it would work in the fly as well but you have to be careful about getting the flash materials too hot.

[@randychappell5955]

Another great video. I finally get it, about silocone,( or hot glue ) Thank you for shareing all your knowledge with everyone.

[@MrU86513601]

Have you tried to use dishwashing soap mix with water or window cleaner when finilazing the silicone head?

[@tomkarrow8208]

windex

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Absolutely incredible 👍 I love the color, I normally fish the back waters of the Florida Everglades. Thanks man !

[@dirtydozenonthefly-kylecha9500]

OK Gunnar!! You got me brother!! I’m in! Gonna order my kit on amazon now! I figure changing colors I’ll use pike Skinz fibers and steam them up to get straight if need be👊🏽 this fly swims amazing such a killer idea. Looking forward to making a mess of silicone haha.

[@kjellremi89]

Dishwashing- /green soap works even better then spit 😊 carpenter trick ✌🏻

[@Stratollac]

Another great tutorial, Gunnar. Your ability to explain your thinking and demonstrate your technique is unmatched. I have a simple question, and I suspect you may have answered it at some point, but I haven’t been able to locate it. What scissor are you using on all these synthetics? I’m sure it’s something serrated given how slippery most synthetics are. I’ve got a couple pair of super nice German made scissors I’ve been using on my ties with natural materials, but synthetics are another animal, and it seems to me that they cause scissors to dull much more quickly than natural hairs, so I don’t necessarily want to use my best scissors on them because I don’t know where to get them sharpened, and I’d prefer not to have frequently replace them regularly because they’re far from cheap. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[@thomasarmstrong4446]

Is that a Superior Fly Angler cup?! Very nice work on that pattern!

[@Outdoor_Adventures570]

I love these flies! I ordered the baitfish color. I also have trouble spinning the head material. I also end up with a tangled mess. Ideas? I need to order this color soon. Thanks for the awesome videos!

[@evanhogan9219]

I've tried using silicone on strung fuzzy fiber heads but noticed it's not drying entirely clear. It's more of a milky color than clear - is this to be expected or did I mess something up? I used the GE2 clear silicone . Thanks so much!

[@NicholasWilliams-k7l]

Would a craft fur tail with a UV resin over a Laser Dub head create a similar result? Trying to work with the material I have before I buy any more.

[@Doc.Holiday]

Over my many years of streamer fishing I’ve mostly thrown Clousers with weighted bar-bell eyes. When stripping the vast majority of my takes are on the pause while the fly is sinking head down in a jigging motion. I’m not being argumentative. This old dog (68YO) is always willing to learn a new trick. Do you find this buoyant head fly more effective than a head weighted fly?

[@zafotbeeb]

I have used pop sickle sticks for smoothing out the silicone for years and even found an old jar of Softex that is similar to the silicone but thinner. Have no idea if it is even still available. How do the squimpish fibers compare to EP fibers as far as stiffness ? Great job as usual; really enjoy your in depth presentations.

[@Gunnar_Brammer]

Right on, Popovics uses a butterknife with no serrations to smooth out the belly by the hook point. Softex is still available - I use it on my Glide Fly pattern, its a great alternative, but a little harder on the "nose" (vapors). Squimpish is similar in stiffness but it is a straight fiber without any crimps so its wispier in the water. Its more similar to a Stiff version of craft fur than anything. Best natural to imitate it is Snow Runner if you have ever tied with that.

[@downwindsalmon]

Can u use buck tail to replace the squimpish hair??

[@claytonhummel311]

Could you use brown bucktail for the tail

[@johnnylightning1491]

Just ordered the tanic material kit. One question I have about the silicone, Is there anything special about the GE silicone or do you think any clear silicone will work? As always another great video. Hope things are going well for you and your family.

[@Gunnar_Brammer]

Any silicone will do the job, this is just the brand recommended to me by Bob Popovic's and it has been all I have tried. Feel free to check out any hardware store and pick up silicone, you can also find it in all black, or white aside from the clear as well.

[@cmdncn5528]

What superglue do you use? Thanks!

[@ejtullis]

I've tied about five Chosen Ones. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but can't get the "spinning head". Mines spins and wraps like a thick mess. I just improvise the head. I'm ordering two more kits ... great fly.

[@Gunnar_Brammer]

Wish I could see you tie it and help you out man. But glad to hear the improvised versions are working for you!

[@ejtullis]

@@Gunnar_Brammer I've been tying flies for years but this spinning loop technique is new for me. My spin tool is the wire (Y) shape with a brass handle. Typically (with dubbing) I spin with the handle vertically and flick (spin) the handle and momentum spin/twist the line. Holding this tool horizontally and twisting the handle manually don't hold the materials evenly. Btw I waxed the loop and keep tension while spinning. Could it be my twist tool?

[@hankvana2149]

​@@ejtullis I use dubbing loops on a lot of my flies and my home-made twister is a piece of coat-hanger formed into a hook with lead egg-sinker as a handle (coat the lead with varnish). I have a couple of them in 1/2 up to 1 1/2 once size and select the weight to suit the stiffness of the material I am twisting up.

[@jerrypeacock5166]

I know I am kinda late to the party but the stiffer,more course the dubbing you use the more pressure you need to hold when spinning.(to a point) Otherwise the fiber will slip around in loop and you end up with a tangled up half-ass rope looking mess. The fibers fall parell to loop and don't spin. They must stay 90° or spinning just a waste of time. Hope that helps!

[@jerrypeacock5166]

P.S. a Shepard's hook type spinner is better than a y type in this type of application.

[@bennyrosado5402]

cool!!!

[@dannyzuccaro2442]

Use an ice cube to spread the silicone

[@fernandomiron7557]

👍👍👍👍🎣🇪🇸

[@joshmallette2266]

I use mineral oil instead of saliva