Speaking of hoarding...

[kjackson]

In the Copper wire hack thread, several members talked of saving more materials than a sane person would need in a lifetime. I very recently had an epiphany in that regard. Yeah, I have several disassembled electrical thingies that have thin copper wire that has been coated. And I have at least two or maybe three 100-yard spools of lead core. And I have plenty of beading wire...and beads. And I have maybe a dozen skeins of yarn of various types as well as more thread than I could use up if I tied 24/7 for the next century. And bags of fur--bear, deer, fox, elk and feathers and dubbing material-- duck, pheasant, partridge, grouse as well as quite a bit of material I bought. This doesn't mention burlap or macrame cord or, well, you get the idea. It's a 55-year accumulation of tying material.

And then, as I was walking through Walmart this morning, I was looking at some of the Christmas decorations with an eye to maybe picking up some of that tinsel-y stuff that would make a great short wing.  

Is there a support group that can help? Or should I just realize I'm an addict?

[Flysmallie]

41 minutes ago, kjackson said:

 

Is there a support group that can help? Or should I just realize I'm an addict?

It’s just part of the experience I think. I used to have a coffee can full of bead chain. It was full to the top. Guess how many flies I tie that use bead chain? Yep, exactly zero. 

[fishinwrench]

I think all dedicated fly tiers go through that.  It's a right of passage.   It will pass. 👍 

Luckily I had a tornado once. Otherwise I would have enough random snippets by now to fill a garbage truck.  

[tjm]

Must be a 'fly tyers' forum some place, at least you would be in with  other addicts. I keep mine down to about 30 gallons.

[snagged in outlet 3]

When my dad died my brothers and I went through his fly tying stuff.  4 large chests plus a tying bench with shelves full of materials.   You couldn’t tie a woolly bugger or crackle back out of it.  My brother asked if he could have it and I said “yes, thanks”.  😂

I was talking to him a year later and he said he ended up dumping it all.   Couldn’t even give it away.  

[tjm]

I rarely use wooly buggers and only once used a crackleback,  but I sure the stuff needed for them is in my tub. But I have to try every interesting material that I see from socks to life jacket stuffing, and cigarette filters. It's interesting to look for something that won't catch a fish. I have thrown away more stuff than I have now over the years. Wigs, doll hair, craft furs, yarns, bead wire, mop, Swannundaze, some kind of synthetic dub, etc. are some things I remember tossing, but I still have the Fishair that I bought 40+ years ago and used twice, don't know why. Don't know why I have three ringneck skins either, one will tie a lot of flies. I don't have and never have had any Jungle Fowl, and don't know why on that either.

Got rid of some stuff last year when both middle aged sons decided to start tying their own, I sorted out a grocery bag full of this and that for each, then turned around and bought a half dozen capes,  a Hungarian  grouse and some "plastic canvas yarns" to fill in the space in the storage tub; so back to where I was with different stuff.

[snagged in outlet 3]

My fly tying materials are limited to a soft side cooler bag that I can take with me.   But then again I think you can catch all the trout you want on an egg and SJ worm.  😆

[Flysmallie]

I rarely tie anything on a hook smaller than a #2 and it’s even rarererer that I target a trout. 
 

But yeah, a few patterns is all I ever toss at them before getting bored. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I still haven’t thrown a fly for smallies.  😐

[fishinwrench]

34 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I still haven’t thrown a fly for smallies.  😐

There is something wrong with you. 🙄 I quit gear fishing for river Smallies like 20 years ago.    Just so much more fun, and challenging, on fly gear.