Friday, March 11, 2011

How I Spent My Thursday

So it is rare for me to have a Thursday off but I did this week. I had planned to spend all day Thursday tying.  In reality, I spent all day Thursday painting and only painting.  Before I left, I had sealed 26 popper bodies.  Nine of them are size 8 and seventeen of them are size 10.  I am sending almost all of the size 10 bodies out for a swap I am in on fly tying forum.  They will be what I call my Fish Foolin' Frog Popper.  It is a great pattern and one that I have had a lot of success with over the last two or so years.  A lot of time and work goes into making one of these.  I put thread on the hook.  I then put the body on the hook.  Next comes the filling of the gap.  There is always a gap underneath where the popper sits on the hook.  This usually takes at least two days and two coats of Zap-A-Gap as well as sand paper.  Then I seal it with four coats of Delta Ceramcoat Pre Sealer.  Finally....time to paint.  Each body gets four coats of green paint.  Next comes the eyes.  For this popper the eyes are done in black, yellow, black.  Then the white is made around the mouth and underbelly.  Yellow spots are added to the back and sides along with black spots.  After everything dries, it is given four coats of Gloss Varnish also by Delta Ceramcoat.  After sitting four at least 24 hours, feathers and such can be added. 

Anyways, here is how I spent my Thursday:



6 comments:

  1. Jeff,
    Thanks for checking out my blog and commenting on my poppers. I must say nothing like the production you have going. I really like your paint jobs. Looking forward to giving mine a try once the ice goes out of the lake here. Hopefully it goes by the end of April.
    Dave
    http://finaddiction-fishing.blogspot.com

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  2. Those are some nice looking poppers.

    Leigh
    www.finfollower.com

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  3. You are welcome Dave. You did a good job. Thanks for the kind words reference mine. It does take me a while to paint them. I do appreciate it.

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  4. Leigh,

    Thanks a bunch. Glad to hear you like them.

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  5. Gorgeous stuff there, man. How do you like the jig turner?

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  6. Thanks Will. I like it. Makes it easier for them to dry and for me not to screw them up. Problem is my 4 year old likes to play with it!

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