Fly Rattles

[Duncs]

Hi all

Ive been tying some 3D flies (my version of a gold bomber fly) which have twin rattles built into the body. they sound great but the glass chambered rattles are not particularly durable. I like glass over plastic for the sound they make and I usually bind them in with thread and top them off with a bit of epoxy. Does anyone have a better method for attaching them so that they won't crack so easily on a wayward cast or with a big fish chomping on it?

Cheers

Duncan

[wASPY]

Gidday Duncs,

A lot of the tyers in the US tying similar patterns first put the rattles into a length of Flexi cord or mylar tubing.This does work and it make it heaps easier to tie in. We used to be able to get metal rattles as well but not sure if they are still avail.Will check it out. Apart from that you could give em a coat of some light material such as Softex etc. but you dont want to be to heavy with it as it will deaden the sound.
Apart from that mate, to be honest if you use the mylar cord trick and the suckers get chewed,it means the fly is workin and you are catchin fish.
My theory is , if you tie one fly and it catches one fish then it can be retired asits done its job.

Giddyup!
Waspy

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Duncan,
Haven't got a photo of these things have you? Not into fly myself, but I'm sure my brother would be interested.
Don't know what they look like, but don't suppose some electrical heat shrink would go over it would it?
Cheers
Jeff

[ferralflyer]

hi waspy ,i fold a piece of mono longways along rattle and whip it along the rattle with stread and have about 50mm pocking out to tie it to the shank getting the rattle off the hook,supper or epoxy it,and glue close cell foam folded over the rattle and trimmed will increase tone and help in bouyency,hope this helps,Cheers

[DRJ]

A mate of mine uses small cable ties, and ties in the loose end. When a fish wrecks his rattle he literally slips a new one in.

I liked the idea of the heat shrink or the mylar cord which would give it some protection.

Darren

[wASPY]

Sorry guys I dont have a digital camera(yet!) the heat shrink sounds ok but not sure how the tubes would react, although they are pyrex,well most of em.The mylar doea work and depending on what size you tie you can nearly add rattles to anything. Leave it with me and I'll c wot I can come up with.

Giddyup

Waspy