Turkey Biots and Cracklebacks

[troutscout]

A Maine Guide friend of mine came back from a trip to Idaho raving about a pattern called the crackleback. He's since tied them in several colors and says they work well here in New England. Has anyone else had experience with them?

Oh, and how do you make turkey biots pliable enough to wrap around a hook shaft? I bought some at Bean's to make the cracklebacks and I just can't figure out how to work them into the pattern "per the recipe" I have.

[flytire]

Heres a little something for the turkey biots: http://www.invictaflies.us/Articles/all_about_biots.htm

Do a GOOGLE search and put "tying with turkey biots" in the search box.

[overmywaders]

troutscout,

When I need to make veneer pliable I mix up a solution of 6 parts warm water to one part glycerin (any drug store carries it). I soak the wood well. When it dries it is still pliable because the glycerine is hygroscopic.

The same approach should work for turkey biots.

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

[fessiewig]

I don't know about Turkey Biots, but that same mixture was how I stored hackle stems. I actually had a jar of stems in that mixture for over 10 years without them rotting. Anytime I wanted a nice supple stem for, say, a red quill I'd open the jar, pull out what I needed, dry them off with a paper towel and tie up some flies.

[overmywaders]

fessie,

Good application, brittle quills are useless.

As I noted, the glycerine is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the air; so, instead of drying out, the material always stays somewhat moist, hence flexible. I'll bet that there are other useful applications for this in flytying.

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

BTW, I visited Riverstone Outfitters the other day. Good selection, good service --- I wish them well.

[troutscout]

Thanks for all the input. I'll give it a try and see how the dye holds up. Should be interesting.