German Fly Fisher and gear designer, Alenko Franolic has some innovative design options for fly reels and fly body components. I enjoy fly reels and definitely resist the urge to acquire them along the way. I like the looks of Franolic’s reels.
An Alenko Franolic fly reel
Especially appealing are the various sized nymph bodies composed of pliable, elastic tungsten materials. The bodies come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. The nymph bodies are somewhat pliable and take the torque of the tying thread to better bind the materials to the body.
Alenko Franolic elastic tungsten nymph bodies
I am torn on these types of materials. Innovative, pre-formed components. Tying purists will blanch at the idea of these body parts. I recall a certain shop owner fussing over the intro of bead heads into fly tying in the mid-80′s. But, I just don’t know if it is that bad or blasphemous. Tinsels, flash, iridescence, plastics, molded lead bodies all have infringed on fur, feathers and hair. There’s a place for these material if there is a place for foams, Krystal flash or Zelon. If anyone has used these fly bodies, I would like to hear their critiques.
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