The Art
of Fly Tying - creating a realistic Red Eared Turtle

Realistic red eared turtle

10xl Partridge Carrie Stevens hook and two pieces of tapered
Orvis foam strips

Foam colored with markers and tinted flex varnish

Foam segmented up the hook to create the turtles tail

Five pieces of fine brass wire secured to the hook to create
the legs

Wires bound together with thread

Toes are separated and detailed

Thin foam strips are tied on top as well as underneath to shape
the legs

The fun begins, detail coloring, using micron markers

The head is shaped with a long strip of chenille. A plastic strip
was pulled through the head with a needle, glass beads slid down,
plastic melted until it was flush with the beads.

Two strips of colored Swiss Straw are tied on behind the hook
eye

Straw is pulled back and secured with thread

The red ears are colored

The straw is colored with micron markers, and pulled forward,
and secured

Straw is pulled back to shape the turtles retractable neck

The shell is made with a thin piece of flat foam

Pattern was cut into the foam with a razor, and flame used to
heat and shape the foam

Thread is tied between the legs to begin forming the body

Swiss Straw is wrapped around the thread base.
When applying color, I prefer to use lighter colors over darker
base colors

He looks real enough to become lunch

Oh no!

I guess I'll have to tie another one
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