Tom: These are good..#1 is especially true.. No better way to learn than repetition.. Thanks, Chuck
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Davenport" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006 4:45 PM Subject: [VFB] Tips for beginners from the bench... > As I was tying today I was thinking about the things I have learned > through trial and error that make it easier to tie flies... For you > beginners out there, here are some of them. For you old hands, I'd > like to here some of yours... > > 1. Always tie at least a dozen flies (It is amazing how much better > and easier fly number 12 will be) > > 2. When you finish a pattern, clean the bench up before starting > another (this will save time, in the long run). > > 3. Leave your thread at the spot where you will tie off the material. > > 4. Bomb proof fragile materials (like pheasant tail or peacock herl) > using a electronic tester tool to twist them with a loop of tying > thread or copper wire. > > 5. When tying off hackles, make a couple of half hitches using a > half hitch tool to get the hackles away from the eye and under > control, then whip finish. (The half hitch tool slips over the eye > and pushes the hackles back, then neatly lays the thread right in > front of the hackle). > > 6. When tying with deer or elk hair, spray it first with anti-static > spray (the kind used with laundry, not the kind used to clean > computer screens). Just spray once, before you start and cleaning out > underfur and stacking the hair will be much easier. > > 7. If you have trouble dubbing with a material, your using too much > dubbing. Keep cutting the amount in half until it works. > > 8. Super glue is the best head cement, and it will last longer and be > much more useable if you buy it in a pen type dispenser (the kind > where you have to press on the pen stick to get the glue to flow). > Just press the tip against the head and your thread will never come > undone. > > 9. When attaching wings to dry flies, don't pull off barbules or > trim the hackles like most books show. Grab a hold of both feathers > by the butts, back to back, tie the tips in place, mount up with some > wraps in front, THEN trim. > > 10. When wrapping wooly bugger hackles, I like to wrap the hackle > from eye back. Just tie in a wire or other ribbing material at the > hook bend, and after you wrap the hackle back, use it to lash it down. > > 11. When tying pheasant tails, don't worry about legs or wing > cases. I have the testimony of hundreds fish that it doesn't matter. > > 12. Get a good pair of scissors that you can always keep in your hand. > > 13. Substitute Poly yarn for hair when tying a Humpy or a parachute > pattern. The fish don't mind, the fly is easier to see and can be > tied much faster. > > 14. Pinch barbs off at the bench. In the heat of the battle you will > forget on the river until you try to pull the barbed hood out of you > waders or yourself.
