Hi, Jimi- Admission is the first step to recovery, and I am a small-fly addict... I don't think any of my flies are over size 12, which i consider to be quite large, but most are in the 18-24 range. I find that if you have steady hands (I just hope mine hold out through the test of time), a magnifier of one sort or another (I use a dissecting microscope or simple reading magnifier on a flexible pole) makes it feel like you are tying a larger fly than you really are. Just my own personal experience, is all. I like the idea of starting big and getting smaller, and didn't think of it as a learning technique - I did it only to have different sizes in a box, often jumping around from one pattern to the next... your idea (if I'm not reading into it) of starting with one pattern and tying the same pattern in smaller sizes sounds like a great exercise in precision for the hands! In my thesis lab, we do something similar when we do microdissections - without getting gorey for those with weak stomachs, each session we plan to work, we go through a series of exercises that almost get us back to precision maneuvering of our hands. I feel silly for not thinking of it before, but think that your idea is a very VERY good one! If I didn't have a "honey-do" list a mile long, I'd try it out right now. Thanks for the ideas, though! It's one of those "now why didn't I think of that?" things :) Tight wraps, Pete
On 12/9/06, Desert Eagle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Has anyone ever contracted "Small Fly Syndrome" on the list? If not I think I have a new disease. It seams that even though 80% of the fish caught on flies around here are caught on #6 to #12. However, I have almost depleted all of my hooks from #12 down. It seams that I am more or less "Obsessed" with tying, and getting better at tying small flies. Even though I need to fill some boxes with #8 to #12 nymphs and wets I will tie one or 2 of a pattern then gradually start working the same pattern down to as small as I can, or as small as I have hooks for. I am not sure why I am doing this, but, it is good practice and forces me to pay attention to details and work my hand more. I think I am just going to have to hide all my small hooks until I can build up the larger flies I need. Has anyone else ever found themselves doing this? Is it terminal?? Just curious. Jimi
