jeffroey
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2019
- Messages
- 297
Here's one of the most basic cheats I use when I'm tying flies, especially Paras:
I've always been horrible at grabbing the right socket (or wrench) to fit whatever nut/bolt I'm turning. That translated to by INability to consistently size tails, wings, other fly pieces we're taught should be some proportion of some hook dimension.
Just like grabbing the 2 sockets on either side of what I think the bolt head is, I've adapted similarly with tying:
If I'm tying up 6 or 12 of the same fly, I simply pinch a spare hook in a pair of Hackle pliers and have it close by to use as a ready reference for hook shank length, twice the gape, shank plus eye, etc. It helps me get to consistent flies and settles down the OCD.
If you don't have that problem or don't care, you're a better or more balanced tyer than me. If you do care, it's something that's often overlooked due to its simplicity.
I've always been horrible at grabbing the right socket (or wrench) to fit whatever nut/bolt I'm turning. That translated to by INability to consistently size tails, wings, other fly pieces we're taught should be some proportion of some hook dimension.
Just like grabbing the 2 sockets on either side of what I think the bolt head is, I've adapted similarly with tying:
If I'm tying up 6 or 12 of the same fly, I simply pinch a spare hook in a pair of Hackle pliers and have it close by to use as a ready reference for hook shank length, twice the gape, shank plus eye, etc. It helps me get to consistent flies and settles down the OCD.
If you don't have that problem or don't care, you're a better or more balanced tyer than me. If you do care, it's something that's often overlooked due to its simplicity.
