Become a Thinking Fly Tier: The Way to Rapid Improvement

by Jim Cramer, Al Beatty (Foreword by)

Overview

The intent of this book is to help you become a better tier by encouraging you to truly think about what, why, and how you are tying. All fly tiers have a desire to advance their level of skill but many find themselves stuck on a plateau. You will be challenged to grow beyond the “paint by numbers” approach that has limited your tying progress. This is not mission impossible and your rewards will be a noticeable increase in the quality and uniformity of your flies and an increase in the speed of your tying.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781892469281
Publisher:	No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks
Publication date:	05/22/2013
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Jim Cramer has been tying, teaching, and demonstrating fly tying techniques for more than sixty years. A regular fly tying columnist, and a favorite demonstration tier at the annual Federation of Fly Fishing conclave, Jim now shares his years of tying experience and thought.

Table of Contents

 Before We Start

            What is a Thinking Fly Tier?

 Getting Started

            Developing a Game Plan

            Quality, Uniformity, and Speed

            Organization and Material Handling

            Tools

            Fingernails, the Forgotten Tool

            Thread Management, Control, and Mounting Materials

            Judging Hackle

            Threads

            Substitution of Materials

            Tying Order

 Special Techniques and Information

            Dubbing Techniques

            Speed Tips

            Wet Fly Hackle

            Posting Dry Fly Wings

            Dry Fly Hackle

            CDC and Its Uses

            Adding Weight to Flies

            Ram’s Wool: An Underused Material

            Custom Dubbing and Onion-Skin Dye

            Thatching—A New Technique

            Put Your Flies on a Diet

            Biots

 Tips, Thoughts, and Things to Ponder for the Thinking Fly Tier

            Observations on Dry Fly Wings

            Traveling Kits

            Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

            Hook Rant

            Bad Ideas

            Do-It-Yourself Sliding Bobbin

 Special Flies and Fly Design

            The Para Glen

            Two Midge Cluster Patterns

            The CDC & Elk

            The Baby Boxfish and the Parachute Crab

            Fast Food Flies

            Thatched Patterns

            Rubber-Legged Dry Flies

            The Reverse Peeking Caddis