Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
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.
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
Rams 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 and Elk
The Baby Boxfish and the Parachute Crab
Fast Food Flies
Thatched Patterns
Rubber-Legged Dry Flies
The Reverse Peeking Caddis