Originally Posted by
Buddy Sanders
Dub,
At one point I actually believed that you had to be able to whip finish by hand to consider yourself an accomplished fly tyer, so I learned how to do that..
I also actually believed that you had to be able to tie without putting down your scissors to be an accomplished fly tyer...so I learned to do that, and even to whip finish by hand with the scissors in my hand....
Now, I keep my scissors on the bench where they don't get in the way or stab anything unless I want them to. I can pick them up quickly enough, and I often need ALL my fingers to control materials, sometimes two or three of them, as I apply them to the fly with the vise.
I whip finish with a tool. I can place the wraps more accurately and turn it faster. I've timed it. I'm WAY faster with the tool, even putting down the scissors and picking up the tool, and I was pretty quick by hand...
I wrap 'backwards' when I tie, too. Since I use a rotary vice, I like to rotate the vise like a reel handle with my left hand..so that means wrapping 'backwards' for the small amount of wrapping I do by hand. Feels more natural to me anyway.
And I'm faster and the flies come out better.
So now I finally realize that what makes you an accomplished fly tyer is doing the job the way that works best for you.
Nice to learn new techniques...but you have to decide whether or not you really want to use them.
There is no wrong or right way to tie a fly if it pleases you. (and maybe the fish, but they're pretty dumb and I wouldn't take their endorsement as any kind of a quality statement).
Good Luck!
Buddy