I'll add a few things I've found about working with epoxy to the already excellent info in this thread.

1) a pad of post-it notes is an excellent disposable mixing pallet for small batches of epoxy
2) Sally's Hard as Nails has a solvent in it that will make paint or prismacolor marker run a little. If I've painted the head, I prefer epoxy. Sally's works great over just thread or stick-on eyes.
3) 5 minute epoxy looks too cloudy/yellowed for my taste. I prefer the look of 30 minute, even if it means waiting longer between coats or tying steps.
4) A bodkin is a great epoxy stirrer/applicator. Your dental tool will work great, too. Just wipe it clean with paper towel before it dries. If it does dry, steel wool cleans it right up.

And last, but most importantly

5) Don't let your wife catch you getting epoxy on the dining room table.

MM

PS JRA, the clouser minnow is one of the most versatile patterns out there. Since the fly sinks fast and generally hits the bottom hook up, your retrieve can make it look like just about anything.