I have watched many of the Parks Fly Shop tying videos and Mr Wesie does clip a notch on the bottom of many of his fly patterns such as the Clacka Cadis and others. If a profesional guide and tyier like him does this there must be a pretty good reason for it. I have tried to copy his methods as closely as possible because I am sure that he has caught a lot more trout than I ever will and I need all the edge I can get.