One of those nights....

[quivira kid]

Ever have those times when you've been plotting and planning a "new" fly idea..... then you sit down after hours of thinking about it, and it is like you have a handful of thumbs. Nothing ends up going on right, nothing looks like you thought....... just awful. Tonight was one of those. Hello razor blade! Have fun! Ugh......

[sagefisher]

Think of it as a design opportunity.

Larry ---sagefisher---

[spoof85]

i have those constantly... what i do, is work on a pattern i'm extremely familiar with, it seems to calm my nerves, stretch my fingers out a bit, and get everything in sync....(plus then i have another go to for my box ) try drawing a picture of what you want to create... I've found that helps work the material into the pattern better... (ever realize you should have tied something in waaay before you finished half the fly? pictures sometimes help with that) i hope to see your pattern complete...

another thing i tend to practice on new designs is working on a bigger hook... lets face it, design on a size 18 is a down right pain... try working bigger, then, when you have it down, adjust size... that's how i learned actually...

- spoof

pss- all good patterns start as materials... draw a picture, that way the next big thing isn't lost in thought forever...

[AlanB]

Nights, I should be so lucky, I sometimes have whole weeks like that!

Cheers,
A.

[Lotech]

Shoot....my accidents are commonplace. When I tie a good fly is the rarity.

[Betty Hiner]

Often times!!

[ScottP]

One of those lost and lonely dreamless nights? (with apologies to Henley & Frey)

Happens all the time; when they do I walk away from the vise and hope the Muse is just taking a break.

Regards,
Scott

[quivira kid]

I'm working on a purple and black soft hackle/wet type fly, a little bit traditional, but a lot bit my own. Was thinking a #12 emerger/scud type hook, purple thread body, some black peacock ice dub for thorax, a bit of gadwall flank for a wing, pinch of black shaggy dub for some extra wiggle, and a turn or so of black hackle..... the problem I'm having is all that stuff fitting at the front of the hook and still looking decent. I left the shaggy dub out last night on one and it looked alright.... but then it loses a little "wiggle" for the warm water fish I'm going to be targeting. I've got a few ideas on how to pull it off.... we will see how it goes.

[Jax]

When I'm working on a "New" pattern. I always start tying the fly as Sparse as possible using the bare minimum of materials until I get the proportions right, then I tart it up a bit if needs be. Just as long as you are having fun those "YUK" days soon dim away.