Allow me to "second" Don's compliments to Ward. Great evening.

Among the many tips I picked up watching Ward, and certainly one worth sharing, was the "gadget" he used in place of hackle pliers. It looked like a slightly oversized plastic golf tee with a tiny spring-loaded wire clip on the pointed end. Ward explained they were "Mini Test Clip Adapters" from Radio Shack. I bought a two-pack (item #270-344B) the next morning for about $3.50. They're lightweight and don't break the stem -- far superior to the hackle pliers that came with my original kit!