Diane,
You are on the way to tying good salmon flyz.
Proportion is the trick. (also spelling is key in any critique)....
If you wanna put a zillion ribs on the fly that's ok as long as they're all spaced out the same distance.
"Traditional" is different than "yer' own". If you wanna make it a cool pattern of your own design-that's ok. If you're going for the really traditional pattern then follow the traditional directions.
Heck, I have yet to follow the traditional pattern directions BUT!!! I try as much as I can to follow the proportion rules.
What guidelines/books/websites/ have you been following?
Best to ya'
Dan

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There is a fine line between fly fishing and standing in a river waving a stick, and YOU SIR have crossed that line!