Fly of the Week - Snowshoe Sparkle Dun

[rodgerole]

It may not seem like much to some of you folks, but Martin's tip about alternately trimming and wrapping the excess wing hair in his Fly of the Week presentation was awesome to me. I know it is one of those "why didn't I think of that" deals, but I honestly never thought about it.
I tried his technique and it really helped this klutz in making decent well,better looking tapered bodies

Thanks a bunch, Martin.
rodgerole

[martinwestbeek]

Hi Rodgerole,
Thanks for the kudos!
Most books advise making one cut at an angle, but to do that you have to lift the hair behind the wing, and that loosens the wraps that hold the hair on top of the hook shank.
What I do is this: I make an O with my left index finger and thumb, and pinch the hair quite tight. Next I make the five tight wraps to secure the wing on top of the hook, and without releasing the pressure of my fingers I roll them back a little, flattening the "O". That gives me room to work the points of the scissors between the hair, make the cut, and put three new thread wraps over the cut off portion. I repeat that two or three times.
I wasn't able to show that because I needed my hands for making the pic.
Mart

[bspitt]

great idea!!!! Thank You!!!!!

[clyde holmes]

I also went DUUUH. Kinda like the guy what invented paper clips. Thats what makes this site so kewl

[Caddisman]

Most books advise making one cut at an angle, but to do that you have to lift the hair behind the wing, and that loosens the wraps that hold the hair on top of the hook shank.

Not to mention by lifting the hair, you lessen the angle of the cut, defeating the purpose.

Good tip Martin.

Bill