Thanks for the quick replies guys. I have been tying for over twenty years and even sold a few flies for at least enough money to cover the materials if not a reasonable wage. I know my tying has continued to improve for all of that time though not as quickly as at the beginning. This question was one of the things I thought about during a long and boring shift on a beginners job last night when my usual machine was broken down and I decided to post it. Perhaps what separates The best tiers from the run of the mill ones is a combination of apptitude as Ron suggests with the dedication arising from economic necessity or just desire( maybe both) to become one of the best.

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all leaders tangle; mine are just better at it than most. Jim