THINKING
I have been tying to fill my boxes and the reserves for the next season. With all the snow and cold weather that might not be for a long time. I’m also tying some to go for programs that need flies for the participants.
I tied up a bunch of the Goldie Jr (previous FOTW) to be used in the warm water events. Since I was going to tie up a punch of flashback Hares Ears and PTN, I decided to fold the 18 inch pieces of tinsel over and use those at the front of the Goldie Jr. The pieces left over when I trimmed the color could be used for the flashback on the other flies.
In short order I had a good number of pieces to use on the flashback flies.
On the next fly, I did it the same way and cut the pieces off and let them fall into my waste basket. I did this for all four pieces of the collar on the Goldie Jr. Then I looked at the number of pieces of tinsel in the basket. I had to, as I was picking up the ones that had fallen on the floor.
That is when the mind began to play games on me. I pulled the pieces out and counted them. All 64 of them. Why was I throwing away this much stuff, when they could be used on another fly? Or, why was I not cutting the tinsel in half so there was not as much waste?
At this point, other thoughts came rumbling through the clutter of my mind.
How irritated do I get when I find line, packaging, cans and other litter when I go fishing? I always have a plastic bag with me to pick this stuff up.
It goes in the garbage when I get home. How much other litter do I see on the roads as I am going to and from the ponds?
Those things are righteous indignation. At least the ornery side of the little voice, in my head, tells me that. Looking at the 64 pieces of tinsel that were in the trash bin for a few minutes made me pause and think. How much am I contributing the waste by being lazy? If I cut the tinsel in half, to make the collar on the Goldie Jr, there is very little waste when trimmed. It is a bigger pain to do as it is a little harder to fold. I take 5 minutes longer to tie a dozen flies than if I use the longer pieces. How many flashback flies will I tie? Probably not enough to use up all the tinsel that would come off the trimmings of the longer pieces.
This caused me to look at other things that I used at the vice and how much was being put in the trash bin. So, I had to make a few changes, to quiet the good side of the little voice in my head.
I cut the tinsel in half to tie the collar of the Goldie Jr. When materials are on a spool or card, I am using it off the spool or card and cutting where the thread ties it off. Before, I would cut some off and use it, but that always left some ends that were too short to use. It does take a little longer to tie the flies, but I am not a production tyer.
It has made a difference in the amount of material that goes into my waste basket. I dump the basket once a week. There is less stuff being dumped in the garbage.
This makes me feel better about what I do while tying. Along the lines of how I feel when I take trash out from where I am fishing.
Random thoughts for you to consider. I am not sure how long it takes for tinsel to breakdown, or most other materials either. I am just trying to not put as much stuff in the trash to have to go through this process.
Dangerous thing happen when the shack nasties hit.
Hope you can get out on the water.
Rick