
While at the 2001 FAOL Fish-In, Bob Mead did a tying demonstration
late one night. He was demonstrating tying a Mosquito, a Ladybug
and (his namesake) a Praying Mantis. While all that was of great
interest, what caught my attention was a little item he was using
(hint: they are the little red things, in the photo above). This
item can not be found in a Fly Fishing Shop, instead you have to
go to an electronic store (such as Radio Shack).

I have seen this item listed as a "Hook Clip," also as a "Test Clip
Assembly." Normally it's used to test bare wires and electronic parts
on a ohmmeter. But for Fly Tying its use is to hold a fly.
Either for display purposes, or for the enamel or glue to dry. The
ones I found and purchased cost $2.50 per pair. They were not
weighted to stand upright, so I created a stand for them out
of a small piece of wood with holes drilled for the bottoms.
Bob Mead's were weighted and stood up on their own.

It's a great addition for the tying table to have a display fly
while tying, or a place to have a fly dry completely before adding
to the fly tin. ~ Parnelli (I am the one in the top photo
with the funny looking hat)
Please check out the Fly Tying Section, in the Bulletin Board, on FAOL.
If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them along.
Most of this material someone else thought of it before we did,
they just forgot to tell anyone about it. Or else we just forgot
about it, while learning something else. Let us share with
each other, all the things we know! ~ Steven H.
McGarthwaite parnelli@attbi.com (Chat Room AKA Parnelli)
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