Tying for speed

[1fly]

Sorry if this has already been "done" but I checked the search for tying for speed and didn't find much.

What has been the biggest thing you have done to improve your tying speed? I hold scissors in my hand while tying and use a short line on my bobbin, but I am still incredibly slow. The only thing I see improving my speed is tying a larger quantity of the same fly. But I usually only tie about 4 copies of the same pattern.

Got any tips?

[Caddfly]

Look in Kauffman's Nymph book. There is a section on that. I recommend tying up at least six of the same fly.

[steelie]

Try tying in stages, it sounds like it will take more time, but once you get the hang of it then you will tie faster and get more consistant flies as well. If you add a small bit of thinned out glue after each step, it will have time to dry and you will have a more durable fly as well.

[carpman]

Tie more like 25 or 50 of each pattern. The best tyers I know tie TONS of the same pattern. Yes it sounds crazy, but you'll use the flies. Maybe it will make you fish more often. Take a close look at how many thread wraps you use to tie in or tie off a material. Could you accomplish the same thing with less wraps, or heavier thread?? For me, the longest part of tying a fly is getting out the materials, after that, it's all downhill..........

[jdubya]

follow rec's above plus:

make sure your work surface is well lighted and "friendly" so you can concentrate.

if possible, get out all the hackles. legs, wings, etc that you need for the flies you are planning on tying. i always do 12 of any size,color, etc at a time. so 12 hackles of the right size, etc.

good music!! miles davis makes for good tying..

[Fish a fly]

Get all materials ready to tie in. Strip off biots, cut foam bodies, strip off hackle fluff, etc.. If you do it before its easier to focus on the fly your tying.

[flyty]

"What has been the biggest thing you have done to improve your tying speed?"

Drinking Jolt Cola and chewing on coffee beans.

[Ouzel]

Begin an inventory of flies from which to draw.

Prep. your materials.

Don't tie less than a doz. or so of one size fly.

Concentrate on turning out beautiful well formed/made flies the sureness along with the rapidity will come.

[Jason]

Prep your materials before hand.

Tie a bunch of the same fly in one sitting.

Use less thread wraps.

I guess these have already been mentioned, but these were my first thoughts when I read your initial post.

[Larry S.]

You might want to try Chuck Strannahan's web site and his "Top Ten Tips For Terrific Flies".

The URL is: www.rvierbendfly.com/bench

Chuck owns a flyshop in Hamilton, Montana and also has several flies featured in Jack Dennis' book "Tying Flies With Jack Dennis and Friends".

[FlySmyth]

Bought better supplies i.e. scissors, ceramic bobbins, sharp bodkin, correct size half hitch tool etc. Most importantly the VISE.

Good tying.

Ken.

[Dennis]

All good rec's above. I would just add my 2 cents. Tie at LEAST a dozen at a time of each pattern/size. It takes more time to get the materials ready than it takes to tie a few flies. When tying flies that take hackle. Use saddles instead of necks. One good saddle will tie 6-12 flies. you save time searching through a neck for the right size for each fly tied and a saddle hackle will not require you to mess with hackle pliers until the feather gets too short to hold. How many times have you had the feather come out of the pliers and unwind, making you start over winding. Flysmyth has a good point about materials. Use the best quality you can find. Quality does not cost, it pays in that the good materials will go farther and take less time to prep and use to tie in. USe a good vise, one that you can change hooks quickly and will hold the hook securely once in place. Use bobbins with ceramic tips to avoit thread breakage. re-threading bobbins takes time. One thought that is bugging me though is that if you are only going to tie 3-4 flies at a time of any pattern...........why are you worried about speed?

[RAW]

Dennis makes a good point. If you're tying as a pro, time is money. If you're tying for yourself and a few friends, just slow down and enjoy it. It's a hobby. No need to bring the fast-paced-world into it.

[Ouzel]

I certainly agree with your thoughts, often I tie for relaxation.

I sometimes tie flies I already have plenty of because I've seen a slightly different way or I'm trying some new material.

Jason showed me some BWO's last year that he had tied the hackle on at a angle to the body. It was not a classical hackling and not a parachute but something inbetween, so of course I had to try it and also other flies.

The slant hackling causes the tail to ride low or beneath the surface 'stillborn style' and (I think) temps the fish more.

[elkscadd]

so how does one tie on hackel so it is slanted?

[Ouzel]

See Jason.