What do you do at the vice?

[daringduffer]

Do you create or do you re-create?

When I'm lazy I create. When I'm a bit more on my toes I try to re-create. Success in an interpretation of a pattern is rewarding...

dd

[fflutterffly]

Re-creating takes a lot of materials I don't have so end up doing variants. When elk is called for and all I have is deer, that's what I'll use. I understand the elks properties are different than the deer, but these flies are for me and I want to try and copy the pattern. Also, I often tie my first 25 flies on very inexpensive hooks if I have a limited amount of 'good' hooks when trying a new pattern. I am not a great tier, but I do tie a lot.

I don't sleep much, which gives me lots of thinking time. And when I'm not thinking about solving all the world problems my thoughts usually turn to simpler things, one being fly tying. Many is the time I get out of bed and sit at my den tying table working on something that popped into my head. After reading a post I got up at 3:25 AM and began to tie a fly with 'feather fluff' instead of dubbing. It was interesting.

I also look at a lot of youTub and Vimeo from tiers who post here and other places, amazed at their grace while tying some simple to complex pattern.

[hankaye]

dd, Howdy;

I do things best when there is a deadline. Most of my tying
has been done when I'm involved in a swap.
Lately, I've become interested in the smaller flies.
Just finished reading "TyingSmallFlies" by Ed Engle.
Got truly interested this past Sept. when I went fishin'
with DUBBN. Then at the San Juan the bitty flies
were also the fly de Jour. Gotta admitt when you can
glue 2 32's on the head of a pin that alone takes some skill ,
I don't expect to go that small, 22 or 24 might be nice.

hank

[daringduffer]

Ariel,

Re-creating takes a lot of materials I don't have so end up doing variants. When elk is called for and all I have is deer, that's what I'll use. I understand the elks properties are different than the deer, but these flies are for me and I want to try and copy the pattern.

Re-creating, using substitute materials, would still be re-creating in my book. It might be difficult to know whether the substitution has the right properties for the purpose. I remember a discussion somewhere that waterhen is supposed to have an attractive brownish tinge (attractive to the fish) that is difficult to get from substitutional feathers. To the human eye it might look perfect while the fish might take another standpoint. If the fish accept the offering all is well. If the tyer is pleased with the result...well, then the goal is reached.

Hank,
Does this mean you are a procrastinator (the deadline aspect)?
I hope to read that book eventually. Just checked size 26 Daiichi 1110 hooks. They are supposed to have an oversized eye. I could not see an eye of any size. I find it hard to grasp how anyone can control their hands well enough to work on a hook consisting of just a couple of molecules. Come to think of it; the volume of materials needed to tie that kind of flies would suit your RV, would it not...?

dd

[hankaye]

dd, Howdy;

Slooowly the light comes up
Not so much, the size for storage is important
rather it's more what the fish eat ...

hank

[letumgo]

Stefan - when I am at the vice I try to create. I love playing around, trying to put a new twist on patterns. I get an idea and have to try it out. Some experiments work, but often they do not. If I learn something in the process, I am well pleased.

[hankaye]

="daringduffer"

Hank,
Does this mean you are a procrastinator (the deadline aspect)?
I hope to read that book eventually. Just checked size 26 Daiichi 1110 hooks. They are supposed to have an oversized eye. I could not see an eye of any size. I find it hard to grasp how anyone can control their hands well enough to work on a hook consisting of just a couple of molecules. Come to think of it; the volume of materials needed to tie that kind of flies would suit your RV, would it not...?

dd

Stefan, I'm still somewhat in start-up mode, so, for the aquisition of materials,
I lurk awhile to see what some of the others are comming up with, what the
original or most common viarent was tyed with. Once that part of the 'research'
is compleate I see what it is that I am lacking. Place an order wait for "stuff' to arrive,
tye like a madman ( ), until I'm finished. Print tags, mail... await return post .....
I refer to it as procrastination by way of enlightenment ...

hank

[Izaak]

I get a lot of inspiration from looking at lots of pictures of flies, such as on Hans' Flytier website. I notice materials, techniques, hook styles, colors, etc. and then try to rearrange or tweak them into something new of my own. I often design the fly in my mind, sometimes over a matter of hours or even days as I have time to think about it. At other times I will just sit down and tie a fly without much thought going into the process. Both approaches can yield satisfactory or unsatisfactory results!

[daringduffer]

I see it like this; some tiers are fishermen, some are artists, some are both. Some tweaks might be purely artistic, others due to lack of materials, some due to inspiration others due to lack of concentration. Some are the result of a deliberate thought process, others come from instinct. There are hosts of explanations to what we come up with. The real question is; how valuable is your fishing time and what flies do you trust to use?

dd

[daringduffer]

I get an idea and have to try it out. Some experiments work, but often they do not. If I learn something in the process, I am well pleased.

+1

dd