hair flies is always
too long, and too much is used. The head is too large, because the tying
silk is not wound tightly and smoothly. The eye of the hook on the
finished fly is filled with hair, tying silk, hackles and cement.

I do not mean to criticize these common mistakes of the beginner.
Instead, I merely wish to call them to your mind, and assure you that
they are not necessary, and will not happen if you will diligently
follow instructions in this book.

{xi}

[Illustration: Diagram 2. Page sized drawings of wet flies and feathers.]

{xii}

[Illustration: Page sized photograph of tools.]

{1}

TOOLS, HOOKS AND
MATERIALS

Very few tools are required by the Fly-Tier. Those that are necessary
are inexpensive, and most of them can be homemade. However, as with any
other craft good tools are an asset. I advise the beginner to procure
the following:

TOOLS

Fly-Tiers' vise. There are many styles of fly-tying vises on the market.
The simplest is just a slot cut in a 3/8" piece of square steel with a
hacksaw, and a thumb screw to tighten the slot. This type of vise will
work all right, although rather clumsy and hard to tighten enough to
hold the hook truly. Another simple vise is just a small pin chuck,
soldered to one end of a 1/4" brass rod, bent at the desired angle, and
the other end of the rod soldered to a small C clamp. However, I prefer
a vise of the cam lever type. That is, a vise that has a cam lever for
opening and closing the jaws. These vises, of which there are
several makes, are {2} adjustable to various angles and hook sizes. They
will hold all sizes of hooks very firmly, and are easily and quickly
opened with a flip of the lever.

Hackle Pliers. These can be purchased for about fifty cents and will
prove a worthwhile investment, as they are rather difficult to make
satisfactorily.

Scissors. One pair with curved blades and sharp points for small flies
and one pair with small straight blades. A needle pushed into a stick,
for picking out hackles that are wound under, and for putting lacquer on
the finished head, completes the list of necessary tools.

HOOKS

Hooks used for fly-tying differ somewhat from those used for bait
fishing etc., inasmuch as they are usually hollow ground, and tapered
shank especially those used for dry flies. The tapered shank next to the
eye allows the head of the fly to be tied smaller, and also reduces the
weight of the hook, an advantage for