Thread: mistakes

First I guess was buying 3 Vises before I got the one I like best, LOL! Tie colors you know work and more than a couple each, but new colors to try a couple is plenty to see. Learning to tie is so much easier now with all the info out here and there. When I started just had to find what I could and best was something I know was right, FAOL Written lessons with good step by step pics. Then found some streaming lessons, not sure if they kept doing them for long as I got away from that when I just got too busy. One mistake that makes me a bit crazy is when doing my finish and every once in a while I use to let one loop get on the other side of the tie on spot and wouldn't see it until I had it tight and ready to cut! Of course breaking the thread use to make me crazy when using smaller thread, but I am better at that now as we learn at some point!

buying the wrong vise.

Leaving my jigs out on the desk and having the cat take off with em.

Breaking the thread has to be the most frustrating one of them all.

Don't buy cheap thread, buy quality thread made for tying. I like Danville's 210 Denier waxed flymaster plus for my jigs. The cheap stuff breaks, very frustrating. I still use a cheap vise, wish I had spent more up front on this item.

A few that I would offer:

A) Proportions are critical - not having too long a tail or too short for example.
B) Use good materials and tools
C) Tie often to keep your capabilities sharp - I try to tie a few times per week instead of a jam session the night before a big trip.
D) Get good at a few patterns instead of diving in to a complicated jig with 48 materials and 97 steps

Good post.

That is the best part of tying jigs is my tying table always looks like a tornado hit it 's far as field testing goes I usually let you guys tell me it's going to work or not and of course I have a little bit of everything to work with Wheelwright collector of materials I know you guys have not seen all the materials that I have into a jig and materials I used to use years ago when my mother was racing poodles is I love the champagne hair it was quite effective on crappie course I tried to cut a chunk out of my cat and got my arm tour of so I give that up maybe if I catch him sleeping if I do it fast enough I might get a piece of hair

Originally Posted by Micropterus salmoides

Leaving my jigs out on the desk and having the cat take off with em.

I had to cut a sickle hook jig out of my cats lip, couldn't believe he just set there and let me get it out. Guess he was ready to get rid of it!! LOL

I have a lot of sizes of threads because of tying jigs and flies and it still burns my behind to break it while tying. I guess finding that I have a wrap of thread around the hook eye after I have all ready wiped finished the tye gets my goat more than anything......

You just have to enjoy everything that comes along with tying. Such a awesome hobby to be a part of.