Cardinal and Starling

[Izaak]

William,

Hans...that's amazing.

Tom, this fly is very nicely tied, tag or no tag of course. If you're concerned about the way it looks...then do what I do and pull the thread firmly after completing the whip finish to the "opposite" side of the camera then make your cut. (which would be to your right since your flies are photographed backwards. ) That way when you snip, cut or break the thread it doesn't show in your pic. Or consider it just an accent. It's a lovely tie for sure.

w

Thanks! I like your idea of considering it an accent in this photo!

[Izaak]

Hans, Thanks, I'll give them a look!

[gingerdun]

Izaak, you have been posting a lot of good material, nicely photographed. Looks like I'm not the only one appreciating your talent.

Regarding the little red thread tag, and the problem with scissors, I was surprised that anybody used scissors for that operation——assuming that everyone did it the way Leisenring and Pete Hidy described, using a scalpel-like knife.

Here it the page from ATWF, and a scan of the kind of home-made knife they used. Could be any kind of small, razor-sharp knife.
The good thing about the knife is that you can trim closer, with no tag hanging out. And with tension on the thread, it cuts easily without the knife harming the flexible hackle fibers. They also used the knife to cut off the tip of the feather after it is secured to the fly with the thread wrap.

Has everybody switched from using the knife to using scissors?

[chase creek]

I think anything more minimal than the last one is called a bare hook.
Really cool ties, all of them.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Has everybody switched from using the knife to using scissors?

Lance,

Cool picture.

I tried blades, but decided that the (general purpose) tool I already keep in my hand throughout the tying beat the tool I had to pick up from the bench when needed.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Izaak]

Gingerdun,

Thanks for that! I may look into using a blade if I keep having a problem with my "accent" tags!

[Jim Slattery]

FWIW I just use the scissor edge to slice the thread, which is under tension.. I pull the thread towards the back of the hook and away from my body, which can be critical when using the "right" tying wax.
Jim

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

I use one of these both when tye and along the stream...

http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product//Sw ... c-SD/53001

The knife edge takes a very keen edge and the sissors work like a champ.....did I mention that the
knife blade takes a keen edge ?????

hank

[Old Hat]

Great stuff. Beautiful fly Izaak. Your orange hue is probably light reflected from the pepper?

[Kelly L.]

Loved the flies in this thread, right up my alley!!