Forty years ago I watched Lee Wulff tie a #18 spider using his fingers as the vice. Hook, feather, thread, fingers and a lot of experience. It was an honour to be in the presence of fly fishing “royalty.”
It would be, Though I was taught in the 70s to tie like that by a British Author, Alf Walker. and it is no problem at all. He never tied with a vise, but I soon moved to one. The actual act of tying small, or large on fingers was easy, it just wasn't practical if you lived in an advance economy where you could get a Sunrise vise for 10 dollars. I don't know how practical it would be to tie something like a palmered midge. There really isn't much to hold onto that isn't covered with fragile feathers.
I do use hackle pliers, but rarely. Most materials can be wrapped with the fingers. These days, some the hackles that used to be one inch are 12 inches long, so there is lots to hang onto. I own multiple pairs of pliers, I like to try stuff out. But I could live without them. I learned to tie without a vise, and the guy who taught me showed me that one could tension the thread with pliers while one picked up materials. In that style they were essential.
I use those exact hackle pliers and have used them primarily for wrapping biot bodies for instance on parachute adams abdomens. Now I’ll try them for hackles on flies like Renegades,etc.
Yes, I use hackle pliers. I have the same C&F as in this video, and I got it for the same reasons stated. I love the little bit of give that they have, as well as the polished loop. It makes adding hackle very simple and easy.
Thanks Curtis. I have used the same hackle pliers since I started tying in 1986. They are the simple wound spring type one in standard and one in midge size.
The key thing with scissors is to know how to sharpen and set them. I bought cheap Indian scissors back in the 70s. And while I have tried a lot of other styles since then, I still use those original ones today. The reason is that I know how to sharpen them and set the hinge. This allowed me to skip expensive fads like iris scissors with carbide cutting edges. Not to mention everything Slick.
In addition to the very basic spring loaded hackle pliers I have a Loon ergo hackle plier that I reach for more often than not. And I LOVE my Stonfo comb/brush tool.
Good quality tools make tying flies soo much more precise. And lessens the chances of materials becoming troublesome. Other than the vice. Scissors and hackle pliers are two tools to never skimp on.
C&F hackle pliers all day long for me and I have been converted to that midge whip finisher for a few years now as well. I only use the standard size on flies with legs in the way of the head.
I use hackle pliers, though not as much as I used to. Seems my tying leans more to streamers and poppers these days which, of course, call for hackle I can wrap by hand. I have several different types, including my first going back to 1961. Yup, Herter's. Only thing I have left from the Herter's days, except memories.
My favourite bobbin holder is the one by Frank Materelli. I've got two of them. Since they are not available for some 15 years now, I have been searching for a similar style & size. I recently found it in the Tiemco ceramic midge tip. Very fine tube for precise wrapping, similar size and surprisingly affordable.
thoughts: 5 cheap bobbins beats 1 expensive bobbin ...........or.... several chap bobbins and one nicer bobbin with the most used thread (light colored thread that takes markers well)
No doubt C&F make many quality tools. Pursuant to your request, I like the J. Dorin Hackle pliers. One major driver for handling delicate soft hackles and/or after shaft filoplumb feathers is the weight of pliers. The Dorin pliers are lightweight and hold true.
I don't think that stuff is really EDC. Some of it seems really niche, like twisters that work on sub categories of feathers, though only you know what you carry every day,
Forty years ago I watched Lee Wulff tie a #18 spider using his fingers as the vice. Hook, feather, thread, fingers and a lot of experience. It was an honour to be in the presence of fly fishing “royalty.”
It would be, Though I was taught in the 70s to tie like that by a British Author, Alf Walker. and it is no problem at all. He never tied with a vise, but I soon moved to one. The actual act of tying small, or large on fingers was easy, it just wasn't practical if you lived in an advance economy where you could get a Sunrise vise for 10 dollars. I don't know how practical it would be to tie something like a palmered midge. There really isn't much to hold onto that isn't covered with fragile feathers.
I do use hackle pliers, but rarely. Most materials can be wrapped with the fingers. These days, some the hackles that used to be one inch are 12 inches long, so there is lots to hang onto. I own multiple pairs of pliers, I like to try stuff out. But I could live without them. I learned to tie without a vise, and the guy who taught me showed me that one could tension the thread with pliers while one picked up materials. In that style they were essential.
I use those exact hackle pliers and have used them primarily for wrapping biot bodies for instance on parachute adams abdomens. Now I’ll try them for hackles on flies like Renegades,etc.
Bigot....Ooops lol
Yes, I use hackle pliers. I have the same C&F as in this video, and I got it for the same reasons stated. I love the little bit of give that they have, as well as the polished loop. It makes adding hackle very simple and easy.
Thanks Curtis. I have used the same hackle pliers since I started tying in 1986. They are the simple wound spring type one in standard and one in midge size.
The key thing with scissors is to know how to sharpen and set them. I bought cheap Indian scissors back in the 70s. And while I have tried a lot of other styles since then, I still use those original ones today. The reason is that I know how to sharpen them and set the hinge. This allowed me to skip expensive fads like iris scissors with carbide cutting edges. Not to mention everything Slick.
In addition to the very basic spring loaded hackle pliers I have a Loon ergo hackle plier that I reach for more often than not. And I LOVE my Stonfo comb/brush tool.
Enjoying the heck out of these
Good quality tools make tying flies soo much more precise. And lessens the chances of materials becoming troublesome. Other than the vice. Scissors and hackle pliers are two tools to never skimp on.
I use hackle pliers but it’s hard to squeeze as I get older. Love the ones you have.
C&F hackle pliers all day long for me and I have been converted to that midge whip finisher for a few years now as well. I only use the standard size on flies with legs in the way of the head.
I use a doran hackle plier and an old tiemco version . The Doran are very easy to use.
I'm excited to try the fly pole I just bought from you guys.
I use hackle pliers for sure
I need a pair like that but I am a big fan of hackle pliers esp for dries and buggers and when using smaller marabou to palmer.
I use hackle pliers, though not as much as I used to. Seems my tying leans more to streamers and poppers these days which, of course, call for hackle I can wrap by hand. I have several different types, including my first going back to 1961. Yup, Herter's. Only thing I have left from the Herter's days, except memories.
My favourite bobbin holder is the one by Frank Materelli. I've got two of them. Since they are not available for some 15 years now, I have been searching for a similar style & size. I recently found it in the Tiemco ceramic midge tip. Very fine tube for precise wrapping, similar size and surprisingly affordable.
My hackle pliers are the old school ones that are like a roach clip!
I don’t use hackle pliers that often, but would consider using the c&f tool since the risk of breaking materials is reduced.
I use the same C&F Hackle Pliers.
thoughts: 5 cheap bobbins beats 1 expensive bobbin ...........or.... several chap bobbins and one nicer bobbin with the most used thread (light colored thread that takes markers well)
Here’s what I think. 1 good bobbin is better than 10 bobbins that break thread.
@@FlyFishFood Agreed, "if" they break thread, I must be getting lucky with my cheapos. Good video; the dual whipper looks nice.
Surprised not to see the Swiss Multi-tool or CDC-clamp in your EDC fly tying tools.
I use hackle pliers for soft hackle flies and dubbing loops but not for pheasant tails
I use hackle pliers… the same C&F shown.
No doubt C&F make many quality tools. Pursuant to your request, I like the J. Dorin Hackle pliers. One major driver for handling delicate soft hackles and/or after shaft filoplumb feathers is the weight of pliers. The Dorin pliers are lightweight and hold true.
what scissors will cut gsp? i love but hate gsp esp when its time to cut it.
Curtis…too strange, I use those exact tools with 1 exception and consider them as you do.
I dont find hackle pliers to be that useful. They either break the feather, or slip off.
yes
Yes I use occurred
I don't think that stuff is really EDC. Some of it seems really niche, like twisters that work on sub categories of feathers, though only you know what you carry every day,
I hardly ever use hackle pliers.
Miss typed yes I usually