I guess I'm not the only one whose eyes make tying flies to leaders tricky, especially out in a boat.

A coarse fishing pal asked why we don't use pre-tied hook to nylon sets ( a spade hook with a short nylon leader ending in a loop).

I bought some but found it very difficult to tie a fly onto the hook with the nylon there but I can't see any reason not to use a normal fly hook and then tie a short leader onto it and store them like this ready for use. I already have been converted to using rig rings so this seems a logical extension of the system.

What does the team think?

Why dont you tie up some leaders at home, with the flies attatched, and store them on a cast holder.
Might save some feckking about?

__________________
It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

Mike, I had a go at tying some tiny flies on spade end hooks I'd first whipped to nylon; see here for discussion and pictures:

Why Don't We Use Spade Ends For Tiny Flies?

It's perfectly possible to work around the nylon, just a wee bit tricky.

Mikej have a look at the carrilon site and look for the hook threader best bit of kit i ever bought

Get a pair of readers 3 dioptres reading glasses, wear them round your neck on lanyard.
In essence is x3 magnifying glasses ready to wear! and to tie on flies!
regards
bert

I use 3x googles but still have trouble tying a 16 on, weirdly though if its dark i can do it without glasses
The only problem with doing leaders up before hand is you would need alot of leaders, i use around 10 plus flies during a sesson, sometimes alot more, thats alot of leaders to fart around with, try higher magnification glasses just for the jobby cheap as chips in the pound shop or tescos Gaz

__________________
If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment

I have considered this myself, not due to finding it difficult to tie the tippet to the fly but to keep the tippet length the same. I would use a foot of tippet tied to the fly with a loop at the end aand thn a loop on the leader so I could do a loop to loop attachment. The disadvantage and the reason I didint try it was I felt it may hinge on the cast and turn turn over, also it may be a bit stiff. Who knows I may experiment.

John.

All flies were snelled onto gut before they invented ( H.S.Hall and F.M.Halford ) making eyes on hooks - around about 1883.


And I've seen leashes of flies tied that way - Dave Fynsong had a fair collection and one other thing was interesting - in those days the tinsels they used were really plated with gold - he had some Soldier Palmers and the tinsel was still bright after over 100 years.

The old Tweed and Clyde style flydressers were reputed to be able to snell the gut on and tie the entire fly with 10 turns of silk - wish I'd ever been that good !

Good luck and lose the spade end !

Best wishes

Steve P

These little things may help but are no good for dries or anything over a size 12 or sparse patterns like buzzers:-

Mustad Fly Snap Hooks - Sportfish


Cheers

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Hi,

I have used the tucked half-blood knot for years but now find it more and more difficult to tie flies onto the small diameter fluorocarbon that is common nowadays. I'm ok preparing leaders at home, but if I've got to tie a replacement fly while in a boat it is becoming very difficult.

Looking for an alterntive,easier knot. Any suggestions please?.


jaykay

__________________
To cast one's fly upon the waters.