As someone who teaches flytying, here are a few general suggestions to focus upon, and in time, it will enhance your finished product and satisfaction:
1. Learn proportioned application of the materials along the shank of the hook.
2. Use the smallest thread you can consistently apply pressure to without breaking it. It is ok to start with 6/0 but move to 8/0. Eventually, you can be daring with even finer threads for size 18’s and smaller.
3. Don’t crowd the materials forward and crowd the eye of the hook. Leave room for a thread head to adequately secure the fly.
4. Don’t over dub material to the hook. Start slow and add slowly so the dubbing doesn’t roll off the thread.
5. When you finish one pattern put the materials for that pattern away before piling more on your tying station. If you don’t it will soon be an archaeological dig to find various materials.
6. Learn the pinch technique when applying materials to the top of the shank. This will help stop the materials rolling over the top of the hook to the far side.
7. Hold the bobbin in your hand and keep your thumb and forefinger back where it belongs. Don’t creep you fingers up off the bobbin to the point your are actually holding the thread by the fingers and not even using the bobbin as a guiding tool. You will be much more precise utilizing the bobbin.
These are only a very few suggestions after teaching a class last night and observing techniques.
