Fly tying pet peeve…

[JG63]

When “how to” expert video shows 6 inches of perfectly good thread being cut off as “the tag” at the very START of a particular pattern, (pic 1) it drives me nuckinfutz - I’m too cheap to waste that much thread - especially if it’s gonna be a few dozen each or more - with midges and smaller flies, you may be throwing away more thread per fly than you use! Who thinks that’s a good idea? I always try to keep the tag less than the hook shank length and just cover it up with the initial thread covering (pic 2) - it’s an efficiency thing with me - perhaps it will help you (?) Good day eh?

 

[Solitariolupo]

I put a wrap on top then underneath pull it to the end then wrap in no cuttings needed.

 

[falcon]

I can see using Semperfli at 8 bucks a spool being conscious of waste.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Fly tying videos featuring disgusting finger nails. (credit jdaddy for ruining them forever for me by pointing this out)

 

[Bamboozle]

I use Gudebrod fly tying thread for 99% of my normal operations in fly tying and I am a "tag snapper" (among other things 🙂)

So I tie in my thread at wherever point is required, leaving a short enough tag to grab. Then I make a few securing wraps and snap off maybe 2" -3" of thread.

I'm all about saving time at the bench and doing it this way takes me less time than other trickery just to save $0.001 worth of thread.

It also doesn't hurt that I have approximately 3 lifetimes worth of Gudebrod 3/0, 6/0, 8/0 & 10/0 fly tying thread. 😉

 

[Kms]

I can see using Semperfli at 8 bucks a spool being conscious of waste.

FWIW I use “Lion River” and “Wifreo” brand GSP in 50d, 100d and 150d from Aliexpress, which are cheap as spit and frankly better than semperfli because they’re just as strong but more colorfast. Semperfli colors wipe off leaving you with white thread (except for the black thread, that actually stays black).

They cost ~$2 a spool, sometimes less with coupons and Rakuten discounts.

Also these cut through GSP (and everything else) like butter, are easily resharpened and have replaced my loon and renzetti scissors for everything except tiny details. Bought the three pack over a year ago and still haven’t worn out the first.

https://www.michaels.com/product/singer-4''-curved-tip-forged-embroidery-scissors-with-printed-handles-3ct-D650265S

 

[TerrellBFly]

Literally noticed myself doing this yesterday on some crabs. Not sure what prompted my attention to it, but I have always tried to use as little as possible for tippet knots and this just seems like a logical extension.