Tying Question

[Crippled Caddis]

Rusty wrote:

<Now, when using man made fibers (slinky flash), how do you get the natural look at the tail>

OK----I admit it; you stumped me with that one! After much soul-searching and no little head-scratching I can recall no aquatic nor terrestrial organisms that have chrome rear ends.

[jdmidwest]

I usually tye flies like you are talking about full at the bench and trim them on the stream. Tie it on and cast it once to wet it then use your nippers or fingernails to trim it into shape. Then flip it into the water and see how it looks. I have found it easier than trying to figure out how the synthetics look when dry. You will be trying for a tapered look, like a minnow. You may have to pick out some of it to make it look right also. I tye a killer streamer clouser style with a single bead and Lite Brite material this way. With hair it is a little different, you can adjust it easier when you tye it in.