1) When tying in herl butts, many perfer small flued ostrich herl, which can can be difficult to find. But when found, to keep the butt as small as possible, tie in by the tip and wrap carefully by hand, not with hackle pliers. The herl will be less likely to break, you'll have control and the end result will be tighter and smaller in diameter.

2) Mallard roofs can be especially troublesome by splitting at the tie in point. Instead of folding the strip of mallard that you have previously slightly straightened away from the feather stem; and then peeled (not cut.) off, try holding the trip ever so gently by thumb and index finger, so that the strip very slightly begins to cup. Place the slightly cupped strip carefully over the wing, but do not touch it to the wing. The peeled ends should be just beyond the tie in point., at the head and just barely touching. This is the only part of the feather strip that touches anywhere on the fly at this point. Now try to carefully catch the mallard just behind the peeled area with one or two wraps of thread. This will pull the strip down, cupping, but. not splitting it. Then, with a small paint. brush, paint saliva up and under the mallard as it lays over either side of the wings. This will pull and "glue" the strip into place. Be cautious that too much saliva is not used, because it will show by shrinking the barbules in the barbs and drawing the strip together.

______________________________________________________________

his is written as an ecouragement to all participants in The Group to patronize Tom Travis' Montana Master Angler, P.O. Box 1320, Livingston, Montana 59047 (406)222-2273.

Since inception, all issues of the publication have been repoduced and mailed by Tom, at no expense to The Group other than his actual cost. Tom is not a salmon fly tier, but is an excellent tier of trout flies, particularly minutiae. The shop does not cater to featherwing salmon flyneeds, but has a good cross section of interesting and sometimes unique materials. Last summer I purchased some unsual types of African deer that made excellent. tails and wings on dry flies.

Master Angler also has a highly recommended guide service to the Yellowstone drainage and spring creeks that you might consider on your next trip to that area.And if nothing else, please take a moment right now so you don't forget and write a two-sentence "thank you" to Tom. We didn't even have to ask for his help; he heard of our need and volunteered with no strings attached.