| Twisted
Patterns
Saltwater fly patterns can develop behavioral problems
when they get stacked on their tails in your fly box.
It happens. I carry a surf bag that has enough
room to pack three boxes, lined upright. I try to make a point of facing
all of the patterns in the same direction, and stacking the boxes so that
the patterns position head down. Inevitably, I'll put a box back upsidedown,
and not discover my error until the next time I dig for a pattern. By
then, hackle, bucktail and synthetic fibers have taken a "set,"
curving, twisting, and snarling seven ways from Sunday. There's no setting
things straight right away.
Pulling periodic maintenance on your patterns throughout
the season will increase your chances of having the right pattern ready
when it's needed. To correct problems in large or long patterns, hold
the pattern by the head under hot, running, tap water. About fifteen to
thirty seconds should do it. Make sure to hang the pattern tail down as
it dries. Oh, yeah. I can see weird-looking backyard clotheslines and
inquisitive neighbors already.
For smaller patterns, borrow a trick from freshwater
fly rodders, and steam the pattern. That is, put the tea kettle
on and hold the pattern over the hot vapors as you work the flaws out.
 The
freshwater crowd also has a little gizmo to prevent them from having to
take over the kitchen. It's called the Hackleperk, and it's small
enough to fit on your tying table. An electric coil boils the water, ushering
the steam through a small hole in the top of the Hackleperk. The
manufacturer includes a long-handled magnet so you won't scorch your fingers,
but that may not hold large saltwater patterns. Use forceps instead.
While you're at it, make it a habit of re-sharpening
hook points whenever possible. Several diamond-grit hook files are available
on the market, but the big, yellow-handled Luhr-Jensen metal file beats
most for saltwater hooks. Yes. If you pack it along, it will eventually
rust, but it does the best job. You can also use a Dremel tool fitted
with a sanding disk, but be careful. Those high RPMs can eat right through
a hook.
It's best to do all of your hook sharpening at home, but carrying a sharpener
in your gear bag isn't a bad idea, either.
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