Santa at the tying bench
by Russ Forney

With the holidays approaching, you might think Santa is too busy for the tying bench. But I would not be surprised if, like many of us, he finds comfort at the vise - dubbing, spinning, and hackling until the wee hours of the morning. And I'll bet Santa knows one of the greatest joys of fly tying is its capacity to be shared with others.

Tying demonstrations, classes, and outreach programs are integral parts of sharing our craft; as is the gift of flies to the anglers and nonanglers in our life. One of the easiest and most versatile gifts you can make at your tying vise is a fly pin - a fly pattern tied on a safety pin. The finished product reflects your passion for fly tying and is the perfect accessory for a hat, vest, coat, or even a tie.

Tying a fly on a safety pin is similar to tying on a conventional hook, as long as you remember a safety pin is made of much softer metal than a forged fish hook. The pin will flex up, down, and around in response to tension from your thread bobbin. You may find it necessary to hold the pin with one hand as you wrap thread around the pin shank, and the occasional half-hitch or whip knot secures materials in place as you work. Like any new technique, a little practice at the vise will retool your fine motor skills; you can be a fly pin pro in no time at all.

Safety pins come in a variety of sizes, from less than a half inch in length to some behemoths over four inches long. Pins are finished in a broad spectrum of colors; gold, silver, brass, black, and pastel colors are available in craft shops, sewing centers, and discount stores. You should not have a problem finding sizes and colors appropriate for the patterns you want to display. And at only a few pennies apiece, a package of safety pins cost less than a spool of tying thread.

Whether you tie a traditional trout pattern or flaunt your brightest floss and gaudiest feathers; safety pins are the perfect platform for fun. Bold, bright, and flashy attract attention and display well. Fly pins are not bound for discerning trout and spring creeks, unless it is riding on your favorite fishing hat. Safety pin flies also look good when tied larger than the actual pattern size you might fish; exaggerated size enhances the fly's appearance and highlights your craftsmanship.

If you have never tied a fly pin before, why not make a few for family and friends this year? You will enjoy the time at the tying bench and they will appreciate your thoughtful, hand-crafted gift. The accompanying pictures show a few tricks to help you get started, followed by a couple of examples to fuel your imagination. Safety pin patterns are a great way to promote fly tying and share our enthusiasm with others; they are a unique expression of holiday spirit wrapped in thread.

Slide over Santa, I have some pins to tie!

Step 1. Safety pins are made from relatively soft metal; you might find it helpful to hold the pin as you wrap to prevent it from flexing under thread tension. The coiled wire hinge is a good control point. Notice how the pin is opened to a right angle to keep the bottom half of the pin, and the point, out of the way when tying.

Step 2. A small bump of thread at the tail end of the pin not only lifts and splays the tailing fibers, it keeps the fibers from getting caught in the coiled wire at the hinge.

Step 3. Floss makes an attractive body for fly pins and a thin coat of nail polish makes the material durable and less likely to fray. Notice the abrupt taper of the body just behind the wings; the steep shoulder keeps the hackle collar in place, especially with repeated opening and closing of the safety pin.

Step 4. With a hackled collar and a thread head, this fly pin is ready to ride a hat or vest. There is no need to use your best saddle hackle; softer, slightly webby hackle is fine on these ornamental flies.

Parachute Adams. An Adams dressing with a bright yarn post and parachute hackle is an attractive fly pin.

Pale yellow dun. The finish on the safety pin compliments the colors of the pattern, the yellow dubbing and hackle appears more vivid when tied on a black pin.

Double flies. There is no need to limit yourself to a single fly on a pin, as these last two fly pins show. Have fun and enjoy tying on an unusual platform.