Hi Guys,

What method do you use to tie on your skirts? Does anyone use one of those fly tying vices to hold the jig? Do you seperate the tab strands before hand? And how the heck do you get the tabs to stay where you want them while winding the wire? So many questions ... any answers... best practices? What's your method?

Thanks!

Vice definitely.

Put the skirt in a band, slide it on the hook and position, wire tie ahead of band and slide band off. I leave the strands together until finished, then separate. Don't put to much pressure when wrapping the wire, it can cut the skirt. After a few, you get used to it. Hope this helps.

thanks man!

If you are using silicone skirt tabs you can hold them in place with a bread tie.  Just wrap it around the stuff a few times then put your wire on then unwrap the tie.

I work in a floral shop and they use floral wire a lot, it's coated and doesn't cut the skirt nearly as bad, works for me. 

It is easiest to just put the skirt on with the rubber collar then wire tie in front of the skirt. Below is an example of the wire pliers I use and the wire you use is up to you. The green tomato stake wire from Wal-Mart works as does any other wire close to 22 guage it is just a matter of personal preference.

Allen

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=6+wire+twisting+pliers&_frs=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m359

I use a fly vise and I cut a specific length of wire then wrap it very loose around the hook, stack the tabs of skirt material the way I want them and slide them through the wire loop. I hold them in place as I tighten the wire loop. I feel like I have more control of where the strands wind up and I get a great skirt flare in the finished product. It also takes less time than putting it in a rubber collar first.

I use a fly vise and I cut a specific length of wire then wrap it very loose around the hook, stack the tabs of skirt material the way I want them and slide them through the wire loop. I hold them in place as I tighten the wire loop. I feel like I have more control of where the strands wind up and I get a great skirt flare in the finished product. It also takes less time than putting it in a rubber collar first.

How about a quick video of that process...I'm having trouble envisioning it.