Drying the Head of a Fly

Drying the head of a fly.

There are numerous ways to dry the head of flies after they're completed. Some tiers cement the heads by simply placing them upright on the table. Others use cardboard, Styrofoam cups, cork and fancy drying racks. I have found one method that is very efficient and works best for me. Here's what you can do. 

When you finish tying a fly, insert a round toothpick into the hook eye. Then stick the toothpick into a Styrofoam square and allow the finished head to dry. Using this method will make sure that a hook eye will never be clogged with cement, and you won't have to pick it out to insert the leader.