i‘ve been tying flies for 55 years. I’ve used a lot of synthetics over that time, and with very few exceptions the natural materials simply perform better- by their nature they look “buggy”, are easier to tie with, and they catch fish.
Fly tying is a craft with a lot of history, and like fly fishing is not only about catching the most fish. It’s about nature and enjoying the whole experience.
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There are exceptions. The new GSP threads are truly amazing. They don’t bulk up, and are very strong.
The newer hooks have better metal manufacturing processes and are stronger and corrosion resistant.
New head cements undoubtedly are stronger and longer lasting than either nothing or shellac.
However, Silk thread has been used for many decades, and we have found silk that ties even the smallest sizes easily.
We try to use steel hooks with minimal processing, and the hook is probably the last thing left of a fly left in nature.
Natural fur dubbing often out floats synthetic dubbing; it’s hard to beat millions of years of evolution.