Sandan

First, don't offer criticism of any kind unless it's asked for, some folks don't appreciate it. Second, on your Goddard's pack the spun hair more densely/tighter. They'll float better and it's easier to trim. Do you trim with a razor blade?

We got used to walking on the rock didn't we?

and snowing and I was barefoot cause shoes hadn't been invented yet

A little constructive criticism?

👍

charlie craven: https://charliesflyboxinc.com/mounting-hair-wings/

Two of my favorite caddis patterns. Both size 16. Clown shoe caddis and a wally wing caddis pupa. The clown shoe tied as a yellow Sally can be pretty effective too

Why am I even wasting my time? First it was "I never miss hits with an indy on the tag or a Piggyback." now it's what I quoted plus the rest of your statement. Yep it's the fish not you. A bit more humility and lot less hubris and you'd have a leg to stand on.

please. Have a great time in the Green Mts.

Actually, I made absolutely no mention of the piggyback/parasol style of fly. My point(s) were specifically directed, not towards a fly or style of fly I have no opinion on but rather towards specific overriding inaccurate statements presented as factual regarding indicator nymphing. I guess when someone makes this statement "I never miss hits with an indy on the tag or a Piggyback." we know that to be completely accurate 😂. I only wish I was that good a fisherman to never miss hits with an indy.

No need to read any further.

Yep, every now and then a fish might hit your indy (hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm patient. Fishing a hopper/dropper, dry/dropper can solve the no hook problem. In my experience sometimes that's not possible nor efficient. Fishing a size 22 or 24 trico on top makes it very tough to drop another 22, 24 or even 26 off it and keep the dry floating. You (not necessarily you Mark) can fish an 18/20 PMD/BWO and drop a 24 off that. Sometimes there's just nothing on top to drop off of. We fish some really techy tailwaters. Three fly nymph rig, 22->26 sometimes even 28 with a #6 split shot (0.1g) about 2' above the first fly, indy is the only way I can really keep track of what's going on under the surface. Like troutbitten says, each -tightline and indy- has it's strengths and weaknesses. It's up us the angler to exploit those strengths.

You should really stay away from making overriding blanket statements. A Dorsey indicator doesn't "splash down and spook fish" in the least. "The Dorsey is lighter, more sensitive, more subtle and more adjustable than anything else you can attach to the line. The smallest Dorsey weighs less than a dry fly and suspends more weight. Even the largest Dorsey touches down on the water like a feather. It doesn’t kink or damage the line and doesn’t move until you want it to, whereby it easily slides on any diameter of line. The crinkled, polypropylene macrame yarn traps more air than cork or styrofoam, so it floats better. The Dorsey also costs next to nothing, and you can fish it in any color you like." https://troutbitten.com/2017/03/30/dorsey-yarn-indicator-everything-need-know-little/ As to "impeding the drift" "Strengths of an indicator nymphing system— Steady, smoother drifts with less bounce. An indicator rig tends to even out the drift by eliminating the incidental or unintended motion that tight line nymphing can introduce to the nymphs." https://troutbitten.com/2018/06/26/nymphing-tight-line-vs-indicator/#:~:text=— Steady%2C smoother drifts with less bounce. An,indicators are better for this than yarn styles.

Basically, IMO, the wax increases the "grip" of the thread. Possibly the durability of the fly too. As redietz said, " It only takes about two turns of a well waxed thread to start it on the hook, and it's not going anywhere once it's started." Also it takes fewer wraps to bind materials. Fewer wraps are usually a good thing. I hardly use head cement, so won't comment on that. Sometimes I use wax sometimes I don't. I should probably use it more for when I'm tying the small stuff. Anyhow, while the discussion here is about soft hackles and silk thread, wax will have the same benefits for all threads, again IMO. Tying wax for thread isn't the same as is used for dubbing usually.