Mr Dean has some good points, but I would say you could save yourself
a lot time in messing around with the practice fly he mentioned. The
one i used I got from the LL Bean book was just about a half dozen 1-
inch long pieces of yarn, tied to the tippet with a clinch knot. Ten
seconds and you are ready to cast, and it is painless if it hits you
in the noggin.
-Ethan