With regard to the twist in the loop. You can twist the loop before
you thread it through the eye, or after. If you do it before, it can
be difficult to pull the loop tight. It really does lock the loop
better though.

Once again a sketch of what I mean. This is twisted before of course.
If you do it after, thread the loop first, and then twist it before
threading the fly through it.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9982/twistuu2.jpg

TL
MC