Posted: 11/13/2007 8:50:49 PM EDT
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I'm just beginning, mainly watching Dave Cammiss and trying to copy him. I just have to say my attempts have been, to me, dismal. My fingers seem so clumsy. I will keep trying though, and hope next spring to catch a trout on one of my own flies. |
Fly tying can be very enjoyable and relaxing. To catch a fish on a fly that you tied, perhaps using a fly rod that you built, really enhances the enjoyment of fly fishing. Only a suggestion based upon experience: Concentrate on learning how to tie imitations of what you will actually be fishing. And, only purchase the materials that you need to tie those flies. In this way you can prevent yourself from becoming a collector of fly tying materials that you may never use. Ask me how I know. Best Wishes, DaGunn |
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I started tying flies a long time ago. My granddad showed me the basics, but I was pretty much on my own. Didn't have online videos then....that would have been a great help. Collected as many books on the subject as I could. Then, just started tying. A couple of suggestions: - Start with simple patterns and learn those well. Wollyworms/buggers are super simple and catch all kinds of fish, from pacific salmon to bluegills. - Tie larger patterns and gradually shrink your hook size. Bigger flies are easier to tie and are more forgiving of mistakes than small flies. - Practice, practice, practice. The more you tie the better you will get. The hardest thing to learn, for me, was how certain materials behave and how to work with them; I still can't spin deer hair for s**t, but I don't really need to with the kind of fishing I do. Good luck! |
| Stick to one patter first. Tie the largest hook size and make about 20 to 30 of them. The first five should be the same. Then, when you think your ready, start to tie in rubber legs. Add a brass head, rooster feathers, tinsel. Sooner or later you we be a master. |
| My first fly was the clouser. I didn't tie anything else until I mastered it. Only then did I allow myself to move on to other flies. That's what I was told to do and it helped me out greatly. Clousers are very useful and are a great place to start. They work in fresh and saltwater as long as select the proper hook. |
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I'm another self-taught tier. Just takes practice. Good lighting and tools help, too, though I tied a LOT of flies with cheap, crappy tools. The hardest part for me was always getting the proportions right. It helps to buy an example of what you want to tie so you have something other than a picture to look at when you're tying. |
| I was very lucky to have a grandfather that got me some fly tying lessons when I was young. I put it down in my late teens as beer and women took over. Since then Ive gone back to it. Endless creativity. I personally like to spin deer hair for that classic bass bug look. Its a bit tricky, but the end result is awesome; especially if you can get different colors to work out. Like stated above, nothing like catching a fish on a fly that you tied. Good luck, and dont give up. |
+1 on the more than you will ever use Just try Wolly buggers They teach tthread and material control ... which is the big trick Also check local fly shops You can almost always find free demos 99% of the time they will supply material just so you might buy more Took me two years to catch a stocker trout on my own fly |
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+1000 on having more tying crap then you will ever use. I learned while stationed over in the UK. Teachers were a Scotsman (USAF) and a Brit who owned a fly fishing shop. They loaded (Gave) me up with so much stuff that I have never had to buy material since I started tying in 1995. A thousand or so flies with no noticeable dent in materials. Most of the stuff is synthetic dubbing, chenille, flosses, lots of seals fur dubbing, Metz full hackle capes, hooks, and threads. You name it, they gave it to me. I just need to pick up some gold beads, ran out during my camping trip a couple weeks ago. Since I only tie a few different western patterns I don't use the majority of materials that I have. |