Stacey
Smolt
That's a great idea!
Brand New to Fly Tying
- Thread starter Stacey
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Stacey
Smolt
That's a great suggestion! There are so many flies that look like fun, it's tempting to jump ahead to a new one - but I suspect repetition is the key to proficiency. Maybe I'll sit myself down & make 5 more reverse spiders before I move on
Why stop at 5? You'd REALLY know you had that proficiency if you tied a dozen....or two. Maybe you should practice different colors?That's a great suggestion! There are so many flies that look like fun, it's tempting to jump ahead to a new one - but I suspect repetition is the key to proficiency. Maybe I'll sit myself down & make 5 more reverse spiders before I move on
Stacey
Smolt
Done! What colors? If I make you a shopping list will you run to the fly shop for me at lunch??
Geez, I'd be ashamed to post a pic of my first fly, even if I had one. That's impressive as all get out. I remember tying my first reverse spiders, after I'd been tying for a good many years. Not a super duper technical pattern, but definitely not the easiest either. Especially that reverse hackle.
I want to say my first fly was a Wooly Worm, but it was 26 or 27 years ago so memory is a bit hazy. I used to catch a lot of fish on them on the lakes in BC I fished at the time, and it being a pretty simple pattern it was a logical first attempt.
I agree with both the Wooly Bugger and Clouser Minnow as being next focus flies. Both would serve Josh's fishes needs well, and both are great for learning common tying techniques. I definitely agree with Dime, learning to tie with bucktail is crucial IMO. So many great patterns make use of bucktail, and while it's not an overly difficult material to tie with, it does tend to take some practice to tie with it well. Especially the proportion side of things.
I want to say my first fly was a Wooly Worm, but it was 26 or 27 years ago so memory is a bit hazy. I used to catch a lot of fish on them on the lakes in BC I fished at the time, and it being a pretty simple pattern it was a logical first attempt.
I agree with both the Wooly Bugger and Clouser Minnow as being next focus flies. Both would serve Josh's fishes needs well, and both are great for learning common tying techniques. I definitely agree with Dime, learning to tie with bucktail is crucial IMO. So many great patterns make use of bucktail, and while it's not an overly difficult material to tie with, it does tend to take some practice to tie with it well. Especially the proportion side of things.
Also another vote for tying multiple of any pattern. I tend to tie at least 6 of any new pattern I'm learning. Inevitably fly number 6 comes out much better than my first attempts. Often it's just a matter of getting a feel for the right proportions of the various materials, at least for me.
Even more importantly though, if you only tie one of any particular pattern you can bet your life savings that the first time Josh ties it on it will quickly prove to be the ONLY fly the fish want anything to do with that day, and undoubtedly he will lose it to a log in a matter of minutes. Don't want to deal with a cranky husband when he comes home after a slow day of fishing because you only provided him with a single hot fly.
Even more importantly though, if you only tie one of any particular pattern you can bet your life savings that the first time Josh ties it on it will quickly prove to be the ONLY fly the fish want anything to do with that day, and undoubtedly he will lose it to a log in a matter of minutes. Don't want to deal with a cranky husband when he comes home after a slow day of fishing because you only provided him with a single hot fly.
RCF
Life of the Party
That's a great suggestion! There are so many flies that look like fun, it's tempting to jump ahead to a new one - but I suspect repetition is the key to proficiency. Maybe I'll sit myself down & make 5 more reverse spiders before I move on
When you tie multiple flies in a row look at the first one tied and compare it to the last one tied. There will be a big difference. Even those of us that have been tying for years notice a difference in what we tie. That positive feedback is truly a great thing...
This sounds like you've got a disturbingly accurate fly fishing Magic 8 Ball giving you a look into my future.
Prevent cranky husband syndrome and get out there and FISH! Josh can tie flies right? No complaints about free flies allowed.
I hope I am not banned.
There are an endless amount of modifications and different materials that you can use for this fly. It's a great one to learn.
RCF
Life of the Party
@Stacey - you are finding out very quickly that this forum is a great place to be and the sharing of information is given without expectations of anything in return. A very unique quality that is very rarely achieved anywhere especially on a a social media platform. We, the collective we, are stoked to have you here for sure!
We all learn differently. Many of us learned from books since YouTube did not exist. The SBS (step by step) tying instructions on PNWFF is awesome and a very valuable source of information too. If you are so inclined I would take advantage of @IHFISH 's offer of free books.
Some suggestions of what to tie? Woolley Bugger, Carey Special, Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail Nymphs. Lots of different techniques and materials. And then there is deer/elk/moose/antelope hair. For a number of us, me included, it is the bane of our existence... Tie flies for what fish you are targeting.
Looking forward to your sharing of this learning experience. Also looking forward to your first fish caught on your own fly. ALL of us remember that first fish caught with our own fly - even decades later. Then we need to hear about when you kicked @Josh 's ass fishing...
We all learn differently. Many of us learned from books since YouTube did not exist. The SBS (step by step) tying instructions on PNWFF is awesome and a very valuable source of information too. If you are so inclined I would take advantage of @IHFISH 's offer of free books.
Some suggestions of what to tie? Woolley Bugger, Carey Special, Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail Nymphs. Lots of different techniques and materials. And then there is deer/elk/moose/antelope hair. For a number of us, me included, it is the bane of our existence... Tie flies for what fish you are targeting.
Looking forward to your sharing of this learning experience. Also looking forward to your first fish caught on your own fly. ALL of us remember that first fish caught with our own fly - even decades later. Then we need to hear about when you kicked @Josh 's ass fishing...
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Stacey
Smolt
Thank you everyone for the warm welcome & words of encouragement! I see now why Josh likes it here so much 
Quick question, if anyone has any advice to offer: This is my most recent attempt at a reversed spider in the vice & my 1st below it for comparison. I like the look of the splayed feathers better than the cone shape, but I don't know which is better or more correct. I've found pictures of this fly pattern online with both shapes, so maybe it doesn't matter? It seems like the splayed hackle would have more movement in the water though, if I'm imagining it correctly.
Quick question, if anyone has any advice to offer: This is my most recent attempt at a reversed spider in the vice & my 1st below it for comparison. I like the look of the splayed feathers better than the cone shape, but I don't know which is better or more correct. I've found pictures of this fly pattern online with both shapes, so maybe it doesn't matter? It seems like the splayed hackle would have more movement in the water though, if I'm imagining it correctly.
The fish is the best judgeThank you everyone for the warm welcome & words of encouragement! I see now why Josh likes it here so much
Quick question, if anyone has any advice to offer: This is my most recent attempt at a reversed spider in the vice & my 1st below it for comparison. I like the look of the splayed feathers better than the cone shape, but I don't know which is better or more correct. I've found pictures of this fly pattern online with both shapes, so maybe it doesn't matter? It seems like the splayed hackle would have more movement in the water though, if I'm imagining it correctly.
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Stacey
Smolt
Fair enough
FinLuver
Native Oregonian…1846
I like to create a tapered thread bump behind the hook’s eye and then strip one side of the feather…sparser more active pulsing wing.Thank you everyone for the warm welcome & words of encouragement! I see now why Josh likes it here so much
Quick question, if anyone has any advice to offer: This is my most recent attempt at a reversed spider in the vice & my 1st below it for comparison. I like the look of the splayed feathers better than the cone shape, but I don't know which is better or more correct. I've found pictures of this fly pattern online with both shapes, so maybe it doesn't matter? It seems like the splayed hackle would have more movement in the water though, if I'm imagining it correctly.
View attachment 51569
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