New to fly tying

Thank you to everyone for your guidance and willingness to share your experience it is very much appreciated. To those of you who have offered some beginners supplies. I feel blessed by your generosity. The sense of community within this site is strong. I float the Yakima river often in my 16' Clackacraft and often have empty seats. I hope to be able to pay it forward and get to meet new friend's during a day on the river.
Jim Allen
 
I’ll send some materials to you asap. Don’t be afraid to fish your earliest abominations, even if they look nothing like what you’re trying to mimic. Much of the time the fish aren’t as judgmental as humans are!

Or, if your attempt is so brutal you can’t bear to fish it, just cut the material off the hook and start over. Sometimes I’ll try new patterns with extra/unpopular colored material so I don’t waste my favorite stuff on sacrificial attempts.
 
Get yourself a good light--something with a daylight-balanced light source and a moveable neck. Often found at craft stores. You can also find larger plastic-drawer storage systems there as well. Sterilite used to make a few different sizes of smaller three-tier plastic drawers that can be very handy for storage as well.
 
flybill said:
Pick a few patterns and buy the materials you need and buy the best hooks. No sense on tying on crappy hooks. Pinch the barbs before you tie on the hooks, in case they break. I would suggest wooley buggers as others have suggested and some easy nymphs like stone flies and maybe a copper John or prince nymph. Dries are fun but working with deer hair and other hairs is challenging to start off. Keep it simple, the KISS principle.

Take a class or two from a local fly shop. Or use videos and SBS (step by step). Lots of great books, but seeing it done in person will speed things up!

Enjoy and good luck! Learn how to start the thread and do a whip finish! It's really not that hard. Even I can do it!

Cheers!
FlyBill
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Ditto on the class.
 
tkww said:
Get yourself a good light--something with a daylight-balanced light source and a moveable neck. Often found at craft stores. You can also find larger plastic-drawer storage systems there as well. Sterilite used to make a few different sizes of smaller three-tier plastic drawers that can be very handy for storage as well.
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNHNG5C...mp=&crid=43380WNWWSH6&sprefix=desk+light&th=1

This has been a huge improvement over my old Ottlight and half the price
 
Worley Bugger has vises in the shop at a table so you can sit down and tie right there. And they have tying get togethers there sometimes too.
 
James St. Clair said:
Jim -

The event is free, but you will need to register, which you can do here:

linktr.ee

redsflyshop_tying | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Red’s Fly Shop - Fly Tying HQ Fly shop-tested. Guide-approved. Fish-devouring. Shop our collection, watch tutorials, and gear up to tie like a pro.
linktr.ee linktr.ee

I'll look forward to meeting you!

James
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Very nice to meet you and Jim today. It was a well planned and executed event. I’ve been tying for a long time and I learned some things today. All three tyers were excellent.
 
Eastside said:
Very nice to meet you and Jim today. It was a well planned and executed event. I’ve been tying for a long time and I learned some things today. All three tyers were excellent.
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James
Agree it was an excellent event. My brain was spinning by the end. Sorry for the late reply as I was fishing the Metolius the past several days. Excited to start tying and learning.
 
A very good fly tying teacher on You tube is Davie McPhail and he is detailed as well as low key in his teaching. His videos are particularly good.. in step by step and he ties some flies I really enjoy. I also think Dave Hughes books are great and he also is a really good fellow to follow at some of the fly shows but I haven't been to one if several years. I have also enjoyed The Orvis presentations in fly tying as they are also very good and detailed. I agree taking a class can really jump-start your learning curve but actually doing the tying is how you will create the confidence in the learning and then adventure into more. I also have to admit that the idea of saving money by tying your own flies is not such a realistic perspective. I have 3 vises, over 100 books and god knows how much tying stuff but wouldn't change a thing. The "time" tying is really a fun time and creating new neural pathways in any way helps create and further increase cognitive learning...,,, progress.... as we get older. We gotta keep learning to keep alive. I just wish I had started fly fishing and tying in my youth. That is such an advantage of years of growing into a relaxing sport and one that has a lower impact on our bodies, although I have had 2 rotator cuff surgeries but not from fishing. Having a relaxing sport as one gets older is really important for me. Also then you get to share that sport with your kids and grandkids. That is a hoot.
 
A very good fly tying teacher on You tube is Davie McPhail and he is detailed as well as low key in his teaching. His videos are particularly good.. in step by step and he ties some flies I really enjoy. I also think Dave Hughes books are great and he also is a really good fellow to follow at some of the fly shows but I haven't been to one if several years. I have also enjoyed The Orvis presentations in fly tying as they are also very good and detailed. I agree taking a class can really jump-start your learning curve but actually doing the tying is how you will create the confidence in the learning and then adventure into more. I also have to admit that the idea of saving money by tying your own flies is not such a realistic perspective. I have 3 vises, over 100 books and god knows how much tying stuff but wouldn't change a thing. The "time" tying is really a fun time and creating new neural pathways in any way helps create and further increase cognitive learning...,,, progress.... as we get older. We gotta keep learning to keep alive. I just wish I had started fly fishing and tying in my youth. That is such an advantage of years of growing into a relaxing sport and one that has a lower impact on our bodies, although I have had 2 rotator cuff surgeries but not from fishing. Having a relaxing sport as one gets older is really important for me. Also then you get to share that sport with your kids and grandkids. That is a hoot.
 
One word of advice:

Don't tie flies to save money. Tie them for the love of tying.

Its likely that you'll spend more on tying supplies than on flies, but it is most satisfying nevertheless. Its great to catch fish on flies that I've tied, and its a fishing-related thing to do during the off season.
 
Love seeing all the helpful comments and stoked you're getting into it! If youre ever in SW Washington and have questions swing on in. We have vises at the ready and can help with any tying question you can come up with!
 
Dave G said:
One word of advice:

Don't tie flies to save money. Tie them for the love of tying.

Its likely that you'll spend more on tying supplies than on flies, but it is most satisfying nevertheless. Its great to catch fish on flies that I've tied, and its a fishing-related thing to do during the off season.
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They are also fun to give to others and enjoy watching their catching success stream-side.
 
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