I did grow up in White Bear. Been there?
First Fly that you tied and Caught a Fish With
- Thread starter N. Metz
- Start date
Go Bears....
That's a fly name that takes me back many years! I tied and sold dozens of those for spending money as a kid.
My first foray into tying was at the tender, woefully impatient age of 8. My Dad bought me an old school, Thompson-style vise and materials to tie some old standard dries and nymphs.
The first pattern I tried to take on was the only one I had ever caught a fish on; the venerable, traditional Adams. I must have gotten frustrated to the point of throwing stuff at least 5 times before I finally got a sloppy whip finish on a badly-rushed head one day. The fly was over-dressed, the wings were cocked to one side, and the hackle work was butt ugly, but by God, I had completed something containing the same materials as my favorite Adams, and I was most pleased with myself.
Next time my Dad took me fishing, we went to the Frying Pan River (near Basalt, CO), and after spending 10 or so excruciating minutes trying to force 6x tippet through what little was left of the hook eye after my rushed head work, I finally managed to tie that fly on and set to fishing. I don't remember anything about the fishing until the moment where I somehow managed to will that fly into the foamy stuff at the head of a pool. The cast was (very accidentally) perfect. Even so, that "fly" floated (sort of LOL) over what must have been several nice fish before a dink brown of about 10 inches took pity on me and ate it. I stripped it in, and my friend netted it. The hook came out, and the fish promptly slipped through the hole in the bottom of my friend's net (oops) and swam away. I was pissed I didn't get a better look at it, but I was pumped. My fly, however, had paid the ultimate price. The "head" had come undone, and the first hackle was unwrapped and hanging off. Both wings had been pulled out. No matter; it had done its job.
I proved too impatient to do much more tying at that stage of my life. Not long after that, we moved to Texas, and I pretty much quit fly fishing until I moved to WA in 1999. I immediately took up tying again, and I caught a lot of fish on badly-tied flies. Only in the past 10 years or so have I gotten more serious about techniques and things that make for better-looking flies, and I'm almost "good" now, but many out there are much better....
The first pattern I tried to take on was the only one I had ever caught a fish on; the venerable, traditional Adams. I must have gotten frustrated to the point of throwing stuff at least 5 times before I finally got a sloppy whip finish on a badly-rushed head one day. The fly was over-dressed, the wings were cocked to one side, and the hackle work was butt ugly, but by God, I had completed something containing the same materials as my favorite Adams, and I was most pleased with myself.
Next time my Dad took me fishing, we went to the Frying Pan River (near Basalt, CO), and after spending 10 or so excruciating minutes trying to force 6x tippet through what little was left of the hook eye after my rushed head work, I finally managed to tie that fly on and set to fishing. I don't remember anything about the fishing until the moment where I somehow managed to will that fly into the foamy stuff at the head of a pool. The cast was (very accidentally) perfect. Even so, that "fly" floated (sort of LOL) over what must have been several nice fish before a dink brown of about 10 inches took pity on me and ate it. I stripped it in, and my friend netted it. The hook came out, and the fish promptly slipped through the hole in the bottom of my friend's net (oops) and swam away. I was pissed I didn't get a better look at it, but I was pumped. My fly, however, had paid the ultimate price. The "head" had come undone, and the first hackle was unwrapped and hanging off. Both wings had been pulled out. No matter; it had done its job.
I proved too impatient to do much more tying at that stage of my life. Not long after that, we moved to Texas, and I pretty much quit fly fishing until I moved to WA in 1999. I immediately took up tying again, and I caught a lot of fish on badly-tied flies. Only in the past 10 years or so have I gotten more serious about techniques and things that make for better-looking flies, and I'm almost "good" now, but many out there are much better....
With a rubber band for thread control, Dean?
Perfect! My first "successful" Adams (at least I thought it looked like an Adams . . . kinda . . . sorta . . . maybe) . . . must have at least looked "buggy." I left it on the kitchen table by the newspaper so Dad would be sure to see it after work. Mom spotted it first, swatted it with the rolled-up newspaper and tossed it in the trash.
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Divad
Whitefish
Very very cool! The pill bottle adds to the history pleasantly. Awesome that you have those still, the pillow supply stock is a great tidbit too.
First fish caught on a fly I tied was a brookie at the outlet of Sacheen Lake. I think I must have been about 10. Royal Coachman. I agonized over those damn paired upright wings and was furious how soon they got destroyed if fished.....and how relieved I was when I found wing perfection was completely unnecessary.
I remember standing on a rock in a pouring rain. That was about 60 years ago, and the same spot is now totally choked with vegetation. Lake eutrophication never sleeps.
I remember standing on a rock in a pouring rain. That was about 60 years ago, and the same spot is now totally choked with vegetation. Lake eutrophication never sleeps.
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First flies I learned to tie were the Brown hackle peacock and the Gray hackle yellow.
Most likely catch was a RB from Little Butte ck.
First fly caught fish was a Brookie with the Brown hackle peacock that my girl friends dad had tied.
So cool to watch that small Brookie come up out of the dark to take that fly as it sank slowly.
I hooked the trout and the trout hooked me on fly fishing.
Most likely catch was a RB from Little Butte ck.
First fly caught fish was a Brookie with the Brown hackle peacock that my girl friends dad had tied.
So cool to watch that small Brookie come up out of the dark to take that fly as it sank slowly.
I hooked the trout and the trout hooked me on fly fishing.
My first flies that I tied were woolly buggers. They were so ugly that I cut everything off and forgot about tying flies. When I started doing it again, I tied a little better ones. I used to tie a yellow Caddis fly that was lights out on the Sauk below Monte Cristo Lake (that wide spot on the Sauk). A size 14 and smaller.
Now I just stop in a local fly shop and ask what they are hitting on and then buy a few of each. You build up a good fly box that way. I don't lose many flies anymore. I guess that my cast has improved. Boy my typing sure sucks today. I have to correct damn near every big word.
Now I just stop in a local fly shop and ask what they are hitting on and then buy a few of each. You build up a good fly box that way. I don't lose many flies anymore. I guess that my cast has improved. Boy my typing sure sucks today. I have to correct damn near every big word.
A size 12 brown hackle peacock is the first fly that I learned to tie circa 1968 when I was twelve. My dad taught me how to fly fish and to tie a few simple patterns. He was a community college teacher and also worked a handful of years as a seasonal park ranger at Uvas Canyon County Park. He would take me to work with him and I would spend the day fishing Uvas Creek for little native rainbow trout. That pattern worked well for me in a bunch of little creeks that drained the Santa Cruz Mountains. I can honestly report that my fly tying skills have improved only slightly since then.
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FinLuver
Native Oregonian…1846
…bout the time Moses was walkin’ down the hill…I Suspect. (jk
)
Yeah man! I live down in Burnsville now but before moving down here I lived in St. Paul for a few years. Did you fish while you were in MN? Your profile says "seeking smallmouth bass" so i guess you hit the sippi, Saint Croix, rum, etc?
I was a kid when I lived there, and just pass thru now to visit family. I don't think I ever fished a river in MN!
Next time you come to visit, I'd recommend hitting one of the rivers for smallies man. Excellent smallie fishing. PM me if you need spots or info