Finally my new vise and tools arrive

[bgood]

but unfortunately the materials I ordered with them won't be here until tomorrow. I've been tying on paperclips with sewing thread and stuff I find around the house for the last 2 hours. Practicing my whip finish. I can see this becoming addicting. Hope to have my first real attempt complete by tomorrow this time.......

 

[Catskill]

but unfortunately the materials I ordered with them won't be here until tomorrow. I've been tying on paperclips with sewing thread and stuff I find around the house for the last 2 hours. Practicing my whip finish. I can see this becoming addicting. Hope to have my first real attempt complete by tomorrow this time.......

What's even more addicting is when you go to a show or shop and start buying materials to tie with. Then somewhere down the line, go to a shop or another show and see this great looking material, purchase it, then get home and realize you already own it.

 

[onemorecast]

What's even more addicting is when you go to a show or shop and start buying materials to tie with. Then somewhere down the line, go to a shop or another show and see this great looking material, purchase it, then get home and realize you already own it.

And even worse, even though you tie flies yourself, you go to some destination fly shop and buy a bunch of flies that you just HAVE to have. Then when you're drifting in your boat you go to put them in your fly box and say "crap! I already have two dozen of these!" :dizzy:

Congratulations, bgood! You will have a blast!

 

[PRomano]

I'm just getting back into fly tying/fishing after being away from the sport for 15 years. I discarded my materials, but fortunately, kept my tools.

Last Friday I stopped by Efinger's to pick up some materials and much to my delight, I found they are running a sale. All tools and matarials are 20% off, and you get 30% off in you have a TU card.
So start shopping and help the economy!

 

[klg neighbor]

Welcome to the world of saving money by tying your own flies!

(At least that's what I tell my wife):rofl:

 

[AKSkim]

go to a shop or another show and see this great looking material, purchase it, then get home and realize you already own it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with excess, why just settle for one of something when you can have 8 or 9.

 

[BRK TRT]

but unfortunately the materials I ordered with them won't be here until tomorrow. I've been tying on paperclips with sewing thread and stuff I find around the house for the last 2 hours. Practicing my whip finish. I can see this becoming addicting. Hope to have my first real attempt complete by tomorrow this time.......

Welcome,

Its addicting allright, but very rewarding.

And be sure to keep the first fly you tie no matter what it is or looks like.

A first,


Our Children's Streamers - Al Petrucci

 

[Stonefly]

Thre is no such thing as too much materials, especially hooks!

 

[quality time]

And even worse, even though you tie flies yourself, you go to some destination fly shop and buy a bunch of flies that you just HAVE to have. Then when you're drifting in your boat you go to put them in your fly box and say "crap! I already have two dozen of these!" :dizzy:

Congratulations, bgood! You will have a blast!

Now, what you have to look forward to eventually is going to a fly shop and looking through the bins, commenting to yourself that their flies are crap and you could do better!

 

[bgood]

Thanks guys. I tied a "bunch" last night - long time, not alot of flies.

My first was a black ant which came out suprisingly good but my follow up's were awful - bad dubbing technique - frustrating. I backed off that and did a few San Juan Worms, Poly Caddis and then Wooly Buggers. I had some issues with the WB and getting the palmering right but the one I got right looks really nice. I plan on keeping the flies I tie in a seperate fly box so I can see how they do.

 

[Fly Guy]

Take your time when tying. Try to tie 6 of each fly and pay attention to proportions. Look at pictures or at flies that you bought. Don't get frustrated It takes time

Jeremy

 

[fishn50]

Take your time when tying. Try to tie 6 of each fly and pay attention to proportions. Look at pictures or at flies that you bought. Don't get frustrated It takes time

Jeremy[/QUOTE

Good Advice..Stay with one pattern until you feel comfortable with the tie. Try it in different sizes, & then when the flies pass your standards move on to something else. .The Wooley bugger is a good starting fly because there are material handling techniques you have to train your hands to do well, & its big enough to practice on.
Good Luck & stay with it.

 

[Bamboozle]

bgood:

Hopefully you are not a novice at fly fishing as well because you may come to the erroneous conclusion that YOUR creations are being refused by trout accustomed to the perfection of us old timers.

:rofl:

Don't get discouraged! Fish are morons therefore EVERY fly you tie, no matter how bad YOU may think it looks will catch fish. My first fly was so bad it was buried like the Elephant Man so it wouldn't scare the crap out of people yet it still caught its share of foolish fish.

I strive to tie the best looking flies I can and anything less than that is a cop out to me but I know MY limitations. Fortunately the trout have decided to give me a handicap and allow me to have some level of success without forcing me to tie flies as beautiful as some guys on this board.

Wherever you end up it's all good but the greatest thing about fly tying for me is not tying all of the classic or established patterns but the guessing games. It's all about seeing a bug or something else that looks like food and having the ability to recreate it to the best of your ability and see who is dumber; you for thinking it actually looks like food or the fish for the same reason.

Have fun!

 

[frogge]

Hey,
You didn't indicate what issues you had with the WB. One thing that helps the palmering of the hackle is to strip all the barbs from the half that is against the hook. Another refinement I like is using hen hackle instead of the usual rooster saddle. The softer fibers should give more movement. Since you are getting stocked up on material, I've recently used aluminum dubbing(hare's ear makes it) to dub the body of the WB. This should help the fly sink and provides some flash. I would further the tone of this thread in welcoming you to the group addiction. I'm frogge and it has been four days since I tied a fly. I generally don't make more than two. One last word of advice. Try to tie at least six flys of any new pattern. This is not only more effecient(get all the materials set up and go at it), but you will notice that the last fly is nearly always alot better than the first. Also don't worry too much if the flys don't look like the Orvis catalogue. Many ratty flies have been great fish producers. Toodles,Frogge.

 

[leadhead]

Practice, practice, practice! Like some already said I started w/ buggers. Once in awhile I would try something I wasn't ready for and get frustrated, but I think that's part of the learning process. Fish only get a quick look at nymphs in fast water so fish all your "mistakes" there.

When you go to buy materials, write a list. I don't know how many times I've gone out for one thing, and come home w/ $50 worth of everything but what I needed.


lh

 

[Andy B]

First off don't get frustrated over mistakes. Practice and patience will over come this in time. Also ask questions and never be afraid to show your work and ask for suggestions on how to improve. All beginning tyers are slow. If you want to increase your speed then tye a least one fly a night. You will start to notice over a period of time that your speed in increasing. Once you feel your going at a good clip, your speed can be increased by little things like keeping your sissors in your tying hand while tying the fly. Learn to tye twelve flies of one pattern instead of just a few. The issue to strive for is to make each fly look the same. Never tye when upset or frustrated.

 

[klg neighbor]

Another suggestion that I've read is try to teach someone else how to tie. Apparently, the act of instruction makes you concentrate on what you're doing during the tie and makes you a better tyer. At least on technique.

That suggestion came from a book on 1001 tip on fly fishing. Contains tips from many notible people.

 

[onemorecast]

Another suggestion that I've read is try to teach someone else how to tie. Apparently, the act of instruction makes you concentrate on what you're doing during the tie and makes you a better tyer. At least on technique.

That suggestion came from a book on 1001 tip on fly fishing. Contains tips from many notible people.

That is so true and that principle applies to everything in life. Plus it makes you realize how much you, yourself have learned.

 

[Andy B]

KLG and Onemorecast, I do agree with you, but like anything else in life the desire has to be there. If your only half heartedly into it, you might pick up something little. I was always into tying from day one and became very passionate with wet flies. I carry this passion into all flies I tye.

 

[bgood]

Thanks again for all the advice. I'm getting better. I try to do 3-4 a night. I'm not too worried about output yet but just getting my technique down and being "neat". One question I have - actually 2.

1. I have a rotary vise and when doing a WB I like to use the rotary to wrap the chennile. Unfortunately when I put my bobbin on the holder the thread tends to unravel by slipping over the hook eye as I rotate the vice. I've taken to tying a half hitch on it before hanging it to keep the thread in place - this works but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong and just hiding some other badness with the half hitch. Is that normal practice on a rotary?

2. My issue with the WB was that the hackle was looking "fuzzy" like the marabu instead of "spikey" like the pictures. I notice that the hackle feathers I have are very "fuzzy" down at the end and more "spikey" toward the tip. I started stripping all that fuzzy stuff off and that made a difference. The flies look more like the pictures now. I'm just wondering how do you figure out what "prep" needs to go into a given piece of material to make it ready to use properly. That's one of those things the books I have don't quite say.

I can't post a link or picture yet so I posted a picture of what I think is my best WB in my album here.

If anyone has any input I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[klg neighbor]

Thanks again for all the advice. I'm getting better. I try to do 3-4 a night. I'm not too worried about output yet but just getting my technique down and being "neat". One question I have - actually 2.

1. I have a rotary vise and when doing a WB I like to use the rotary to wrap the chennile. Unfortunately when I put my bobbin on the holder the thread tends to unravel by slipping over the hook eye as I rotate the vice. I've taken to tying a half hitch on it before hanging it to keep the thread in place - this works but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong and just hiding some other badness with the half hitch. Is that normal practice on a rotary?

2. My issue with the WB was that the hackle was looking "fuzzy" like the marabu instead of "spikey" like the pictures. I notice that the hackle feathers I have are very "fuzzy" down at the end and more "spikey" toward the tip. I started stripping all that fuzzy stuff off and that made a difference. The flies look more like the pictures now. I'm just wondering how do you figure out what "prep" needs to go into a given piece of material to make it ready to use properly. That's one of those things the books I have don't quite say.

I can't post a link or picture yet so I posted a picture of what I think is my best WB in my album here.

If anyone has any input I would appreciate it.

Thanks

I do the half hitch thing to keep the thread in place before moving the bobbin off to the holder, but don't use the rotary when doing the hackle. Maybe you can try a small whip finish instead of the half hitch instead.

Do you tye the hackle from the tip on WB? Tye the tip of the hackle near the bend then wrap it towards the eye. You should have hackle long enough to reach the eye before the fuzzy stuff. Maybe your problem is you materials???

When you get the chance to post a picture, maybe post a picture of your hackle before you wrap and we can see.

 

[Fly Guy]

I do the same with the half hitch. But, are you sure you are wrapping the hackle the right way. Everything should be wrapped away from you except maybe ribbing. Therefore, when using a rotary you need to sping the vise toward you so the hackle is wrapping away from you.

Are you using a bobin holder? If so is it level with the hook? That way the thread spins evenly.

KLG is right on with the hackle.

Jeremy

 

[bgood]

Thanks. I have been tying the hackle in from the bottom not the tip - that's why I had to strip the fuzzy stuff and shorten it. I know I'm going the right direction. I will tie it in at the tip next time and see how that looks. I wouldn't be surprised if the materials are sub par. I bought a material "kit" from Cabelas. The reviews on the stuff are good but I suspect it's not the best quality avail.

Appreciate the input. You should be able to see a picture of the olive one I did last night in my Gallery or my avatar now.