Fly tying poll

[CR]

Am curious: when tying, do you:

1) Always follow the fly pattern to the letter? Is this because you don't want to mess with tradition or do not feel you can contribute something new?

2) Make minor changes to existing patterns? IS this because you see genuine room for improvement, want to use what materials you may have on hand, or other?

3) Create your own unique patterns? And if so, do you believe that you catch more or less fish as a result? Do you try to match a particular insect, or just throw materials on a hook and see if you catch something on it?

 

[AKSkim]

I attempt to follow the fly pattern as written to maintain its traditional look. Minor changes as I see fit, that could be I don't have the exact materials the pattern calls for, or use more modern materials.

Anyone who ties always create a new or unique patterns even if they are attempting to tie a traditional pattern by changing the style of hook, use of materials or colours. Is it a new pattern then? I don't think so, but change is good.

 

[C&R]

1) Always follow the fly pattern to the letter? Is this because you don't want to mess with tradition or do not feel you can contribute something new?

As much as my ability and material availability permits. Why? Actual fishing time is currently limited so I'd rather stick with proven winners.

2) Make minor changes to existing patterns? IS this because you see genuine room for improvement, want to use what materials you may have on hand, or other?

The only thing I'll really vary with a fly is underbody color, wire guage, tinsel type, flash color/amount, etc... Not really to make improvements, but to account for fluctuations in water clarity.

3) Create your own unique patterns? And if so, do you believe that you catch more or less fish as a result? Do you try to match a particular insect, or just throw materials on a hook and see if you catch something on it?

Not yet...too speculative for me.

 

[theartoflee]

Am curious: when tying, do you:

1) Always follow the fly pattern to the letter? Is this because you don't want to mess with tradition or do not feel you can contribute something new?

2) Make minor changes to existing patterns? IS this because you see genuine room for improvement, want to use what materials you may have on hand, or other?

3) Create your own unique patterns? And if so, do you believe that you catch more or less fish as a result? Do you try to match a particular insect, or just throw materials on a hook and see if you catch something on it?

The first time I tie a pattern I stick with the original after having tied a few up I move on and make minor improvements or changes either by using new materials or removing materials.

I have tried the third before but in most instances I find out someone has already been their and done that.

 

[Andre]

Very rarely do I tie a pattern exactly as it should be. I like to tinker a bit. especially with streamers.

 

[uffdoc]

CR:
I have been tying for over 45 years now, and I can assure you that I:
1 Follow a pattern exactly as originated, unless I don't feel like it.
2 Alter a pattern based on what I see on the water(original dressing may be better tied with newer techniques or materials) or fly may be tied in a newer style (catskill style altered to CDC style)
3 Will attemp to tie my own pattern based on my skills at imatation of the natural the way I see it.

My advice...try it any way you want, to learn the best manner of imitation you can come up with based on your materials and skills.

Good luck.

 

[Scott]

Am curious: when tying, do you:

1) Always follow the fly pattern to the letter?

Sometimes

Is this because you don't want to mess with tradition or do not feel you can contribute something new?

If a pattern didn't work, you wouldn't know about it.

2) Make minor changes to existing patterns?

Yup.

IS this because you see genuine room for improvement, want to use what materials you may have on hand, or other?

all of the above. The goal is to catch fish with it.

3) Create your own unique patterns?

Sometimes I think I do. Opinions vary. One thing I doubt very many will ever do, is create a new style. I will almost certainly never create a new style of fly.

And if so, do you believe that you catch more or less fish as a result?

Sometimes yes, mostly no. I don't think fish are smart. I think that sometimes you will accomplish more by changing the way a fly behaves in or on the water than by just using a different color.

Do you try to match a particular insect,

usually, unless tying a fly designed to generate a reaction strike.

or just throw materials on a hook and see if you catch something on it?

nope.

 

[JeffK]

All three!

Many patterns are the result of decades or even centuries of development and are hard to beat. Change older patterns at your own risk! Also, view old patterns as obsolete at your own risk.

Sometimes I use the color scheme of a successful pattern, but with a different fly style. i.e I have done yellow/red/yellow buggers to use Mickey Finn colors and have tied Arctic Fox streamers in the colors of Black Ghost, Silver Doctor etc since those color schemes seem to have some magic about them even in different patterns. Tiers in my youth were very fussy about color - not what the bugs looked like but what was the "hot color". Also streams were viewed as having "good" colors - like black and orange flies were supposedly good for the Black R. I am still affected by that old style thinking. Sometimes the fish see something we don't and those old patterns can be a guide for newer flies.

Of course one should change colors for the local insects in your home stream. The Hendricksons in the upper SBR are lighter and have mottled wing cases - so the traditional Catskill patterns with mahogany bodies and dark wingcases are less effective there. Sulphurs seem to be slightly different colors around the East, so adjust the colors accordingly. That's part of local knowledge and developing a few tricks over the years. One caveat - match colors with the fly and bug wet! Colors do change and the underbody on a nymph/wet fly can really affect the color when wet. I see more and more dubbed fly bodies with a flash or tinsel underbody to make it look translucent when wet. The orange thread on the original Muskie shrimp makes the fly look a little pinkish when wet.

Finally, I do try my own patterns. I think deep inside all tiers is a competitive streak where they want to get the "Magic Bullet" that no one else has and allows them to clobber the fish when everyone else is getting skunked. However, finding that secret pattern is really, really, hard and I find myself more and more going to Option 1 - although I doubt I will ever stop trying to find that secret fly to get the drop on my fishing partners.

 

[Joe D]

Sometimes...

 

[jcstikfish]

Definitely in agreement with JeffK on this one.....all three.

I think each one of the points is a unique and important aspect to the art of fly tying.

As a musician, I constantly am drawing parallels between music making and fly tying as recreative arts.

As a musician...
Sometimes you want to perform the Mozart symphony on period instruments and do a ton of scholarship on historical tempos. etc etc. And get it exactly as the composer intended.

In fly tying
I think of this as going back to the Bergman's Trout or the leisenring book, picking a pattern, researching it's use and use absolutely no substitutions when tying it. Then go fish it using Leisenring's presentation techniques on bamboo.

However sometimes you want to take the Mozart symphony and use modern strings, a huge orchestra, and just enjoy the huge sound, casting aside the composers original intentions.

To me, this is taking taking say, a Bergman wet fly and using the colors and basic proportions to create a steelhead spey or dee. The essence of the original is still there but now transformed into a whole new genre of fly.

Both fun and enriching experiences, depends on what type of mood you are in.

Sometimes you compose. Just as in music, working from nothing is definitely the most challenging task in fly tying but can be the most rewarding.....if you can communicate something new and fresh. And...it catches fish.

Sorry for the long, rambling post, but as a musician and fly tier, this is something I think about a lot.


~James

 

[The_Sib]

A little of all 3.

But since I don't tie nearly as often as I would like.....

e.g., I bought some dyed red Pheasant tail to try on PTNs.
We'll have to see how THAT works out. Hmmmm, maybe I should get some that are dyed olive......

Sometimes I vary the materials based on what I've got in stock - which is a lot according to my wife.

( You are ALWAYS missing something that a recipe calls for )

 

[RickW]

No

Yes

Yes

 

[Pete]

1 & 2. When I first started tying, I tried to follow the exact recipie, but there was often some critical item missing, (eg. Flick's Hendricson - urine stained belly fur from a vixen red fox), so substitutions became the norm.

3. Sometimes I think I'm creating something new, but a little research usually reveals that someone, somewhere, had the idea before I did.

 

[frogge]

Hey,
I'm new to tying and bought a couple of one pattern kits. I have tied some of the flies to specs but feel unable to keep tying the precise same thing. I'm already collecting different materials to try. I'm interested in experimenting. Not so much to compete with anyone,but out of curiousity. I'm sceptical that the way flies work is really understood and want to play around with some of the paramaters. I'm not that serious about catching fish,more interested in understanding the system and how they behave. After next year I'll probably be following all the patterns to the letter! toddles,Frogge.

 

[fcch]

Actually, I don't use many patterns.

I tye the flies I need according to the "shape" colour and size I'm looking to present.

Then again, ... my flies are pretty ugly.

 

[Akula1992]

Unfortunately, each time I try to tie a fly it comes out as a new pattern. My friends tie them much better and take pity on me for being manually disadvantaged. Dang it, I'm an engineer. I should have it down better than this :dizzy: