Kicking off your fly tying journey.
So you want to tie flies? On the inter web there is a vast amount of information about fly tying and how to get started fly tying, including a lot of varying opinion/s. So these are just my thoughts and my learned opinion/s along with answers to the questions I have been asked as a guide and commercial fly tier. I hope they’re useful and informative however, some are humorous with a dash of satire.
I will start with the most asked question/s,
If I tie my own flies can I or will save money? No
Could it be done? Possibly
So why do you tie flies? The two main reasons that I tie are that I enjoy the process of tying flies, learning new and different patterns, hence the process has made me a better, more observant fly fishing guide. The added bonus is the satisfaction of catching a fish on something I created.
What vice should I buy? A rotary vice, my opinion is a Renzetti. I have used the Renzetti Traveller for about 7 years now and its had a hard life been dragged here there and everywhere, other than a few battle scars and the odd drop of glue it works and looks like the day I pulled it out of the box. (for more information on Renzetti click here ).
Where should I buy a vice? At your local fly shop and those that tie flies like Adam and Lionel at Compleat Angler Sydney
Renzetti Traveller 2200 Pedestal Vice.
Another common question is where do I buy materials? I recommend a store that specialises in materials and tools only like Troutlore. Rob is a specialist with a wealth of knowledge he is happy to share, not to mention a brilliant fly tier, click here for his YouTube channel.
Should I buy a fly tying kit? This would be the second most asked question and the answer is almost always No! As most kits are cheap - not inexpensive but cheap. In them you get a crappy vise, poor hooks, and materials not suited for tying good flies. So if you want a kit call Rob at Troutlore and get a kit tailored to what you want to tie.
Start with good materials, much like cooking starting with the quality ingredients of the right kind is important. It is hard to tie good flies with bad materials or materials not well suited for the application you are using them for. Understanding what materials are best suited for different applications takes time and experience.
Is fly tying hard? No, it’s not hard but like most skills, you get better at it only through practice and experience. sitting down, tying flies, and critiquing what you have tied is how you are going to learn. Now days it has never been easier to flatten the learning curve. Fly tying nights at shops, club tying events, books, videos, social media. A lot of these resources are quite inexpensive or even free.
When I was a beginning my tying journey, I made it a point to sit down and tie a fly every day (when I had time to do so). You do not need to sit and tie for hours on end but 30-45 minutes a day would go a long way to making you a better tier, faster. So instead of sitting down to watch television, why not grab a glass or a dram of your favourite beverage and decide that tonight I am going to tie half a dozen Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hare and Partidge, or, maybe Stick Caddis? (Pro Tip - great flies to start off with , that will catch fish). Half a dozen is a great number, it means that you have done the same technique at least six times and you have tied enough flies that you can compare and critique them.
Most anglers and fly tiers are willing to help (I can be coaxed with a good bourbon), So ask! I learned from some great fly tying mentors, and still learn new tips and tricks from others. Using resources such as guides, commercial tiers, greatly shortened my learning curve and made me a better tier, faster, so don’t be shy get involved and ask.
So you want to tie flies? Good! It is a great hobby! A my personal favorite of mine. Like any other hobby, skill comes with experience and experience comes from doing it and making mistakes, there’s no rules in fly tying so get creative and have a go.
Nymph Proportions.
Dry Fly Proportions