In the beginning I would buy some flies from a fly shop that were the
portions were right. Then I get the material for that fly ,and make sure
it's good quality material. Take a good fly tying friend along that can help
or if your lucky someone you can trust in a fly shop or someone that ties
for the shop. Then I have something to pattern after and I also get several
catalogs that has good fly prints..I hope this will help if your on your
own. With over twenty five years of teaching fly tying in Libby, Montana and
Vestal, New York , those of you that learn from books were the easiest to
teach , I admit that most who teach fly tying are really the best to learn
from and wish I had you there to teach me and I never stop learning , but
there are a few that learn from others ,from my experience ,were the hardest
to correct bad habits.Good reason why I taught free classes for so many
years out of my stash with classes up to twelve to fourteen weeks. Using
what I had was very rewarding even when I couldn't affort to replace my
materials. Besides that ,how wonderful ,know matter what level you are to
introduce many to a new lifestyle . Then you learn to tie flies, Then you
starting to catch the insects to match and tie flies from .,Then you get
concern about water quality and wonder if I can drink that water .If I can
do that,it's good enough for trout. What a rewarding life I had..and meeting
great people on this web site ,Thank you ,to you all .being part of my
life.and being such great friends......
Glenn Overton
----- Original Message -----
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [VFB] Tips for beginners from the bench...
Tom: These are good..#1 is especially true.. No better way to learn than
repetition.. Thanks, Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Davenport" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006 4:45 PM
Subject: [VFB] Tips for beginners from the bench...
As I was tying today I was thinking about the things I have learned
through trial and error that make it easier to tie flies... For you
beginners out there, here are some of them. For you old hands, I'd
like to here some of yours...
1. Always tie at least a dozen flies (It is amazing how much better
and easier fly number 12 will be)
2. When you finish a pattern, clean the bench up before starting
another (this will save time, in the long run).
3. Leave your thread at the spot where you will tie off the material.
4. Bomb proof fragile materials (like pheasant tail or peacock herl)
using a electronic tester tool to twist them with a loop of tying
thread or copper wire.
5. When tying off hackles, make a couple of half hitches using a
half hitch tool to get the hackles away from the eye and under
control, then whip finish. (The half hitch tool slips over the eye
and pushes the hackles back, then neatly lays the thread right in
front of the hackle).
6. When tying with deer or elk hair, spray it first with anti-static
spray (the kind used with laundry, not the kind used to clean
computer screens). Just spray once, before you start and cleaning out
underfur and stacking the hair will be much easier.
7. If you have trouble dubbing with a material, your using too much
dubbing. Keep cutting the amount in half until it works.
8. Super glue is the best head cement, and it will last longer and be
much more useable if you buy it in a pen type dispenser (the kind
where you have to press on the pen stick to get the glue to flow).
Just press the tip against the head and your thread will never come
undone.
9. When attaching wings to dry flies, don't pull off barbules or
trim the hackles like most books show. Grab a hold of both feathers
by the butts, back to back, tie the tips in place, mount up with some
wraps in front, THEN trim.
10. When wrapping wooly bugger hackles, I like to wrap the hackle
from eye back. Just tie in a wire or other ribbing material at the
hook bend, and after you wrap the hackle back, use it to lash it down.
11. When tying pheasant tails, don't worry about legs or wing
cases. I have the testimony of hundreds fish that it doesn't matter.
12. Get a good pair of scissors that you can always keep in your hand.
13. Substitute Poly yarn for hair when tying a Humpy or a parachute
pattern. The fish don't mind, the fly is easier to see and can be
tied much faster.
14. Pinch barbs off at the bench. In the heat of the battle you will
forget on the river until you try to pull the barbed hood out of you
waders or yourself.
