Me... Tying?! Get out! Need MUCHO help!

[doghaircaddis]

I have a clamp vise you can have if you want. It's not the nicest vice, but it will work fine for tying a few zebras or PTs. I just replaced it with a Peak Vise, and I'd rather someone be putting it to use than it sitting in the closet. Shoot me an email at the address below if you're interested. I live down the road from you in Murfreesboro.

[Worrgamesguy]

Originally Posted by BlueRaiderFan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6HR-uBbybM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3CyVk6dizw


Dubbing is fur (or a synthetic material) that is used to make the fly body on most flies. BTW, a class will get you up to speed much faster than YouTube. YouTube has a lot of good stuff, but not enough to really get you going quickly. You'll never look at a bird feather in the parking lot the same way again...same goes for road kill.

I already thought that before the concept of tying came up

Originally Posted by silvercreek

Your post reminds me of when I got started. I only had a flytying book with line drawings. No internet, no DVD's. no VCR's. The book kept talking about dubbing, but never said what it was. Not even in the dictionary I had. Man was I confused.

Was the book carved on a stone tablet by chance? I'm a hooligan, I know

Originally Posted by Treecatcher2

and they do make it easier to understand.

Its a great feeling catching a trout in park on a fly you tied (even if it doesn't look quite like those bin)

I can't wait!

Originally Posted by PeteCz

Do NOT become an Accountant......

When you tie your first few flies, save them...you'll get a good laugh out of them later...

A class is an excellent way to get jump started. I learned through reading and trial and error (mostly error). Here are a few websites I have bookmarked over the years:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...te/archive.php
http://troutflies.com/tutorials/
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/index.cfm
http://globalflyfisher.com/tiebetter/comparadone!/
http://www.flyrecipes.com/index.php
http://littleriveroutfitters.com/lit.../sixflies.html
http://www.wildtroutonthefly.com/fly...ipstricks.html
http://www.thetyingbench.com/recipes/recipe.php?UID=104
http://hipwader.com/2004/tying-mrrapidan-dry-fly
http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/jbwhip/
http://flyguysoutfitting.com/whipfinish.html
http://copperfly.net/fly_tying_videos.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/
http://flyguysoutfitting.com/flytutorials.html
http://www.uky.edu/~agrdanny/flyfish/ljdecuir/smpatrns.htm
http://www.akflyfishers.com/flyofmonth.html
http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?
http://www.theflybench.com/
http://www.southeastflyfishingforum....erns/index.php
http://www.danica.com/flytier/index.html
http://www.flytyingworld.com/flyindex.shtml

btw, for me, there is one thing better than catching fish with flies you tie yourself. That is giving flies that you tied to someone else and then watching them catch a fish with a fly you tied....

Holy! I'm definitely bookmarking this thread! Thanks for all the links.

Originally Posted by got2fish

I agree with Carolina Boy about taking a class. My wife and I took a day quite a few winters ago and took a beginner fly tying class at LRO and truly enjoyed it. We got to tie a few easy flies and learn some techniques that helped on some other flies.

I bought a Dyn-King rotary vice and have absolutely loved it. Along with it, I bought a portable tying table at LRO as well. I think they still sell them. It is a white table that is made for placing on another table (no legs). It has a magnifying glass and lamp attached. I have it on a desk upstairs and it does a GREAT job. I really like its portability too. I can take it with me camping or to hotels to tie flies on the go.

Good luck!

I'll definitely look into that, thanks!

Originally Posted by doghaircaddis

I have a clamp vice you can have if you want. It's not the nicest vice, but it will work fine for tying a few zebras or PTs. I just replaced it with a Peak Vice, and I'd rather someone be putting it to use than it sitting in the closet. Shoot me an email at the address below if you're interested. I live down the road from you in Murfreesboro.

Oh wow! Email incoming!

[MadisonBoats]

Worrgamesguy,
The backdrop is for contrast so that you discern your dubbing, wrap style, and any imperfections. Maybe I am just old too

PeteCz,
Nice links, I will have to check a few of these out and save what I like....Thanks for sharing for all too...

[Hal M]

I use a light green piece of poster board for my background, it definitely helps the eyes, especially the older one's like mine.
Good luck you will definitely enjoy tying especially when you can not be on the water. It will also improve your fishing and make it much more rewarding!

Hal M

[Stonefly]

No one's mentioned this, but you might consider joining MTFF or Hendersonville Fly Fishers. HFF has a library that includes some good tying books, plus they put on group lessons once or twice a year for a fair price.
Also, the monthly meetings on occasion are devoted to tying with members set up around the room to demonstrate various techniques. I haven't been in MTFF for a long time now, but I'd guess they do some of these same things.

sb

[gutshot]

Save yourself some money and don't buy any tying books right out of the gate. Your local library has an interlibrary loan that can get you any book out there for free to use over weeks to months. I wasted a lot of money in my youth on books that featured flies for places I would never or rarely fish. Plenty of stuff online too. When you find a book you really like later on then you can buy it with the confidence you will use it.

Renzetti vices are great I have had mine around 20 years. Worth the investment.

There are ways to save lots of money on your tying, you can get a zebra midge down to about $0.45 each using real tungsten beads.

Starter kits may be a waste of money for you since you are focused in on a few patterns you will be fishing frequently. Invest your money in the tools and materials needed to tie those flies well and then add later. You will save a lot of time and money doing this, and your flies will be of a better quality.

Do not take up hunting to procure fly tying material. That cost me a good 12 years of diverted focus and duck hunting is an expensive passion. Get to know hunters that will supply you with high quality material. Then you can learn to dye your own materials......oh you have no idea.

GS