Report: first fish on personally tied flies.

Went out Monday hecka early and threw my first personally tied flies, the Dirty Rat and the Gurgle Bug.

I got an amazing strike on the Dirty Rat, but from what I can tell, I put too much maribou on both of them. Seems like there was too much fly, not enough hook. If anyone has any other input as to why my hookset failed, let me know.

The Gurgle Bug took the First Fly Trophy, though. The action was great, with lots of twitching and, well, gurgling. I tied on my third version and caught a bass four feet from shore as I was pulling up for a close backcast. Instant hookset.

I was apprehensive at first with this fly because the original recipe calls for Eyelash Yarn - which until this writing I thought was fly fishing specific, but is really a yarn that people use in crafting - to give it body and simulate legs. I'm sure this gurgler would be gorgeous with the yarn, but the brown chenille did great.

It's fun catching fish, but its even more fun doing it on your own flies!

Pictures here.

There will be MANY more fish to follow...and many more flies to tie. Well done!

:cool:

Congratulations! Ain't it a hoot to catch fish on flies you tied.

Congratulations on your success! It is amazing to catch with your own flies as it brings fly fishing to a very different place. It is a fun place too.
I have some flies that didn't work at first. They sit patiently in my fly box and when all else fails I try them. Sometimes they work.