looking for a first dry fly to attempt

[JRA]

Ive been playing around with clousers , woolly buggers and foam beetles but I'm just now getting the chance to do a dry fly ...mostly because the fly shop ran out of dry fly hooks and ive been waiting .
I very new at this so id like to start with something not too tough any suggestions?

[ducksterman]

How about an Elk Hair Caddis?

[DShock]

Elk Hair Caddis (terrific fly)
Bivisible
Black Gnat

the x-caddis. only three materials zelon, dubbing and deer hair. doesn't get much more simple. you will need a hair stacker. it is also a great fly!

[flyandtie]

second the ehc.
a bigger sized griffiths gnat.
renegade
the adams

also invest in good quality hackle if you dont already have some.it will make dry flies much easier.

[JRA]

second the ehc.
a bigger sized griffiths gnat.
renegade
the adams

also invest in good quality hackle if you dont already have some.it will make dry flies much easier.

Something I discovered when I purchased the big variety pack at Gander Mt ....not as nice as the stuff from the fly shop.
Some great ideas so far ...Im gonna run to the fly shop this weekend and get some material and get tying.

[ducksterman]

"also invest in good quality hackle if you dont already have some.it will make dry flies much easier."

Yes if had to do it over I'd be much more picky about the quality of the material I bought...trouble is it's hard to know at that stage

[jrgocards]

Check out the "Basic Dry Fly" in Al Campbell's beginning fly tying lessons.

JR

[Gandolf]

Hi JRA,

When you are learning to tie, the most important thing is to learn the various techniques and skills that are needed to tie many different flies. Only a few basic techniques are needed to tie a great variety of flies. Start out with easy and progressively move toward more difficult as soon as you master each skill.

For this reason, I am in the camp of the others who have recommended the Elk Hair Caddis.

It is possibly the easiest dry to hackle. For that reason it is a great one to start on. It is significanly easier to hackle than a collar hackle type fly such as a Wulff.

Start out with a larger size such as a #10 or #12, and when that is mastered go to the next size smaller. When you master that size then work down one size smaller again. So if you start with a #10, then go to a #12, then a #14, etc.

After you have mastered the few basic techniques of tying you will find that you can tie almost any standard trout fly.

Hope you do well.

Regards,

Gandolf

[mr. blur]

isn't a foam beetle a dry fly?
griffith's gnat and most caddis are easy dries.

why not try a p. adams. you'll have to want to soon eneough anyways.