New fly tiers are very lucky

[Byron haugh]

I've been sick for a while. Getting better now.
While down, I have been re-reading a bunch of "classics" on fly tying. It's amazing to look at the grainy black and white photos of flies in the process of being tied. And most with the old Thompson A, or earlier static vises and other tools.

Now, one can go on YouTube or other sites and watch, in full color, and in close-up, experts tie beautiful patterns with all the tips required to replicate them.

In addition, the current tier has wonderful tools and materials to produce excellent patterns.

When I started, I relied on a few old books at the library and old fly catalogs to try to tie flies. I had to use old India neck hackle and fairly rudimentary tying tools and other available materials.

The current beginning tier sure has a lot to be thankful for.....I believe!

[Don_P]

Byron I learned from books also, 40 years ago. The very first I think was Eric Leiser's, The Complete Book of Fly Tying. Not many photographs if I remember correctly, mostly hand drawn diagrams. I'd have to go dust it off and check to be sure. My tying has improved notably since the internet, youtube and sites like these. So today it's not only the beginner that has a lot to be thankful for, aging dogs like myself are still learning new tricks.

[Byron haugh]

I agree Don. Just imagine, though, if we were just starting out these days.
Had to laugh about your comment of drawings in showing tying steps . Actually, they were often more clear than the old photos!

[Joe Billingsley]

I, too, learned from books. I don't remember what the specific technique was, but I do remember the first tying video (or whatever it was called back then) I had ever seen and the tier did that technique and I thought, "So that's how you do it!"

Joe

[johnstoeckel]

I'm another from the school of hard knocks. Both fly fishing and fly tying are very visual -- hard to comprehend from text descriptions, line drawings, or black and poor photos. And, there weren't alot of fly tiers or fishers around back then to provide live demonstrations. The memory that comes to mind for me is learning to tie a whip finish knot from a line drawing in the old Herter's fly tying book.

[Byron haugh]

I still have a couple of the old Herter books!

[planettrout]

I started with this:










Things have changed - a lot...


PT/TB

[Byron haugh]

Set to music: "Thanks for the memories........"

[oldster]

I agree with all the above. I've been tying for 50 years. Still have my Thompson A and still use it once in a while. Still learning. Someone on the internet lately, suggested using your coffee grinder to fluff up your dubbing before a tying session.I tried it last night. What a difference!

[Don_P]

PT, Nice! Looks exactly like the picture....