The most important Two Things To Learn in Fly Tying ?

[white43]

1. Learn a good whip finish. I still have not mastered that hand one.
2. Tie sparse.

JGW

[Bob Widmaier]

First, the question of "What do you feel are the two most important things to learn about tying flies?" indicates we are speaking of passing on words of wisdom to a beginner. I have found that as I have tyed more and more flies over the years, my focus has changed and so has those 2 most important things. So for a beginner just starting, besides having FUN, my two things are:
1. Quality over quantity - slow down, and be as neat as you can in your efforts with each fly.
2. Less is better than more - All beginners, including myself, have a tendency to over dress a fly. I would say this is a key early thing to learn to improve your fly tying. Proportions come in here.

Dr Bob

[Hans Weilenmann]

Ok RonMT, I will try to tone down just a notch on the philosophical *grin* and substitute this one:

Be the master over your materials, lest the materials be the master over you.

To borrow loosely from Jason Borger's "The Nature of Fly Casting": How to spell "flytying" ? C-O-N-T-R-O-L

Cheers,
Hans W


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=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

[billknepp]

There are so many,and Ron sets limits...Lol

1.Learn to make thread torque (That thing that makes things want to spin rather than go where YOU want em) Work for you!!!
Best Help I can suggest on this is: A.K.Best Tying Dry Flies (Video).oh and he also covers that proportion's thing as well..Ha Ron in just that one recomendation I've covered a million miles for a newbie tyer....lol

2. Buy the best quality materials you can find,I did not say most expensive ...."Best Quality",Never be affraid to get your hands "ON" what your buying,and inspect with care and thought as to what it is you NEED from that material.(Any and Every Fly,is only as good as what material's are put into it.)

Hans,
I agree, We are indeed rich in the knowledge and wisdom's of the great tyer's who've come before us....I Thank everyone of them for passing on what they have gleamed from their own mistakes and trials, Alot of great educators out there,
If one just takes the time to listen and watch.

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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best

"Wish ya great fishing"

Bill

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[OkieBass133]

1. Precise thread control is paramount.
2. Get a sense for proper proportions.

So many problems can be solved if you can do those two things.

[RexW]

1. Your vise doesn't have to be expensive to be effective.

2. Be proud of your flies, regardless of your skill level. Remember, most people can't tie anything.

Have fun,
Rex

[RkyMtnGuy]

-Mastering the fundamental techniques required in flytying

and

-Gain as complete an understanding as you can of the materials you tie on the hook.

[eaustin]

Billknepp took my two. Hans is right about giving back too, and he is the best example of someone who does that I can think of.
Eric

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[Eight Thumbs]

My two tips have been listed already but these are the two things that played the biggest role in improving my tying.

1. When you start out learning to tie, use way less dubbing than you think you'll need and pinch the snot out of it when you roll it on the thread.

2. Don't crowd the eye and you will be able to tie a nice, neat head. 8T

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You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it's a real short camping season.




[This message has been edited by Eight Thumbs (edited 01 October 2005).]

[wickedcarpenter]

#1 - It's not cheap!
#2 - Where to find the material deals LoL!
Everything elese is trial and error while enjoying time at the vise learning.
Brent