The most important Two Things To Learn in Fly Tying ?

mine have been mentioned. proportions are paramount in importance, once you have a good sense of them, though, they become second nature. attention to detail includes managing your material as well as proportions and properly dubbed and tapered bodies.

I'll add a couple things that haven't been mentioned. I had a breakthrough when I realized that nothing involved in tying a fly involves any more effort than holding a pencil. take your time and take care in offering up yer material and making your tight wraps to achieve the result you require. it is not a race. finally, practice. every thing is difficult before it is easy and it only becomes easy with practice. which is prolly why I tie so many flies. I want to get good at it.

so what did I say? like six things when asked for two? then the first two I mentioned.

mgj

[Shmang]

I agree with Okiebass--my two are:

a) thread contol
b) proportions

I too want to thank Hans for his ongoing efforts in sharing his fly tying skills. I am a better tier and angler after learning from his many posts.

Nice topic

[Fishnfool]

I think it varies for which stage you are at in your fly tying.

For beginners:
#1-Learn to properly whip finish (Both by hand and using a tool).
#2-Don't crowd the eye.

For intermediate to advanced tyers:
#1-Use quality materials.
#2-Organization.


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John G.
Albuquerque, NM

[dudley]

Two important lessons no one has mentioned;

1) Put the cap back on the head cement when you are done with it.

2) Remember to shut the door when you leave the room so that the cats don't get in.

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"The trout were laughing so hard at us that they considered evolving legs so they could crawl on to land and catch their breath"
Dave Barry

[Danny Gober]

I think the most important thing to remember is fly tying is not a competition. If you enjoy what you are doing: you have already won.
Second it's about trying new things, new materials, old materials. Just exploring what you can and can't do. Looking for the artist hidden within.
Ok so I'm a mystic. Dan Gober

[Jim Hatch]

Wow, from the answers I've read here, many
folks take their flytying very seriously.
Nothing at all wrong with that. But Al
Campbell's "Too Simple" series flies pretty
much epitimized my approach to fly tying.
Al was a big influence in my tying and it
was his laid back approach to tying that
originally encouraged me to give it a try.
What I took from Al's articles was to "Keep
it simple, keep it fun, and don't be afraid
to think outside the box." Warm regards,
Jim

[mantis]

Ihe single most important thing in the actual tying of a fly is thread pressure. Or, thread pressure and thread angle.

Other than that just remember: there is no single best way to do anything in fly tying. The rest is all preference of the tyer.. What's easy or best for one tyer is not always best or easiest for another.

[StevenOjai]

The two things I keep in mind is
1. Have a clear plan. Know the order of putting materials together and why.
2. Less is more. It's amazing how exceptional flies are constructed with so little material.
Steve Schalla

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[Newfoundlander]

Well thats the beauty of opinions Hywel, you have yours and I have mine.

I read this thread at a glance and offered an opinion.
A fish eye view is not your view, and I have witness dozens of what i could refer too as not well tied or ugly flies *G* out fish my well portioned morsels.

As a tyer I never push myself beyond reason or comfort and never will, I tie what is comfortable at any given time in my learning curb. If there is a specific operation or procedure that I can not do for some reason, thats fine, cause there may be other things within fly tying that I do as well or better than others. That does not mean that I won't give her a go (try it) again as my knowledge grows.I may even lay off for a year or 4, and try in again under a new light. Some people can jump the gun plan to much too soon and ultimately fall short of their goals if they look to far ahead. Realize where you are and work from there.

later
Mike

[WarrenP]

1. Do not crowd the eye--ever

2. Never be content with "good enough", constantly try to improve on each fly you tie everytime you tie a fly

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Warren