This is part 6 of a new series, written by a beginning fly angler about his
experiences and adventures in the world of fly fishing.
It is a documentary - intended to encourage other
beginners. It may also revive a few memories from old fly anglers.
Get a Few Lessons!
Last winter was my first attempt at tying flies. I was lucky enough
to receive a beginner's tying kit for Christmas so I decided I had
better make an attempt at learning how to use it. Several years before,
when I was about 12 years old, my mother had shown me a few things
about tying flies. Back then I did not have the patience it required
to learn the basic skills. I think I was able to tie a few Woolybuggers,
but that was about it. So a month or so after Christmas I pulled out
the kit and looked through it. Inside I found some feathers, some
thread, and a bobbin and assorted other objects that I had no idea
how to use. I went to the fly shop and the owner pointed out a pattern
book that he thought would help. So I paid him and rushed home to
start manufacturing high quality flies.
I quickly reviewed the pattern book and saw many flies that
looked interesting, but most of them I had no idea how to use.
I selected a pattern and attempted to follow the directions to
create what I was sure would be a masterpiece. After several
hours of trying, I had finally built a fly. I pulled it out of the
vise and compared it to the picture in the book.
To my amazement it looked nothing like the picture. I was
astounded. I was sure I had followed the directions to the T.
Of course, I may have left out some of the unimportant steps,
but all and all I had followed along relatively closely. Well, I was
sure that practice would make perfect, so I spent the rest of the
winter producing far from perfect flies. By the end of the winter
I was extremely frustrated. I had some basic skills but I could not
tie anything more difficult than a Woolybugger and I knew that
I needed a larger arsenal of flies if I planned on catching any trout
that summer.
Throughout the winter I had seen advertisements for fly tying
classes offered by local tiers, but I knew that I could handle
this myself. I just needed more practice. I must admit, there
were times when I had pondered the thought of taking a lesson,
I just never did.
A few months later summer was here and I was on the river
trying to catch fish with my own flies. I was lucky enough
to catch a few on the Woolybuggers and on a streamer I had
tied, but I never had a fish even look at my dry flies. I thought
maybe it was just the way I was fishing them or maybe I had
selected the wrong fly.
Until one day after flailing away for what seemed like an eternity
during a pretty good mayfly hatch, another angler who was having
much more luck than me asked what I was using. I told him I was
using a Pale Morning Dun. He walked over to me and took a look
at my fly.
After he examined my fly, the look on his face told me that
he must have thought my fly to be a wondrous creation. Wondrous
is right, he was wondering what the heck it was! He told me he
thought maybe I had used a little too much dubbing on my fly and
showed me his version of a PMD. Hmmm.... his was quite smaller,
and more taper. It didn't look like a jellybean like mine did. I
thanked him for his help and sulked back home. My fears had
just been confirmed, my flies where terrible. I vowed never to tie
another fly, I'd only buy them!
For the rest of the summer, I fished on flies that I bought
or that others had given to me. I had a mediocre season.
I did catch some fish but not a lot.
So this winter I decided I needed to learn a lot more
about flies and the creatures that we try to replicate with
them. I read several articles on entomology and actually
began to understand the different stages of insects and
the different types. Now that I sort of understood what
types of flies I should use and when I might use them, I
just needed to learn how to tie them.
Shortly before the end of the season, I started to use the
Internet. I was introduced to the vast amounts of fly fishing
information and started to communicate with other fisherman.
Several weeks later I was lucky enough to meet one of the
folks I had been chatting with on the Internet. After a few visits,
my newfound friend offered to give me some tying lessons.
Remembering my struggles of the past winter, I gladly accepted.
During the first lesson we worked on some parachute mayflies.
My bad dubbing skills were noticed immediately. After a quick
discussion on the merits of less is more when it comes to dubbing,
I was on the road to become a dubbing expert! Once I saw how
easy it was to overcome my problems with the some help from an
experienced tier, I was very excited about the possibilities that were
ahead. Now, several lessons later, I am able to tie parachute-style wings,
dub correctly-sized bodies, and do other things I never thought
possible. I am lucky because my teacher is an expert fly tier. He
has taught me more in a few lessons than I ever learned after hours
of reading and trying by myself.
If you are thinking of starting to tie your own flies or if you are
tying them but want a little guidance, you should consider taking
lessons from someone. They don't have to be an expert. Someone
with a foundation of solid tying skills and a little patience can help
solve some of you problems and show you techniques that will
make tying a joy!
If you do take a class, be cautious of the number of instructors
and the number of students. To get the maximum benefit from
a class, you need to have instructors available to answer your
questions. In my opinion, it's better to have an experienced friend
help you than to sit through an overcrowded class. But there are
many fine classes available also.
Here in Idaho, the Fish and Game Department offer classes
throughout the year. Also, several fly shops have classes for
beginners to advanced tiers. Often times the instructors at these
classes are folks who've been tying for years, a lot of them
commercially. These instructors offer valuable lessons on how
to avoid common mistakes and some neat techniques to make
things easier.
Whichever method you chose, whether it be group lessons or
just a friend, I think the most important thing you can do is to get
a few lessons from someone. They can save you hours of frustration.
Not only will they help you with technique; they will also help you
select tying tools and materials. The world of fly tying is amazing!
Once you have solid skills, you can do what ever you want.
You can tie traditional flies using only traditional materials, or
you can invent your on patterns and discover all types of alternative
materials. And the joy you'll feel when you catch your first fish on
a fly you have tied is something you'll remember for a long, long
time! Good Luck!
Until next time, tight lines!
~ Don McPherson
If you would like to comment on this or any
other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL
Bulletin Board!
|