Just a grumble from an old codger.
Why do people post a picture of an excellent fly
but do not give a recipe.
There seems to be a tendency to do this lately.
I thought that the point of the ‘Fly Tying’ Forum
was to show flies and give information on those flies,
for example the recipe and any special techniques required.
An odd fly is one thing, but there are a lot with minimum info
at the best, but the majority with nill.
At least a recipe would not be difficult. 
I share your frustration, Donald!
I agree Donald. Furthermore, when the recipe is not included in the original post, the very next post usually is someone like me asking for them to post the recipe. Seems like it would save a whole lot of trouble to post it in the first place. Then the discussion can be about the fly pattern rather than just “Hey, what’s the recipe for that fly?”
Donald,
I think I may have found the fly in the ointment. Excellency, while a quality we all desire to achieve is something we may be hestitate to claim on our own. I am at best an average tyer and was raised by my mother to be modest. Therefore, if I post a pattern I would appreciate your comments on how to improve it, thank you for any compliments but may not presume that you would want to know how to build it or I may think it is obvious or its a well known pattern. That said, I have seen several patterns lately that I would have appreciated having the recipe posted. I saw a pattern on another website that I liked the looks of and found out it had a twisted silver wire body, a little dubbing and a soft hackle of deer body hair. I tied one last night with twisted copper wire, when I get one done good enough to photo I will post it, with the recipe.
Not only would a recipe be nice, but, why not take it up one more step and submit it to FAOL as a FOTW and then we could have the recipe plus a step-by-step tying procedure? I know that taking the time to take pictures of each tying step is time consuming, but, it sure would be nice. I can remember when you hardly ever saw a picture of a fly posted, but, we had many flies posted with step-by-step pictures on FOTW. There are many new tyers that a picture of a completed fly with a recipe is not enough information. I have also seen a step-by-step posted on the “Fly Tying” board but not submitted to FOTW. If that trend keeps getting larger, we could possibly lose the FOTW feature and that would be a great loss. People need to understand that it is not “show and tell” but “show and SHARE”.
Just my opinion and nothing more…
I agree with the points made by Uncle Jesse and WarrenP,
but just because the fly is not a new fly, is no reason not give the recipe and
acknowledgement of it’s origins.
If the recipe is given, it only takes a few words for the originator.
There are a lot of older patterns, half forgotten, and a note of the
modern variations contributed by the poster (postee?) does not take long.
I think the big difference here is that while some (including the posters here) are approaching tying as a ‘craft’, and viewing it from a technical aspect, others see it more as an ‘art’ and view it from a artistic/design aspect. Neither view is wrong or right, just a difference in opinion. While a recipe would be nice, I feel the picture is the key. Given a choice of a recipe & instructions or a picture, i’m going for the picture every time. Usually an experienced tyer can decipher what materials are in use (at least as far as natural materials), and how to tie up any typical pattern as well.
Again, recipes and step-by-steps are nice, and if someone wants to make a FOTW, great, but I don’t think it should be seen as any sort of a ‘requirement’, as that would likely result in even less sharing. Sometimes you just want to post a picture of what you’ve been working on, and I think you should be able to do that without feeling like you need to do any more. It may not take long, but doing a mini-research project when you really would just rather post some pics…well its a pain in the butt, and it’s something that anyone can do on their own time if they really want to know.
As far as FOTW, I know that me personally, am unlikely to ever submit a pattern for two reasons: 1) I visit the forum here way more often than the fotw section, which I’ve only ever really checked out once or twice, and 2) I’m a blogger, and if I’m generating content, I’m publishing it myself, not donating it to another site. Not trying to sound self-centered, but if I do the work of making up a tutorial, I don’t really want to turn around and give it to someone else to display.
Just presenting a counterpoint. 
Points and Counterpoints respected. If someone is proud enough to post a photo, the next step could also be a proud one. It only takes a minute: ( Hook: Thread: Body: Wing: Head ) Just my opinion.
If someone is proud enough to post a photo, the next step should also be a proud one.
Should.
Your opinion.
Myself, while I agree it’s nice and doesn’t take much effort, if you don’t feel like posting it, don’t worry about it. 
Some of the best threads on other tying forums consist solely of people posting a pic or two of flies they’ve been tying, usually with little or no text. For me, tying, and checking out others’ ties doesnt always have to be an analytic deconstruction of the nuts and bolts of each fly. Sometimes its nice just to look at a picture and go “wow”.
Just one person’s opinion, though, and I do agree that if you’re posting to the effect of helping someone out, then yes, it makes sense to post as much info as you can to describe things.
Some excellent points here. Some of the really old flies have patterns that are nearly impossible to decipher as well. If a person has tied a pattern that originated 100+ years ago, it would be nice to know what they used as substitutions for the materials that are either no longer available or are extremely difficult to get, not to mention helping to define what some of the older named materials even are.
Can you imagine posting a fly picture without a recipe and then no one asks for a recipe…what a put down:(:(.
Yeah, a bruised ego is hard to ignore. I’m sure that would never happen to me if I ever posted a picture of a fly.
Donald and I are in agreement here. I really appreciate the recipe being part of the post. I also don’t like it much when a fly pic is posted and someone requests the recipe, then the recipe goes ignored. I think that if your gonna share the fly, share the recipe.
REE
Donald you have started a great thread, and very interesting opions have surfaced. I am a hobbyist kind of tier, I do not recognize a lot of the bodies. Although I really like the looks of certain flies, I have no idea of the body material, wings, underwings, etc.,and would really like to tie that particular fly, and try it where I fish.
I have, at times PMed, to get the recipe.
I think it boils down to either being lazy or so self-important that you don’t care if someone has asked (nicely too) for the recipe. I really don’t like the attitude either. We do have a LOT of beginning fly tiers, they really don’t know this stuff inside out like some of our really experienced tiers and just maybe some folks forget they had help when they were learning too. This little reminder might help.
Hook: #10 egg/scud hook
Tail: Olive Maribou clump with the butts pulled into the last bead by way of a monofilament loop passed thru the four beads with a threader.
Abdomen: 4- 1/8" Olive glass beads
Wingcase: Olive raffia
Thorax: dubbing or sparkly chennile
Hackle: 3 or four turns under the wingcase.
Donald I agree with you. I don’t post many flies here but from now on when I do the recipe will go up with them.
To clarify, I too agree with the general sentiment here that a brief recipe is usually a great idea when posting a fly pic. What concerns me is the implication, with that, that the community is also saying “if you arent going to give us a recipe or step by step, dont even bother sharing any picture at all”
Featherbender - sorry if that is the impression I left with you…BUT if you just post the photo what is the intent? What is the point? Show off your skills? Isn’t it much better to share what you’ve done? By just posting the photo do you expect the rest of us to ‘guess’ what you did? What materials you used? What is the point? This is a free, information website…we’re providing tons of information and forgive me if I expect our readers to give something back.
LadyFisher,
I totally agree with you and see no point in trying to convince someone who will not even fill out their profile. The “About Me” is also blank. Go figure…?