I used to tie…a lot; for years! I would tie existing patterns, patterns I made up, just about anything except the fully dressed Atlantic salmon patterns. I used to join swaps and still have tons of un-fished flies I got from them. It was my relaxation.
For the last 2 or 3 years I have been seeing a pattern, thinking to myself that I would like to try tying it and then just not do it. I would see a swap starting and tell myself I should join in and maybe get the ol’ juices flowing again. It doesn’t happen.
So…I am open to and almost begging for suggestions. What can I do that will get me at least half as excited as I used to get? I have so much stuff just sitting around gathering dust.
Bob, why not join in on a swap, there is the Rough Swap and the Autumn Passion Fly Swap that both are still open to tyers. You would be welcome in either swap. John
I don’t know if this will help or not, but, it is what I do when I get in a slump. I mostly trout fish and all my flies are tied towards that goal. When I get in a slump, I start warm water fishing for black perch, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, etc. I will go to lakes or ponds instead of rivers to fish. This gets me to looking on the computer for flies for those different fish and tying them and trying them out. This also puts fish on the table since I “catch and release” all trout. It just provides a different approach for my fly fishing and will usually get me “fired” up again. Hopefully, this will help.
Best thing to do is invite a couple of tyer friends over to your place for an evening of tying. Pick a simple pattern to keep the amount of material down on the kitchen table. You might make it a once a week thing tying a single different pattern at each meeting. …Good luck,…Bob
PS: name sounds familiar… did we ever meet, maybe at the IWL show in Toronto?
[This message has been edited by mantis (edited 16 June 2006).]
I think we all get into ruts, most of mine only last a couple weeks but then I get back in. I dont like the swap deal to get me out, swaps seem interesting to me and then when it comes down the wire I lose interest in the thing. I try to find new patterns or materials for my latest quarry and go from there. I also like to experiment with different materials and last I get out the fly boxes and start filing them up. My ruts usually hit me when i do some tying for people. If I tie one pattern 15-20 dozen, I lose interest in tying for a couple weeks. But I like my boxes to be full so I keep stocking up until they are completed.
Isaac Walton League… Must be another Williams…Sorry… Good luck on the “tyer’s block.” Sometimes I just don’t feel like tying even when I ‘want’ to…or need to… Kind of like ‘writer’s block.’
You have two options…maybe three. Do nothing and wait till you get inspired. Start tying the super realistics OR start tying the fully dressed flies. Were I not tying the latter, I’d be doing the super realsitics. Both diciplines offer unlimited variety, challenges and venues for creativity.
If there’s a place where you can join an advanced fly tying class that will get you tying every week for a while. Or, if you can find a local group that gets together either through a club (like TU or FFF) or through a fly shop that can get you motivated.
It’s good to hear from you again. We met at the fly tying show in NJ a couple of years back and I still display the very nice woven pattern you gave me. I find that enthuiasm is contagious and you can catch it from another person. Perhaps you could find a young person interested in learning to to tie his/her own flies. You would make an excellent teacher and the gift of teaching returns to the giver many times over. Another thought would be for you to teach a class at a local college or high school. Either of these options would get you back into the swing and you would soon catch the fever again. Just a thought…
Think about tying for Casting For Recovery.
They always need flies for the groups that they are teaching. You are doing good and you don’t have to store them.
Jim, how could I forget? I still check out Han’s site from time to time and there we are. Somerset was my first fly tying show. I should do that more often. The missus is away today at a Habitat for Humanity dedication so I think I am going to knock some dust off the desk and ruffle a few feathers. We’ll see what happens. I don’t think I would be very comfortable teaching anyone how to tie until I became comfortable tying again myself. We’ll see what happens. Thanks.
Thanks, everyone. There are some good suggestions here. I think the swap route is the way to go but I will have to tie a few first just to convince myself that I can still do it.
Classes and scheduled get-togethers are hard for me. I did really enjoy the swaps though.
Maybe you’ll see me on this board more often.
Hey, Ron, the super realistics have always intrigued me but I still have a ton of Gocha to use up first. LOL. I remember tying lots of egg pattern with it.
I think that you have gotten some excellent suggestions so far. I would second the suggestion about trying a new type of fishing. If you are a trout fisherman, try changing to ponds or a big lake, maybe even saltwater. Try miniaturizing saltwater or bass patterns to trout size.
The ultimate slump breaker, for me at least, is to buy a new book. I would suggest LLoyd Gonzales’ “Fly-Fishing Pressured Water” if you don’t have it yet. Some great patterns there! 8T
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.
The weather here has been hot, hazy and humid but I did manage to sit a while at the desk and tie a few old favourites. They were not that easy after all this time but I expect the knack will come back.
Thanks agin for all the suggestions. Just talking to you guys and gals and cleaning the dust off all my stuff was a big help in getting started. You have help to revive a monster.
