Hi
I’m a Learner and always will be and proud of it. I tie to fish not to show and I enjoy catching fish with my own flies. The day I stop learning new techniques and experimenting with different materials will be the day i give up fly tying.
Cheers
Well, this is a hard question, I can say I’m an expert tiyer compared with most folks down here in Mexico, but I would be a begginer compared to Paul Whilock so once this is said, I would rate my self as intemediate by average 
CC
I have been tying for around 5 years now. I have taken several classes, read and followed AC’s series, studied Al Beatty’s tapes and AK’s books to name a few. I would say I am an intermediate level tyer.
I’ve been tying for just over a year now. I’m definitely still a beginner. I only tie for my own consuption (I’d be embarrassed to send any out in a swap). I will say that I have caught a lot more fish with my own flies that ones I purchased. I guess I agree with the earlier comments about fish liking ugly flys.
This is my first post on this board and I’d like to thank all of the members for hours of reading and their excellent words of wisdom (especially the warm water group).
JR
well, i have been rated at a super-duper-semi-professional level(meaning some1 that is a super duper low level of a semi pro(i am possibly getting one of my flies accepted by orvis, i will have to wait and see)), because i am selling flies to shops now(reason why i am not on the forum as much.) i have sent some of my flies to very highly ranked tier’s, and they rank me the same way. for some reason, my flies for my swaps arn’t as good as the ones for $. Actually, right now, i am tying a silver docter.
Since I’m basically shy with a low self-esteem, I will refrain from ranking my capabilities. Suffice to say that nobody has ever turned down a free fly or two, especially when I give away one that is catching fish at the time. At the present time I have no disciples, groupies or even wannabe admirers, but my wife says the flies look “pretty.” That’s good enough for me! Yes, I have entered several swaps over the years, and I have never received a bad fly. Life has taught me to be thankful for everything that comes my way, and to accept and encourage others right where they are at today. We all can learn something from each other.
Joe
:? On a good day I rate myself an intermediate tyer, on a normal day I could use lessons from a beginner.
Bill
I’ve only been tying for two and a half years so I would have to say I am just a beginner
Bill
I would rate myself a student, because everytime I am tying flies, I learn something. Any time I get in swaps or get flies from some one else. I learn from them.
I do teach fly tying at the church where I work. And I always learn a bit from my students.
That Is why I would rate myself a student. John
The older I get the better I was…
Just call me the Doctor; because I’m still practicing.
<hack> <couch> <sputter> WHAT?!!! :shock:
Oh yeah, we’re all fishermen…
As for myself, the longer that I do this, the less I seem to know.
Ed
Joe I just read your post… Brilliant mate!
It all depends what you’re criteria are. IMO, You can’t really go by what types of flies a person can tie, e.g. woolly buggers being for beginners, and full dressed atlantics being advanced because with the right teacher, a dedicated student could sit down and tie a well tied full dressed salmon fly within a week. And there are guys who can tie full dressed atlantics that still have trouble getting the proper proportions on Catskill Dries. And you cannot call a person an advanced tyer just cause they have been tying for 20 years cause there are plenty of them who can’t tie their shoes.
Here’s a link to some of the flies I’ve tied
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb27 … y%20Tying/
I’d have to put myself as intermediate. I have a good grasp on basic tying techniques. I understand why am doing what I’m doing when I tie. And I’ve got a whole lot to learn.
:lol: I resemble that remark… to a degree
I’ve tied since I was a kid and I’ve tied all my own flies for close to 35 years.
I don’t tie for fun. I tie just enough to support my habit.
I’m sure many of you would look at my creations and consider them amateurish
They certainly don’t look like storebought
But over the years I have picked up some skills, learned a lot of different techniques, and I have developed an understanding of what a fly needs to be effective and what’s just window dressing
My simple flies don’t look like much, but they have what’s needed to work
In terms of looks alone my flies may not seem much better than a beginners effort
In terms of understanding what it takes to tie an effective fly, I’d say that I’m advanced
Somewhere in the middle I think.
The fish will tell you somewhere near the bottom I think. :?
I’m a beginner. I first tied flies–mostly poppers about twenty years ago. I got away from tying, buying my poppers–and for years that was all I used my fly rod for. I started learning how to really fly fish about 10-12 years ago, and I have just got into tying my flies. Oh, and I have tied the world’s ugliest popper and I still have the popper to prove it.
well, looking at every1’s posts, many of them are better than me, i can’t beleive what people tell you. it is hard to rate yourself, because everytier thinks of himself as a bob clouser, or a lefty krey(i wonder who bob and lefty think of them selves as…) but really, every tier has their strength’s. like i have a strength in large streamers and nymphs, but when i see a dry <gasp> it really scares me. i just can’t get that perfect little look. i can tie my stimulators and ehc’s pretty nicly, but it is just those humpies and adams. i just can’t stand that four wraps of thread head…
think about it.
WOULD YOU walk up to lefty kreh/bob clouser/gierach/john barr and say “OH YEAH IM AN EXPERT TYER!” :shock: :shock:
I THINK NOT. :lol:
Awwww, geeeeez. Now I’m getting all embarrassed. NOT!! Thank you for the compliment. Now I’ll have to send this link to my wife so she can see that someone other than me thinks I’m brilliant. (My mother called me Sonny because I was so bright)
Oh, here’s a response I saw on another board to someone who was boasting about having 20 years experience steelhead fishing. “Do you have 20 years experience, or 1 year of experience 20 times?” Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Joseph the Meek