What Level Tyer are You?

Fly Patterns
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41

Hi All,

I consider myself in the intermediate level, after looking at the Al Campbell tutorials. I can tie some of the advanced flies, but on the other hand, don’t tie some of the types in the intermediate category.

My flies tend to be neatly tied and nicely proportioned, but I tie pretty slowly. The pros can tie much more quickly than I can.

I have gotten to the point that I normally tie mostly the types I fish fairly often, and those tend to be mostly hair wings for trout flies, bluegill flies, and most that I tie are fairly simple flies: Wulffs, EHCs, stimulator types, pheasant tails, foam spiders, poppers, chenille flies, etc.

For that reason I don’t tie too many spun deer hair flies, quill wing flies, parachute drys, etc. I can tie them, but not not extremely well, and not nearly as well as those I fish often, because I don’t tie and practice on them.

On the other hand some of the flies I tie are moderately difficult to tie to look good, my flies are on two or three net sites, and I have tied at an outdoor show, etc.

Like the post that is a few posts above this one, I would not tell tiers such as AK Best, Lefty, the realistic tiers, or any of the salmon fly tiers that I am an advanced tier.

For those reasons, I put myself in the intermediate category.

Regards,

Gandolf

42

I think that’s why I said I have been a learner for twenty years… or whatever I said… Joe you can say it for me if you like.

43

I’m an intermediate to advance beginner…or something like that.

Started tying when I was a 'lil kid…got out of it - then back into it with a flurry over the past couple of years. I’ve really started to hone my tying and am getting much better (fish no longer roll over laughing in the stream when they see my flies).

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO FLYPIMP - http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb27%20...%20y%20Tying/ looking at your Contest PMD, there’s no way could could still be considered “intermediate”!!!

44

intermediate
i mess around a lot with tying new flies. I’d prolly be better with some flies if i’d just tie more of them. I do get bored tying the same pattern over and over though…

45

definitely beginner
I enjoy tying them, and if they can catch me a fish - bonus!
think if I studied more of what the fly is imitating, the end results would improve. But now I’m just trying to get halfway proficient with the basic techniques. I’m hoping my ugly flies catch some fish

A bit off topic.
The other night was at Gander Mountain getting some supplies. Met a young man with much more experience tying and flyfishing than I. He spent a good amount of time giving me helpfull hints both. It sure is nice when someone is willing to take the time to help out another!

46

WELLLLL I have the cockiness of a 24 year Army career… I think I a just freaking great but my wife keeps me in line and knocks me down to buck Private when I need it (and I do need it from time to time)

I would truly rate my self as a low intermediate, I can tie any thing if i have a need but tie what I want really well and like most my mess ups seem to catch as well as my “perfect” flies. Have tied for “DOAKS” in NB

talk later have work in the morn

47

I am trying to get to the level of rank novice. I tie only a limited number of patterns and most of them poorly. I tend to tie Saltwater flies or streamers as the skill necessary to tie smaller flies seems to elude me. What I tie seems to work, but beautiful they are not.

jed

48

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO FLYPIMP - http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb27 … y%20Tying/ looking at your Contest PMD, there’s no way could could still be considered “intermediate”!!!

Thanks, but I’m as intermediate as they come :smiley: I was only tying about 7 months or so when I tied that. I was pretty fortunate to learn many of the answers pretty early, now I’m learning what the questions are.

49
  1. I have tied a lot of years. i love solving a problem , but I am not a production tier. I am more of fly fisherman than tier. I tie flies to fill my boxes and some of my friends boxes with flies that catch fish. I would guess I am a low intermidiate tier. Youn will always find me tying before a trip because I did not get it done ahead of time
50

Like the man said “when you can snatch the pebble from my hand you will be ready to leave.” I’ve got a long, long way to go (I?m still tearing the rice paper when I walk) but “gifted novice” or “enthusiast” might best describe my place in the fly tying world.

My flies catch fish, I have fun, my friends and family get free flies, I make a modest economic contribution to the health of the genetically manipulated chicken industry, I?m probably putting somebody?s kids through college (not mine, but somebody?s) everybody WINS!

And Joe V, I’ve seen you tie, your modesty is only matched by your understated eloquence.

51

Level 1 Intermidiate

I’ve been tying for about six or seven years and I can tie any fly that interests me. I would starve if I had to tie production because nobody ties as slow as me. On a good day abouut six an hour.

Greg

52

Hi FlyPimp,

Enjoyed your photobucket pictures…but as was mentioned above. Intermediate tier you aren’t. Advanced tier you are!

Regards,

Gandolf

53

I am an all out expert… now before you go off the deep end on me…remember…

EXPERT= X is the unknown quantity and spurt is just a drip under pressure.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

54

id say some where in the intermediate stage .

55

Amen to that.

I consider myself an advanced tyer, both in skill and age!!! I am the X-Spurt previously mentioned.

Semper Fi!

56

I have been tying for about 5 years, but I don’t get to fish much, usually a couple weeks a year only in Colorado and northern Wisconsin, so i never have tied much until recently. My flies catch fish, especially on my last trip to the Poudre Canyon in CO. I caught some 14-15 inchers onsome fly i tied a few years ago and I now have no idea what it is (I have labeled it the Long Draw Bomber after the campground we stay at).

Anyways, I am definately still a beginning level tyer.

57

I’ve been tying for 8 or so years, and would be intermediate. I know enough techniques that I can tie a variety of patterns and structures, work with a range of materials, and have a pretty good idea of what it is I’m trying to do. However, I tie slowly and if I don’t pay attention I will still crowd the head, fight with proportions, have wet fly wings fold over or split on occasion, etc. Hmmm, any and all of those can happen even when I think I’m paying attention! That said, I’m pleased with some of the flies I tie, I and others catch fish with them, and I find it relaxing and enjoyable.

-Jeff

58

After 40 (plus or minus a few years) I’m still a beginner. Every time I sit down at the bench, read a tying book or watch another tyer I learn something new. That’s why I stay interested.

REE

59

Rank beginner without a doubt. 1. Only a few months at the vise(vice). 2. I am not very prolific, an hour or two tying is about all I can do at a time before either my back, eyes, or butt start to remind me to take a break. 3. I am not a very disciplined tyer. I tend to wander from pattern to pattern as my fancy takes me. (swaps often help me with this shortcoming.) All of this being said, Luckily the kids eat pretty well whether I tie 5 flies a day or 5 dozen. As has been said, my wife sees all my work, (because I stick them under her nose) and says “that’s pretty”, or “nice”, or “this one is very small”, (not that you can trust a woman when it comes to the size of things) or “very interesting, is that my red nail polish”?

60

What’s the level before Beginner? I’ve only been tying for 6-8 months, but my flies catch fish, so I’m happy. :smiley: