You recently returned from a trip to the river. You caught a fish or two but couldn't help but notice the success of the older gentleman upstream. As you arrive at your car, you can't resist the temptation to ask this wise man, "hey, what were you using out there today?"
This is how most fly tyers start out. They are amazed and bewildered by the success of those around them who tie their own flies. Certainly the river must reward those with such talent, right? If only you could figure out the hatch, the hackle patterns, the right hook, etc., you would also become a wise man of the river. So with such determination, you head to the big box store ready to unload your credit limit on every fiber, feather, hackle, hook, and whatever else you can find. The answer must lie in these precious materials!
It's stories like these that inspired me to write this quick article about fly tying. While it may seem I'm writing from my perspective as a fly shop owner, I'm actually reflecting on how much time and money I wasted getting into fly tying as a hobby. As I look back, it would have been so much simpler to follow a basic set of guidelines when starting out. So, here are my basic tips for the beginning fly tyer.
First, don't spend a lot of money. The first trip I made to the big box store put me down nearly $1,000. I bought everything in sight! I ended up with enough feathers to make my own pillows. I purchased every type of thread, wire, ribbon, etc. within my reach. I bought a few vices to find the "right one." And I bought about 500 hooks. Hey, I was going to tie flies night and day! But after my first dozen, my hands hurt. A bit of arthritis set in, and those production flies started looking awfully good! So I say this again, don't spend a lot of money when learning to do anything for the first time. The wise fly tyer will tell you the most important thing to start with is a good rotary vice. A bad vice can really hurt your efforts when you're trying to learn. So buying a solid vice is probably a reasonable investment. Maybe budget $100 for a decent vice. But put back the feathers, threads, wires, copper, flashing, dub, and everything else in your cart!
So, what else do you need? In addition to a vice, it's wise to have a decent toolkit. This includes the necessary bobbins, scissors, tweezers, hackle pliers, etc. A nice little set can be had for around $40. Finally, get a table lamp with a lighted magnifying lens. The one I use cost me $25. Now you're ready to start tying, all for less than $200.
Here is the next crucial step. Pick a single pattern to tie. And make it a simple pattern. A San Juan worm is pretty hard to mess up. You might not learn much about tying technique, but you will certainly learn about positioning fibers on a hook, securing with head cement, and similar basic skills. Plus, you will have something to put in the water right away. That's a big self-confidence builder. From there, start a slightly more complex pattern that requires more tying. It's important to start out tying on larger hooks. I would advise using nothing smaller than a size 14 hook. When starting your next pattern (a large pheasant tail nymph might be a good one to work on), focus on learning how to secure your tying with either a half-hitch or a whip finish.
As you start tying your first patterns, it's important to only buy the material you need for that particular pattern. This means a spool of material to make the body of the fly (thread, wire, etc.), and fibers or hackle to create the fly itself. There are two pitfalls that often occur at this stage. First, beginning tyers will often buy very fine and brittle thread. You need to make sure you're using thicker thread that doesn't easily break. Nothing is more frustrating than completing the perfect fly and having the thread break before you can finish the tie. Better yet, start out using copper wire. There is no shame in using larger materials. Fish like those flies too! The second mistake is when the beginning tyer purchases hackle. The amount of options seems endless. Is the $40 package of pheasant tail feathers really worth it? Just remember, buy for the pattern. Don't load your cart up with every conceivable option. You're learning to tie one pattern. You may find you hate tying flies, so why start the world's largest hackle collection?
Finally, there is a secret known among seasoned fly tyers. Simply put, fish will eat poorly tied ugly flies. My first copper wire Kebari fly (a Tenkara fly fishing pattern) looked horrible. I was just thankful it held together through multiple drifts. And then one day on the Provo River, a lunker ripped it off the tippet. There is a famous saying of unknown origin; "everyone has to eat." Yes, fish will eat ugly flies. I'm not saying you shouldn't aspire to perfect flies one day, but don't be discouraged from tossing your fly out there just because it doesn't look like it came from Orvis.
There is certainly an endless amount of advice more seasoned tyers than me could give to beginners. I hope these little nuggets of wisdom can help you get started in a way that is fun, productive, and cost-effective! Tight lines!
Uintah Fly Shop is an online retailer of authentic fly lures and gear. We're happy to help you prepare for your adventure into the wild, or a trip to your urban fishery. Visit us today at http://www.uintahflyshop.com
