somn

Ahh, very good. Examining with a magnifier and photographing are great ideas. Also, I'll definitely start some thread bodied midges and follow the above instructions. After that I'll go back to the caddis larvae that we did the first week of class, since it's just all dubbing. Thanks all, you've given me a great place to 'begin again'.

Thanks for all the great advice -- pretty much confirms what I thought, that it's just a matter of practice, practice, practice. And thanks for the specifics on the PTN, I'll go back to it for a bit and work on getting it correct first. Luckily, I don't get frustrated with the process itself, just with the appearance of specific flies. It just feels like I'm 'stalled' at a certain stage of my learning and am trying to move past that. I realize I shouldn't try to get into more and more complex patterns until I've become proficient at the few I have a my disposal, but when the frustration does hit, I prefer moving to a different fly rather than quitting altogether. But I'm not at all adverse to just stopping and having a beverage to relax and re-focus. =) Tidewater, you're correct, I'm in the mountains of WV so mostly trout, but also bass and panfish. I'll definitely look up other patterns to try out as well once I feel I'm ready to move on. Whether it's healthy or not, I seem to be treating tying as a sport of its own -- tying stuff I may never end up using, just because the process is relaxing, interesting hobby and I get to work with my hands. Seems like the more questions I ask, the more I realize how much I don't know. Will definitely check out Morris's book -- very affordable on Amazon ($15ish, paperback).

So, new to fly fishing and tying, and new to this forum. I started fishing about a year ago and immediately became just as interested in tying as I was in the rest. So I began with a $12 vise from Gander Mtn. and youtube videos. A year later and I'm finishing up a TU class and have eight to ten patterns that I can tie and enjoy doing so. My question is, in the learning process, do you find slumps in your progression? I feel like all of my flies have the same flaws -- tail too long, legs too long, body too slim, dubbing not quite right, etc. -- even though I know what the flaws are and am mindful of it with every next fly. Is it something that just takes practice? I try to tie at least two or three flies every day, even if just for the practice alone. Regardless, I love doing it, so I guess that's all that matters, just frustrated that my flies don't quite turn out how I'd like them. Additionally, not having any books, etc. on tying (maybe if I did, this would be answered), does anyone have suggestions on a progression of patterns? For example, in the class, we've gone from caddis nymphs to emergers to pheasant tail nymphs to wooly buggers to a simple streamer to simple dries. But I'm getting tired of tying the same things and want something different. An older neighbor fishes only dries and loves the Royal Wulff and what looks to be an Adams parachute (he gave me a couple that he'd tied but only knew the name of the Wulff) and I thought those would be good to get beyond the simply dries that we learned in class (rusty spinner and deer hair caddis). Anyway, any suggestions, advice, consolation welcomed and appreciated. =) ~k