Iasgair

I finally got some speculum feathers from a mallard duck, so I just had to do the Butcher the way it was meant to be. I just found out that this fly is one of the patterns the UK was thinking about banning because of it's catching ability. There's even a song named, Who Told the Butcher, which names a few of the classic flies. It's a lovely song.

I'm not a bad fly tyer I guess, even though it takes me several times to get it to where I like it. I tied this fly for a friend on another forum because it's an old English classic fly that he uses. I didn't have any blue feathers from a mallard duck so I just used royal blue duck quill feathers just to show him how to tie them in the way I do it. Well, I wasn't feeling very good that night and it was late and I was struggling with it. Everything went wrong. I won't even show you the fly because I am too embarrassed to show it though I posted it on that other forum. The next morning I felt better and told myself that I have the ability to redeem myself. I went to my tying room, sat down and started all over again. First attempt was a success in my book. I showed others the fly and was even compared to Don Bastian. I have heard the name but had no idea who he is. I then looked his name up and saw the most beautiful wet flies I have ever seen. I still have a ways to go before I am even in his skill level. But here's what came out of my vise that morning.

Thank you KIm. And thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. One of the things I have learned about tying is to go as SLOW as I need to. It's not a race to beat the clock. I do have time to tie a dozen at once, but it's getting them to all look the same is the issue, especially if I'm tying a pattern I have never tied before. But surprisingly enough, I do redeem myself at times.

Thank you very much for your kind words and encouragement. I'll certainly post photos of my accomplishments when tying. People I know say my flies are well tied, but it just takes me forever to do it. What may take all of you ten minutes may take me thirty min. Here's the last fly I tied, the classic Rio Grande King wet fly. The tail is a little too long I think.

I'm new here to this forum and I like to tie flies but have a learning disorder so it takes me a while to get them right. But I don't give up easily. I hope I can learn more from you all and get better at this wonderful hobby. I'm getting into classic winged wet flies and doing better at it, but still struggling here and there. Though many people I talk to say they can make the wings once out of three attempts, so I don't feel too bad about it. It just tells me I'm on the right track. I'm glad to be here and I'm sure I'll learn many new tricks and patterns here.