sniksoh 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 if u happened to find your first fly, what would u do with it...i mean the first fly that u tied when u got into fly tying? would you use it? would you toss it? would you frame it? tell me what u would do... i am asking this question because i so happened to find my very first fly in a tackle box in the bototom of my dresser... thanks, sniksoh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arkfisher 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 My first fly was a wooly bugger as is for a lot of tyers. I'm not sure what happened to my first one, but if I found it, I'd probably have a good chuckle, then I'd hang on to it. It's always interesting to look back and see your progress. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sniksoh 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 yeah thats what mine is...a wooly bugger with tan chinnelle and brown marabou and hackle this one actually: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 sniksoh take that fly and put it in a small frame and hang it over your tying area. Trust me 20 years from now it will be something that you wish you had if you dont I have one I tied about 5 years after I started tying, but I wish I still had my very first one. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 Never thought about saving my first fly.....I was in too much of a hurry to see if it would catch anything. My first flys (6) were #18 Blue Winged Olives...the second I saw the fish come up to take it , I realized I would never buy a fly again. I've been tying ever since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sniksoh 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 does anyone know were i can get some info on framing flies??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fly time 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 Order ya a small riker box off of ebay, or ya can find em at a photography shop, they are really cheap in price, just stick it in there, and hang it in your tying area!!! Dustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bugsy 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 The first fly I tied was a simple muskrat nymph taught to me by a man 50 yrs my elder. I watched him tie this one pattern after a summer morning's fishing. That 15 minutes was the only tying "lesson" I ever had. I may actually have that first fly I tied. I say may, because I tied a small quantity of these muskrat nymphs after I purchased my first tools and materials. I believe I fished a couple of them shortly afterward and then placed the remainder in a box. About a year ago, I came across these same flies tucked away in a Wheatley box (which I never use). There are approximately five of them there, and I don't know if one of these is my actual first fly. Very likely, though, given the odds. Regardless, they were all tied during my first day. That was over 25 yrs ago, and many hooks have passed through the jaws in the days since. There are many other memorable flies, though, mostly those that resulted in well-earned and unexpected catches. I've tried to make it a habit to hang on to these particular flies and not risk their loss. Seeing a bent-out hook that amazingly held a heavy trout or steelie long enough to bring it to hand brings back good memories. Unlike a photo, these are tangible. I suppose I may one day mount and frame some of these flies, along with my alleged "first" tie, but I realize not being able to hold them in my hand will somewhat alter my enjoyment. Life gets busy as time goes by, and we sometimes fail to appreciate those "firsts." I would recommend you take two minutes to put that fly in a polybag or envelope along with a few remarks stating the pattern, when you tied it, where you tied it, and perhaps even the reason why you chose that as your first. Then put it in a safe place until you one day decide what you really want to do with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 My first was probably a wooly worm or wooly bugger. It's unlikely that I have them, but I know I have some flies from my first year of tying. I have kept those, and they are good for a laugh every now and then. I really wish I had my first egg pattern still. It was bright orange yarn from my mom's collection, tied on a hook and it had to be AT LEAST the size of a 1/2 dollar, if not larger. I swung that thing into the river (on a spinning rod...I was young and didn't know better) and pulled out a very nice steelhead. funky looking fly, but caught a nice fish. Hang on to your first.......that's why I'm still with my wife Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vices 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 My first fly was a housefly, I have it hanging up.. in a tree somewhere.. :cheers: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frank G. Swarner III 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 I'd go fishing with it again. Maybe lose it again too. Check out your local craft store for frames and pre-made matt for the size frame you want. They are usually reasonably priced and a time saver. Get some 1/4 foamboard for the backing while you are there. It comes in a few different colors or you can "glue" a more designer style of paper to it if you like. Plastic q-tips and wire can be used to mount the fly to the foamboard. I'll try to find the post about the q-tips, it has pictures and a bit more detail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 If you have a Michaels Crafts store in your area they have a good selection of small display boxes plus if you want to get more creative they also sell small domes if you want to display it on a tiny piece of driftwood. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vices 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 Theres a store in my area called "Solutions".. the have really great little model cases. If there is one near you, you shold check it out, all sorts of storage stuff.. :cheers: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex C. 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 I've still got my first fly, a light cahill dry. I probably would have junked it, but thanks to the people here on this forum I held onto it, and I'm happy I did. I swear it gets a little uglier every time I look at it I also kept my first realistic, my first woolly bugger, my first classic salmon fly, my first spey, and all the other firsts:lol: I have a shadow box with like 16 diffferent little compartments and someday will frame them all in it. Right now they're all sticking into a piece of foam, inside a tupperware container. I find myself checking them out all the time. Some are pretty horrible, some aren't too bad. But it's nice to see the progress I am making. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phg 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2007 My first fly was a brown spider, sort of a dryfly version of a softhackle. I think my brother taught it to me. A bit of red for the tail, a dark thread body and several turns of brown hackle at the front. I didn't have easy access to trout back then, but there was a big pond filled with bluegill nearby, and they would tear them spiders up! I still have a few of my old flies, but they are just in the same box I used 40+ years ago. I never thought about mounting or framing them. They are beginning to look a bit ratty with age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites