Teaching a group of beginners

[oatka 0]

So, last month, I planned and pulled of "Guys, Flies & Pies" and 4 of us sat around eating pizza (pies) and tying flies for about 5 hours. Well, we are doing it again, only this time, we might have closer to 8 guys show up. And, of those 8 we have quite a range of experience.

 

2 guys - Tying for 8 or 9 years

1 guy - Tying for a number of years, but only for salt water (we don't have any of that stuff unless you drive 6 or 7 hours)

1 guy - Tied only at last months GFP

1 guy - Tied 1 fly once, long long ago

2 guys - Never tied ever before

1 guy - Experience unknown (have to introduce myself to him today and find out if he ties or is interested)

 

So, as you see, we have quite a range of experience.

 

So, I'm wondering if anyone here has any advise on how to teach a group of guys that primarily has no idea what to do?

 

Here's the room set up. We'll be meeting in my basement (we quickly outgrew the dining room table) and sitting around the ping pong table. I'm hoping the vises fit. Then, I think I'll have the new guys sit next to each other on one side of the table, and my buddy and I who have both been tying for 8 years or so will sit opposite those guys. Then, him and I plan to have 2 or 3 patterns in mind that we'll just go step by step through. I figure that with both of us sitting across from 2 or 3 of the other guys, then as we all go through the pattern there at least is an experienced tier right in front of them to help.

 

Last time, we had only 4 of us, and only 1 new guy, and that wasn't too bad to show him the ropes and still have some fun, but I'm hoping this will go smoothly so everyone has fun and wants to come back. I figure once these guys get hooked (yeah, pun intended) on fly tying, then the events will be less instructional, and more just hanging around and tying whatever you care too.

 

So, any suggestions for a guy who feels unqualified to teach, but is looking forward to brainwashing a few more friends?

 

 

[DeweyGreen 0]

oatka I don't think I qualify to give adivce on this but you might trying to get in touch with Bruce Derington he is a great teacher and I would bet he has a lot of experance in this matter..

[Twofingerz 0]

have them watch videos by Al Beatty that are in The Begginers Corner and let them tie up some of those.

[Worstcaster 0]

Keep the patterns simple to start. Tie dries around size 12 to start. The #20 and smaller are frustrating when you are starting. Sounds like a fun time. Enjoy.

[Fly Tyer Guy 0]

I've been wondering if it would be best if you would start out a little bit hard, :dunno: :dunno: Then their skills will grow faster because they need to make something challenging look good :dunno: , one of the first flies I tied was a paradrake, After I tied that one all of my other dry flies started to look alot better. . You could try muddlers and get them tying with deer hair right away.

 

Just a thought.

 

If you do start out easy do wooly buggers.

[steelie 0]

Good Day,

 

MAy I suggest the following:

 

Keep classes small. 5 - 6 tyers at most.

 

Start with simple patterns like Wooly Buggers, Adams, Bluegill Rubber Spiders, Etc.

 

Have all materials ready for tyers. There is always a good chance a tyer or two will not bring proper materials.

 

Tie one first to show them. Sometimes even tie two examples before they hit the vise.

 

Allow for 45 - 60 minutes per fly recipe expecting the students to tie two of their own in that time.

 

I would not suggest any more than two patterns per session which should take about two hours total.

 

Steelie

[Flyweaver 0]

I started a informal tying group from our TU chapter. We have different skill levels and simply tye at our own pace or show techniques to each other, Also help those with less skill and experience to become better tiers, show how to use different materials and how to tie certain patterns.

flyweaver

[Chase Creek 0]

I teach Boy Scouts, none of which so far has ever tied. I think you should start out with a couple of simple flies - wooly worm, foam beetle, etc. If they try to tie a more complicated pattern, they aren't going to like the results, because chances are it won't look like as good as the one you tied. Be patient, everyone learns at a different rate. Expect to spend a lot of time looking over their shoulder and demonstrating certain steps a few times.

You want them to be succesful, that's what will bring them back. Good luck, and above all have a good time.

[Grunt 0]

I have never taught fly tying but I taught woodturning workshops for a great number of years. My suggestion is demo a fly, stop and then have them tie the demo fly. If they are across the table and have no experiance they will be looking at the demo ass backwards. Have them look over your shoulder so they won't get their right and left mixed up. If you can float between students and give indiviual help they will learn faster. Again demo one and stop tying and help them tie the demo fly. After everyone is on the same page and with your friend with the years at the bench you might be able to divide into two groups and take one group a little farther. Good luck and have them mash their barbs.

[oatka 0]

Thanks for the great suggestions. I'm going to use some of them. It should be a fun time even if things don't go as planned.

 

 

[flyboyutah 0]

I would like to say awsome your taking the the time to teach and get some more guys started. :headbang:

 

I agree keep it simple at first, wooly buggers, renegage, ears hare,

The biggest problem I had at first was and had to figure out , would of loved for someone to show me than to loose alot of hair over . (not that I wasn't losing fast enough) :hyst: :hyst:

 

1. thread tension and control around the barb and, even wrapping material on, I think there is nothing more frustrating than that notorious breaking of the thread thing that we all have had before aspecially when you new at it.

 

2. How to make a clean looking and none bulky head

 

3. How to use the wipe finisher.

 

4. And to know that its a relaxing hobby right.......

[xspook2158 0]

I really hate giving advise online because you can loose that personal touch, but I will tell you how I was taught and how I try and help others if I have a group of beginners. For the first parts of the lesson all we do is the basics with no actual flies involved. We focus on anchoring the thread and bobbin first, then winding the shank with thread to get a nice even base for our material. Then we work on tieing in the tail and securing it to the top of the hook with a good starter loop so it wont slide to one side, then tie it in place. We put focus on each part of the tie in the same way, dubbing, body, wing, hackle and head in the same manner till we see how each tyer progresses. then we split into groups to work on each tyers weak point. Only when the tyer becomes comfortable with the basics of the tying process do we let them move onto the actual fly, then as others have mentioned we focus on basic flies. At this point we tie with the larger hook sizes 6 and 8 so they can get used to perportions and the look of a a finished fly. Again this way works for me and the people we try and help and may not be suited to all, find a style that works for you and that you are comfortable with.

 

Jeff

[Soft-hackle 0]

oatka,

First, keep things simple. You can break the fly down into parts and discuss differences in each part pertaining to the style fly you are tying. For example the difference between wings on wets and dries. Next, start with some basics. New tiers need to know how to whip finish and tie half hitches. I fashioned some rather large hooks out of wire coat hangers and showed the beginners how to cast the thread on, tie half hitches and whip finish using some 1/8 inch nylon cording. Each person can practice while someone holds the hook at the bend acting as a vise. I used clip wooden clothespins as a weight on the cord.

 

As mentioned a demonstration, first, always helps. Do simple flies that will teach techniques that can be use across types of flies. Wingless wets are quite simple if tied on hooks of about size 10 or so. Using larger hooks makes it easier to tie.

 

Employ those in the class that have some experience under their belt to help/assist some of those that do not. This can be done after the more experienced tiers have completed their fly.

 

Encourage questions. You may forget to mention something and a question might help you remember something you need to cover.

 

Start simple, work up to more difficult.

 

Have fun and be encouraging. Getting ones tying fingers is like getting sea legs. It takes time and experience.

 

Mark