First Few Flies

[Tyme Keeper 0]

These are a few of the first flies I've tied. I have tied less than a dozen so far. The very first flies were very lumpy, and I think that had a lot to do with the thread I was using (210 denier purchased before I knew any better). Now with a bobbin of 6/0 the materials are laying better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd love any feed back y'all have on these flies.

[126lineman 0]

Your flies are looking very good for just starting out. 8/0 thread is plenty big for flies that size, it will help reduce bulk, just mind your thread tension accordingly.

[Gene L 0]

Your thread technique looks good and looks to be a good start. And the bodies look good. The caddis looks like the right proportions but I don't know if the body is bouyant enough to float. I like to palmer caddis flys to help them float.

 

In my opinion, the mayflies' hackle is too long by a great deal, though. And the wings are too short, should be slightly longer than the hackle, which should be about 1 1/2 times the gap.

 

Edited to add that the mayflies with that extremely large hackle with not enough tail are apt to set too high so the tail isn't providing any resistance, and with the weight of the tippet, I think it will turn over on its nose in the water. That tail needs to be touching the water to add stability.

 

Here's a diagram to help proportion a dry fly which I didn't explain well enough.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=dry+fly+dimensions&tbm=isch&imgil=m2AoHTdsPBq5CM%253A%253BmtdS-b2ewW-13M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ozarkflyfishers.org%25252Ffly%25252Fdryfly.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=m2AoHTdsPBq5CM%253A%252CmtdS-b2ewW-13M%252C_&biw=1352&bih=602&usg=__TznSZVrdwibBmXBi5wIXBDvkYZU%3D&ved=0CDMQyjc&ei=mHiDVbG8D4vwsAX42rO4BA#imgrc=m2AoHTdsPBq5CM%253A%3BmtdS-b2ewW-13M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ozarkflyfishers.org%252Ffly%252Fflyimages%252Fdryprop2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ozarkflyfishers.org%252Ffly%252Fdryfly.html%3B245%3B214&usg=__TznSZVrdwibBmXBi5wIXBDvkYZU%3D

[flytire 0]

pheasant tail fibers (looks like it to me) are too soft to support the caddis (and they dont have tails)

 

hackles are too long for dry flies

 

thread heads need a little work. remove trapped fibers

 

tails could be a little longer

 

this articles says it best

 

http://www.flyfisherman.com/fly-tying/tying-flies-beautiful-flies/

 

the hook defines the proportions

 

[Tyme Keeper 0]

Your thread technique looks good and looks to be a good start. And the bodies look good. The caddis looks like the right proportions but I don't know if the body is bouyant enough to float. I like to palmer caddis flys to help them float.

 

In my opinion, the mayflies' hackle is too long by a great deal, though. And the wings are too short, should be slightly longer than the hackle, which should be about 1 1/2 times the gap.

 

Edited to add that the mayflies with that extremely large hackle with not enough tail are apt to set too high so the tail isn't providing any resistance, and with the weight of the tippet, I think it will turn over on its nose in the water. That tail needs to be touching the water to add stability.

 

Thank you for your feedback.

 

You were right about the caddis, it had a very tough time staying afloat on the water this afternoon. I forgot to measure the hackle on the mayflies so that explains my issues there. Thank you for the proportion link, that helps a whole lot.

[Tyme Keeper 0]

pheasant tail fibers (looks like it to me) are too soft to support the caddis (and they dont have tails)

 

hackles are too long for dry flies

 

thread heads need a little work. remove trapped fibers

 

tails could be a little longer

 

this articles says it best

 

http://www.flyfisherman.com/fly-tying/tying-flies-beautiful-flies/

 

the hook defines the proportions

 

Thank you for your feedback and for sharing that article.