Triplef 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 I started fly tying back in 1972 and for 10 years I tied a lot of flies! Never for show . . . always just to catch fish! But after 10 years my eyes started changing and my vision couldn't be corrected with glasses or contacts (a retina issue). But last year I had some surgery that now let's me see again . . . maybe better than I could see in 1972!!! So I've started tying flies again and my how things have changed!!! The quality of the hackles and saddles is amazing!! And all the synthetics! WOW!!!! And now there is YouTube to help you along!! When I got started the only place I could find to order fly-tying supplies was Herter's! (If you have never seen one of their old catalogs they were a hoot! Every single thing ever invented for fishing was either invented by them or at least dramatically improved by them!!!) Honestly I'm having to re-learn everything . . . starting with muscle memory!! My flies are coming around but still not of a really good quality yet. And I have so much to learn and re-learn. But I'm having a blast!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevue.chartreuse.trout 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 Continue to do so. Don't let anyone divert your enthusiasm. And always remember, you can do anything you want,..... just try it. BCT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 Welcome to the site, Triple F. I gotta ask about your avatar ... Caught your wife by the thumb? Or you found a really macho way to display your flies? Just please remember, we love pictures of flies and watching you relearn will probably teach the rest of us a few things we've forgotten. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zip 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 Welcome home,buddy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlatsRoamer 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2016 Hey Triplef, first off welcome to the forum! I just wanted to let you know that you can and WILL start tying better flies again. I am 14, just a stupid kid in the eyes of everyone, but my tying has dramatically,dramatically,dramatically improved. A simple look at my first fly and some of the ones I tied today(I can PM you some pics) is quite amazing. Now thats not to say that it was a "solo act". I posted pictures, got LOTS of feedbackcby the forum. Some if it was nice,some of it was kinda spirit-crushing, and some of it was constructive criticism. If you can power through the "rust" and regain your muscle memory, we would all be very proud to have you as a member of the flytyingforum! Also, PLEASE post pictures. I (and Mike ) cannot emphasize that enough, it is the only way that we can "critique" your flies. Hope you read all of this because it took a while lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triplef 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2016 Thanks you all for the welcome and encouragement! And Mikechell . . . this just shows off my fly fishing skills!!! I believe that was a purchased fly (ugh!) Okay . . . here three pictures! A parachute attempt. Tail too long, hackle too big I know. But I'm hoping the trout wan't care that much. Next is a bunch of smaller nymphs (a few bigger). Also a CDC . . . never tied a CDC before so this is definitely a learning experience! Criticisms will not hurt me! That's how we all learn . . . just like my new 14 year old friend FlatsRoamer said! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlaFly 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2016 They look great to me. I don't think the fish take a tape measure to see if the tail is a couple of millimeters off. They just eat it. or don't. But I bet they'll eat these. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triplef 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2016 They look great to me. I don't think the fish take a tape measure to see if the tail is a couple of millimeters off. They just eat it. or don't. But I bet they'll eat these. You're cutting me a break! But thanks! Thank God for a few stupid fish!! Hahaha! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zip 0 Report post Posted June 12, 2016 Those look really amazing after such a long break! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites