Jump to content
Fly Tying
Dart

Calling all experienced tiers!

Recommended Posts

first attempts at a geehi beetle

 

1stto3rd.jpg

 

The swap flies (the 2 on the left)

 

4thtoKarsten.jpg

 

my first parachute... yuk!

 

parachuetadams14.jpg

I'm still not great... but get better every time

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I still have my first....It's an Alder.

 

post-32910-1304216599_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

Then one of my latest you may have seen, my Crappie Crunch.

 

post-32910-1304216683_thumb.jpg

 

 

Hard to believe it's been over ten years already! I was just a little kid when I started.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I started tying three years ago, and I have my first fly in a box somewhere...trust me you dont want to see it. I had no idea what I was doing, I used sewing thread...and literally knotted it to the hook to start the thread. You can image what it was like after that. Ha!

 

Here is a fly I did a little while after I started.

DSCF0678.jpg

 

I stopped tying classic wets for a year, then started on classic salmon flies, and have been at it for almost a year now. Here is a recent one. I also made the hook that was used on that one.

DSCF3388.jpg

 

So it goes to show with a little discipline...and a lot of wasted material you can learn a lot! I do NOT encourage tiers to jump into classics like I did. I am OCD and love spending money haha. For young tiers focus on fishing and tying fishing flies. Learning the basics is invaluable, and FISHING is more important when your young/beginning.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I still have my first....It's an Alder.

 

post-32910-1304216599_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

Then one of my latest you may have seen, my Crappie Crunch.

 

post-32910-1304216683_thumb.jpg

 

 

Hard to believe it's been over ten years already! I was just a little kid when I started.

[/quote

That is a pretty good first fly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you! I remember trying to get everything on that fly perfect. I thought I had lost it for a while but I mysteriously found it again. Creepy in a way hahaha. It's a little more chewed up than I remember hahaha.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

When this thread first started, I (like many others,) knew that my first flies were long gone. Having started over 50 years ago, in 1955, there was no hope of ever finding those first patterns. I loosly tried to copy pictures from an old Herters catalog freely substituting colors and materials as necessary. When we moved in 57 all the tying gear was packed up, and I didn't tie again until 1965. But that winter, I dug it all out only to find the bugs had ruined all the materials. But I had a fine old Thompson vise, some scissors, and a set of hackle pliers, so I started shopping for materials, and started tying in ernest that winter. I haven't stopped yet.

 

I didn't think I had flies left from those days, but while cleaning out an old foot locker in the bacement, I came across a box of about a dozen from those early days. Most were badly damaged, but here are a few of my awful first attemts. First a brown hackle peacock, then a nymph of some sort followed by an ugly stone fly nymph. Finally a couple of really bad muddlers. I will follow up with a second post with some recent efforts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So after fifty years or so, I can sometimes tie some nicer looking flies, but I am still learning. At least they catch fish, and that's what I'm going for. There are some pretty messy looing bugh here too, but now thats the way I want them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've only been tying a little over a year now but I keep changing what I tie.

 

I started with egg patterns and have hundreds of them now.

 

<img src="http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2593/eggi.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

 

I then moved to tying hair wings, These ones I'd say are 6-8 months into tying.

 

<img src="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/4960/dscn5180.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8049/dscn5185np.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

I then started tying anything I could find to a hook and throwing them at pike. What a rush I'm now totally addicted to fish with teeth.

 

<img src="http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6496/dscn5200p.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

My most recent pike flies are sitting on my desk now, I'll try and take some pictures later to add to this post.

 

 

WOW I wish my ties could look as good as yours do after the 6-8 month mark. I guess I just need to start making time to sit in front of the vise. :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first try flies from when I was 14 years and just started tying (especially the first one is horrenduous, I used my own hair as material!)

 

And four of my flies one to two years later - at age 15 or 16 - shortly before I stopped fly tying, being in puberty. (I'm 26 now and interested in tying again - see the "newslast" example, tied with Angora Rabbit Wool ;) )

 

I like the differences :)

post-34697-0-55525600-1311795099_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-01727200-1311795106_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-35503100-1311795110_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-87194600-1311795114_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-14986100-1311795120_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-97340200-1311795126_thumb.jpg

post-34697-0-77795100-1311795133_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...