The Wild Fishing Forum

Just a small survey of members. If you do or don't can you say why?  How long have you been tying flies? What started or stopped you tying flies or have you never bothered?

I tye my own this is the forty fifth year of doing it :) The pal who taught me to fly fish also taught me to tye flies, it just seemed the thing to do at the time. It wasn't a concious decision it was just part of the learning experience. I don't tye much now just the odd one or two when I need them, I'm not hard on flies so they last quite a while, years in some cases :)

Absolutely! 30 years now and I'm still learning!

Apart from those given to me, and the odd pattern purchased to copy later, my boxes are populated with my home-made efforts.  I've been tying pretty much as long as I've been fishing.  No real reason I started, it just seemed the done thing back then.  I'm glad I tie my own, as I can't imagine being happy relying on the shop bought flies, most of which are too heavily dressed for my liking.  I can't say I enjoy tying as much as I used to, and it very often feels like a chore, especially if I'm just retying favourite patterns.  The boredom factor's reduced when experimenting though and despite not being excited by tying these days, it is an important part of my fishy activities.  This year I've promised myself I'll be tidier and up my game with my tying.  Mostly because I've had a peek in other fly boxes and realise I've become a bit sloppy over the years compared to others.  Can't see me ever stopping tying my own until my health won't let me anymore.  Meantime I've some ideas for new patterns this year... well, I say new, but as we all know they'll just be variations of what's gone before. 

Yup. I tie them because I can make (more or less) what I want. No money is saved though, that's for sure, but a harmless pastime.

Thinking on ....... probably the main reason for tying my own, aside from the pastime and enjoyment of it, is that I can use a finer and better quality of hook and choose what I want. The finer the hook the better the hook-up. Just the same as the difference between an injection with a thick needle or a fine narrow bore one.

I've been tying my own flies for seven or eight years now. Initially I fell into the trap of thinking I could save money. Soon realised that flytying was costing a lot more than buying flies. I continued tying for a few reasons including being able to tie flies the way you like them, complying patterns not available in shops and tweeting patterns making your own flies.

There is also a little added satisfaction to catching fish on flies you have tied yourself. I now also enjoy tying as a hobby in its own right, there is something satisfying about tying a nice fly and enjoy learning new techniques and styles.

I had considered tying flies to sell as a minor side line and fund tackle purchases, but it's just not worth it and making an enjoyable hobby work take most of the fun out of it.

Used to get the vice out and make some up but I'm colour blind and often ended up with not quite what i intended. Shop bought mostly now. Maybe i could work out a better system and have another go as Ive one or two great flies that i just never see in the shops.

By tying my own i can experiment & try to match my observations better.I could never understand why my hares ear cased caddis wasn't more effective.I then done a few kick samples & every river i fish they have a greenish almost black case.I started tying the case with peacock herl or black peacock dubbing.It's one of my top nymphs now & catches almost year round.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img707/5072/cmbf.jpg)
I never leave home without cased caddis now.Cheers All

I learned to tie basic wets (bibios, peter ross, zulus etc) when i was in my early teens and to be honest i've never really progressed from there. Sometimes i've not tied a flea for several years, then if i take the notion i'll maybe tie 20 or 30 over a couple of weeks. I would say i'm still a novice tyer but i have caught some good troot on ma own fleas. The vast majority of all my boxes are made up of fleas i've bought over the years. I'm hoping to tie some fleas up before the start of the new season though.

I made my first vice 30 odd years ago but just really played at it and did not have much money to spend on feathers and the like.

I have a decent set up now and probably too much gear but I enjoy catching on flies I have tied by myself. Over the last couple of years I have intended to tie some salmon flies but I cant pull myself away from trout.

Billy

My Dad taught me when i was a youngster and have been tying for about forty years now,its fair to say i got to a certain level within a few years and never really progressed much after that.Some flies i wouldn't even attempt and for every five i tye i usually make an arse of one :D Tying what i need rather than enjoyment for me.

Chris. :D

My dad took me to Fly Tying lessons in Govan High (Late 50s)when I was a wee boy.
My mum said it was "to keep me off the streets" Certainly did not do me any harm.
One of my instructors I believe was Tom Stewart of "100 Popular Flies so I had a good beginning.
First "fly cabinet" was an Oxo tin with a few bits & bobs in it. I still tie but only occasionally as the mood takes me. Sometimes I am as good as it gets & other times pish. I tend to stick to what I know & like. Wets especially Clyde Style, loch patterns & river spiders. Hairwinged Salmon & Dapping flies I like tying but have more than enough in boxes that I do not need any more.
Saves Money? I think not but worth while to know the basics at least.
Tight Lines

An uncle bought me the basic Veniards 'box' when I was about eleven. Started from there and taught myself from books , magazines and videos back then. Still learning from the internet and other anglers these days. Haven't bought a fly for long time now. I don't do it to save money because it is bloody expensive! I just like my patterns to have a look that pleases me and the fish and I'm a bit fussy about flies that are too thin, too thick, too long, too stiff, etc, etc, etc.  Anyone who ties their own will know what I mean.

I've been tying since I was about 14/15 shortly after I started fly fishing.

I've never gone to tying classes (it shows) but that said my flies don't fall apart and they catch fish well enough. I do though get slightly embarrassed when someone looks in my fly box of scruffy creations. They might be scruffy, but they aren't overdressed, unlike most shop bought flies.

I do however buy some flies. Some of those are to copy and some are simply bought through bone laziness when I can't be bothered to tie something like an articulated streamer or a turks tarantula. I have a huge stock of bought flies as back-ups, but 90% of the time I'll be fishing my own flies. 

Alex

It's on a cold wet windy day like today I get to the vice and start tying, I enjoy tying wet for the lochs and rivers but will turn my hand to anything. When the fishing tackle is stored away the tying keeps you in touch with the trout season to come.

Made my own flies for the last 30yrs or so not things of beauty, but they work sometimes. As a few posts have pointed out its not a way to save money, but I find myself only having to buy hooks these days  having already bought everything I might need. :roll:     

Another bottomless pit to pour your hard-earned cash into under the misguided belief that you are saving money, creating whumper-catchers, purposefully occupying the long dark nights of the close season and other bullshit.
Like Fred, I have the Anvil Apex, a very nice vice at a mere £100, but seeing his review of the Caimore it seems I need that as well.
That and a few (say a dozen, gosh, special offer on, free postage on orders over £XXX, better make that 20) genetic capes,  and then there is that new thread now available in 30 colours, and the professional dubbing and.......................

Started tying shortly after my first few months of fishing. Was sick of spending a pound a fly then losing it up a tree that day. Thought it would be cheaper then started buying every material for the " next killer" fly published in mags. :shock: I get as much enjoyment tinkering with patterns as I do fishing sometimes and Im better at tying than fishing. Go through phases where I get scunnered and won't  tie for a few weeks.
No better buzz than finding yourself up against it on the river, going home knocking something up and it works next time. Probably a coincidence   :lol:

Yes, tie my own flies but it is purely for functional reasons. In other words I do not seek out patterns to tie up as I have a fairly standard list of flies that I use all the time:comparaduns, klinks, f flies and PTN all in various colors and sizes.

Alistair

yes. and no.

saltwater flies are so ridiculously expensive it is (once you've bought the basic gear  :roll:) actually cheaper to make your own. plus as john says, many of the commercially available flies aren't meant for this country and/or are way over-dressed.

however, i'm blowed if i can weave a decent polish nymph and as for tiny, perfectly formed dries, well i'd rather let the pros do that! salmon flies are another matter: money for old rope as they've gotta be the easiest things to start tying.

i also love the innovation of the american tyers, which inspires me. i recently made some great pike/swff poppers and sliders out of some foam earplugs supplied to the welders at work.

merry fishmas to everyone, btw! :D

Yes I tie. Just for the enjoyment of it. Learned to tie at my local angling club tying classes.

Fly tying is an affliction but if you want to do serious imitative river fishing you need to do it. I enjoy it in small doses but the real affliction is the amount of unnecessary materials  you accumulate.

Cheers

Paul

I have tied my own flies for over 35years. Basically I tie what works for me with variations as new materials come on the market. However I will purchase flies for specific purposes if I do not have the basic materials.

Have a great Christmas and all the best to forum members for 2014

JB

I can see bits of my own experience from several posters. Been tying for around 20 years, I had been thinking about it as I was moving  back towards rivers after a long lay off. Bought flies were too general and bulky. The final shove was being gifted a box of materials and other things from a mate. His father in law had died and stuff had to be shifted. Amazing collection of quality traditional materials, some stuff I returned such as a vintage all wooden fly reel.

Anyway I joined the Bert Sharpe's tying classes and was shown the ropes to an exact standard. Fair to say that standard has slipped since I stopped going, I did a decent line in Clyde wets, and I just go my own scruffy way. Only a few from the good pages survive. I need to tighten up a bit.

I have started buying the odd pattern again, things I'm not too clever at. Czech nymphs, parachutes, micros and others. Tying is mostly a chore but I do like to look at half a dozen decent efforts after an intense night at the vice.

One thing though, once I worked out exactly what was needed and tied accordingly, my success rate shot up.

I've always fished but when I started fly fishing at about 12 my granpa gave me a couple of vices and a tin of feathers, he said I should learn young because by the time he started his fingers were all thumbs and he gave up! I pretty much self taught, I just messed about until I made one pattern which was just grey seals fur, teal wing and brown hen hackle. It caught me a lot of browns and a few grayling on my local river (nith) so I basically just tied that for years  :roll:
I didn't tie for years but got a veniard kit for Christmas 3 years ago and got started again. I only fish my own flies now, it's expensive way of saving money but passes the time in the winter, I basically fill a box in the winter and only tie to replace successful patterns in the summer...there's too much fishing to do then!!

I tie some of the easier patterns - and get some from a professional fly tier who I know - I don't buy from shops these days as they are usually rubbish.
Its a great feeling to get fish on your own flies and as you say . its cheaper.
I normally leave it until the last minute but my new years resolution is to be more organised this year.
I start tomorrow evening.
Ian

Quote from: Lochan_load on January 03, 2014, 12:44:40 AM
I've always fished but when I started fly fishing at about 12 my granpa gave me a couple of vices and a tin of feathers, he said I should learn young because by the time he started his fingers were all thumbs and he gave up! I pretty much self taught, I just messed about until I made one pattern which was just grey seals fur, teal wing and brown hen hackle. It caught me a lot of browns and a few grayling on my local river (nith) so I basically just tied that for years  :roll:
I didn't tie for years but got a veniard kit for Christmas 3 years ago and got started again. I only fish my own flies now, it's expensive way of saving money but passes the time in the winter, I basically fill a box in the winter and only tie to replace successful patterns in the summer...there's too much fishing to do then!!

Almost the identical tying history as me :D
I never really got into it and able to make identifiable patterns until 4 or 5 years ago. I got hold of a new vice but the biggest help was the advice to decide what patterns you want to tie and then buy materials you need to do it - still manage to buy a fair bit of random stuff however :)

Well, looks like i'm in a minority of people who don't! However i'd very much like to learn at some point but will obviously need to get the basic kit together first. I was thinking about starting this off-season but given the forthcoming move abroad I thought it was better to wait. Our local angling shop proprietor runs tying classes for a fiver a pop although I think you may need to supply your own materials for it. Not sure.

Would those of you with experience say it was better to learn from observing an experienced tier rather than attempting to pick up the basics from a book? I suspect the answer to this (as in many things) will be yes but figured i'd ask anyway :)

Quote from: Midgie Hater on January 03, 2014, 01:11:33 PM
Well, looks like i'm in a minority of people who don't! However i'd very much like to learn at some point but will obviously need to get the basic kit together first. I was thinking about starting this off-season but given the forthcoming move abroad I thought it was better to wait. Our local angling shop proprietor runs tying classes for a fiver a pop although I think you may need to supply your own materials for it. Not sure.

Would those of you with experience say it was better to learn from observing an experienced tier rather than attempting to pick up the basics from a book? I suspect the answer to this (as in many things) will be yes but figured i'd ask anyway :)

Lessons from a good fly tier are probably the best way to learn the basics but you can learn from books and Youtube - I have never had lessons but then again I don't try to tie anything too complicated. But I can tie reasonably good wet flys and nymphs.
There are plenty of videos on Youtube which give great instruction - Davie McPhail does some great videos .
Start of with some simple patterns - wets / spiders , and as you get better you could then move on to more difficult patterns.
If you have the time ( and the patience ) you should be surprised what a bit of practice will do.
Best of luck
 

I learned from books myself and didn't find any great problem in getting the basics right, but I'm sure by sitting with a good tier you would pick up lots of tips and short cuts more quickly.

Youtube has lots of great tying videos, Davie McPhail's videos in particular being really clear and he shows how to tie a huge range of patterns and styles.

Late edit: mackiia1 beat me to the punch :)

Alex

Good advice there from Ian and Alex.

I learned a lot by  watching Davie McPhail vids, not so much patterns, but techniques and while I'll never be that skilled it helped a lot in understanding how to go about things.

Aye, Davie McPhail watched a few of his vids myself and used a few of his patterns. I'm not really a fly tier more a flat tyre, but I get by and I catch the odd fish.

But it's still too early and I'm trying to keep the mania at bay for another couple of months before I get the vice out.   

Thanks for the speedy advice folks :) I'll bookmark Mr. McPhail for future reference. (oh and LOL Buanan ;) )

Although this isn't the point of the thread, while we're all here: considering i'm on a tight budget at the moment what do you think the minimum workable outlay would be? I've looked at the odd vice and prices vary wildly. Obviously I would want/need to start off with a cheap one. Apart from anything else I might find i'm rubbish at it!  :lol:  I've seen the basic Veniard starter kit which someone mentioned earlier. Would that and said cheap vice be all I needed to give it a go?

...oh and i've just noticed (never having really explored the tying section before) that there are some very handy "stickies for starters" on here. I'll have a mooch. Excellent resource i'm sure :)

The  Veniard starter kit would be fine. Does it not come with some instruction too?

Thanks Fred. Now you mention it I think it does, although I only know this from looking at the listing in the Fastmail Tackle catalogue which makes mention of this. Cheers again.

Quote from: Midgie Hater on January 03, 2014, 01:42:02 PM
Thanks for the speedy advice folks :) I'll bookmark Mr. McPhail for future reference. (oh and LOL Buanan ;) )

Although this isn't the point of the thread, while we're all here: considering i'm on a tight budget at the moment what do you think the minimum workable outlay would be? I've looked at the odd vice and prices vary wildly. Obviously I would want/need to start off with a cheap one. Apart from anything else I might find i'm rubbish at it!  :lol:  I've seen the basic Veniard starter kit which someone mentioned earlier. Would that and said cheap vice be all I needed to give it a go?

If I was starting out from scratch I would buy a cheap set up tools - vice , bobbin holders , hackle pliers etc. - but I would stay away from a fly tying materials kit as you will end up with lots of stuff you may never use. Far better in my opinion to buy the basic capes . seals furs , threads , hooks etc. that will suit the type of flies you wish to tie. You can then add to this basic stock of materials as you see fit. Keep it simple would be my advice.

Ah, the beauty of the internet forum - contrary opinions to mull over :D Thanks. I did wonder that about the Veniard kit. According to the promotional blurb the kit appears to lean towards "new" materials rather than the traditional although I think it contains some of that too. Hmmm, will have to think a bit more about this than I figured. Thanks Mackiia1! (that wasn't sarcasm btw! The thoughts are appreciated :) )

Quote from: Midgie Hater on January 03, 2014, 01:57:35 PM
Ah, the beauty of the internet forum - contrary opinions to mull over :D Thanks. I did wonder that about the Veniard kit. According to the promotional blurb the kit appears to lean towards "new" materials rather than the traditional although I think it contains some of that too. Hmmm, will have to think a bit more about this than I figured. Thanks Mackiia1! (that wasn't sarcasm btw! The thoughts are appreciated :) )

A basic fly tying tool kit is more than fine but looking at some of the materials kits I can see lots of synthetics and stuff for making rainbow trout lures. Probably not much use to you.

Ian is right - looks like Veniard now cater for stockies.   :D

How about starting with some cheap basic tools like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fly-Tying-Kit-Vice-And-6-Piece-Fly-Tying-Beginners-tool-Kit-Fly-Fishing-/360666382637?pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item53f964412d (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fly-Tying-Kit-Vice-And-6-Piece-Fly-Tying-Beginners-tool-Kit-Fly-Fishing-/360666382637?pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item53f964412d)

Or even cheaper

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bob-Church-Fly-tying-Starter-kit-FA103-/251153893515?pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item3a79f0488b (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bob-Church-Fly-tying-Starter-kit-FA103-/251153893515?pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item3a79f0488b)

Spot on - all the tools you need to start at low cost.

Hen Capes that I would buy for wets / spiders would include

Greenwell's / Furnace
Red Game
Black
Badger
Blue Dun

I can tie all my spring wets / spiders with those. Should be able to get those for £4 or £5 a piece

Ah so the Veniard kit does look like a non-starter then, if it's aimed at the stockie-basher market (*shudders* :worried ). Thanks for the heads-up on that Ian and Fred.

Thanks for the links Fred - that is indeed cheap! I'll save them in my Ebay watch list for future reference :)

Of course, although I would have been thinking of learning to tie a few basic wets for use in Scotland, with my move to the Pacific NW some time this year the emphasis will change although i'm sure a few patterns will "cross over". More food for thought, and no doubt i'll be bugging (see what I did there. Er, anyway...) you all for further advice on that and tying in general once I get going :)

Btw I had a (brief) gander at the "What have you tied today?" thread - which must surely be the same age as the forum itself! You folks are extremely talented. If I can reach a standard that even touches on that I will be a happy chap indeed. However, I need to walk (crawl, shuffle) before I run.

Oh, just noticed your later post Ian. Thanks. I'll make a note of that list :)

Thanks again :)

Quote from: Midgie Hater on January 03, 2014, 02:27:46 PM
Ah so the Veniard kit does look like a non-starter then, if it's aimed at the stockie-basher market (*shudders* :worried ). Thanks for the heads-up on that Ian and Fred.

Thanks for the links Fred - that is indeed cheap! I'll save them in my Ebay watch list for future reference :)

Of course, although I would have been thinking of learning to tie a few basic wets for use in Scotland, with my move to the Pacific NW some time this year the emphasis will change although i'm sure a few patterns will "cross over". More food for thought, and no doubt i'll be bugging (see what I did there. Er, anyway...) you all for further advice on that and tying in general once I get going :)

Btw I had a (brief) gander at the "What have you tied today?" thread - which must surely be the same age as the forum itself! You folks are extremely talented. If I can reach a standard that even touches on that I will be a happy chap indeed. However, I need to walk (crawl, shuffle) before I run.

Oh, just noticed your later post Ian. Thanks. I'll make a note of that list :)

Thanks again :)

Where in the Pacific NW are you off to - I fished in BC , Canada a few years back - what a location ?

Well, my wife is from Washington State although she works in Portland, Oregon, so we'll probably end up somewhere SE of Portland if we can find a reasonable rented property there. Although the move is somewhat bitter-sweet since it's been forced by the fact my wife couldn't get a spouse visa to remain in the UK, it can't be denied that the opportunities for wilderness wandering and of course fishing are something of a blow-softener! ;) So yes, despite the unfortunate driving factor for the move i'm sure i'll find a few things to do out there :)  And yes, i've heard BC is amazing too. Visits to Canadee-i-o will definitely be on-the-cards!

Cheers again for the advice. Les

It was me who mentioned the veniard kit but it wasn't a recommendation, it was a Christmas present and althought it got me started again It was pretty poor, the vice was poor and I replaced that and most of the tolls pretty quickly, the bobbin holder is the only thing I still use, and as has been stated the materials were mainly aimed at lures. My advice would be to get a solid vice at around £25-30 that'll be adequate and then some basics-black thread 8/0, bobbin holder, hackle pliers, a couple of Indian capes ( cheap to get started) and some peacock, some dubbing and a couple of tinsel/wires. Start doing some simple wets and build from there, you'll soon find plenty of materials you want to buy! You can also scavenge plenty round the house too, wool, old jumpers dug hair! It's a great way to pass the winter hours and nothing quite like thinking up a pattern, Tying it and landing a fish.

I think most people start with a kit of some description , but once your tying gets better , you quickly buy better tools etc . If you are serious about learning get decent tools from the off and just buy materials for whatever type of flies you use . Be warned it becomes a dear hobby , but it gets me through many a winter night  :D

Quote from: Bobfly on December 23, 2013, 11:15:24 AM
Yup. I tie them because I can make (more or less) what I want. No money is saved though, that's for sure, but a harmless pastime.

"No money is saved"? I thought it would be much cheaper. I take it with the online availability and price of flies now that's not the case?
So do most folk tie their own for the pleasure of catching whilst using you're own tied flies, the flexibility for new designs and design tweaks and just the fact it's another string to the bow in the overall hobby? I've got an unused kit that I'm hoping to start / learn to use, but I thought that in the long term it would save money as well as give me some enjoyment.

Kenny 

Most, if not all, of my flytying gear and materials I bought between thirty and forty years ago so in the long run I have saved money tying my own. I only tie what I need and when I need them. I have also picked up various bits and pieces from other places like wool, tinsel, wire etc. The hooks I am using I also bought forty years ago and the only ones I have replaced are the #12 and #14's and that was probably fifteen years ago :) Some seal fur colours have also been replaced but again that would be fifteen or so years ago. I tend to buy the biggest option I can, large bags and hooks in hundreds. I will also reuse hooks where the materials have become loose or have been torn apart by fish or vegetation. I have stuff in my box that hasn't seen the light of day in decades, flies too for that matter :)

'BUT you will hardly ever find a fly tyer who can't resist buying' quote from roobarb
I bought blue deerhair yesterday so I can tie a muddled claret bumble (your fault Andy!)
For one fly it's not really value for money!
Like has been said if you stick to the basics you would save money but few do, it becomes a hobby within a hobby but it is great catching on your own flies

Ive only been tying for a couple of years now,spent loads on materials & tools but for me its worth it as you can dress you're favourite flies how you like,adding materials,sparse,weighted etc.... Its a great hobby in those long winter nights!!!! Love it.

I tie my own flies for all the reasons Kenster mentions, plus:

It's nice to give a fly (or 2) you have tied yourself to someone else, and

Tying slows down the wine consumption (sometimes).

Yes and have done for the last 45 years!!!!!

The same Uncle who started me fly fishing started me fly tying and I still use the vice he gave me to do it. I spend too much on fancy materials then never get time to tie up any flies with it, hence my fly boxes are running out, one day I'll get there. I like being able to make small changes and tie the fly the way I like it to look, how many different ways can you tie a Black Pennell ? Lots  :)