Best way to learn?

[theladdie1892]

Evening Folks,

I havent tied a fly for years, I used to do it when I was a young lad, and recently have been inspired to get back into it, mostly by other forum users. I have been trawling the net and on here for hints, and tips, ie Youtube videos etc, but what is the easiest way to learn?

I notice a thread also in here with videos but havent had a look yet? Is it feasible to teach yourself? have others done it? Apologies if this seems a tad naive, but just interested h=as to how others learnt or taught themselves.

Cheers,

Chris

[scotty9]

I'm self taught also aside from one trip to a fly tying club and asking many questions of other tyers. Advice I got was read the guide books, look at videos and ask questions. It doesn't take very long to become proficient, once you get some of the skills sorted it's just a matter of adapting them to that particular fly.

[waafisher]

Get them whilst they are young. We had a group of 10 to 16 year olds on an introductory fishing day at the weekend learning fly identification, fly tying, casting and eventually fishing. Great day for pupils and teachers alike.
waafisher

[deergravy]

My uncle showed me the basics, way back in the mists of time, self-taught thereafter.
As col says, the resources available online now are fantastic.
My top tips, for what they're worth, are:
Keep the thread under tension at all times. You'll quickly get a feel for how much pressure you can apply on any given thread without it breaking. Get it as tight as you dare.

Learn how to do a quick half-hitch - keeps everything in place before your next manoevre. The better you get, the less you'll need it

Proportion is everything. Take your time over this - if that hackle seems a bit long, say, pick the right one, don't just bash on ahead and hope for the best.

Visualise the fly you're about to tie, then be assertive with the materials, make it happen.

You'll never look back

[Black-Don]

Start off with basic standards to get the technique and proportions right. Avoid the temptation to start getting creative until you've established basic and advanced techniques on existing  tried and tested patterns. Get a ceramic bobbin holder, it doesn't have to be an expensive one. Use 8/0 uni thread for trout flies not 6/0. Copy Davie MacPhails instructions on you tube and buy the best feathers you can afford from established specialist feather dealers or retailers who stock their products. Learn how to use a whip finish tool early on. They take a bit of getting used to but I reckon they are worth persevering with.