My 1st fly attempt.

[bushy palmer]

Very nice- I do like a bushy palmer!

That will catch a troot.

[bibio1]

Looks good to me. A Kate for your first fly is not bad.

Cheers

Paul

[Kenster197]

Brilliant advice guy's, thanks very much. I totally understand that I need to learn/tie the "easier" flies first, so as to get a decent grasp of the basics that are required before moving onto some of the "harder" flies. But I was like a typical bloke who throws the instructions away after buying a new piece of furniture from IKEA!!!
I've since had a go at a couple of simple spiders that look not too bad.
I'll def' try to split the shank into 4 quarters to see if that simplifies things for the time being Borderbob - cheers.
Yardbent - I'll try both of those tips tomorrow thanks.
Roobarb, What do you mean it's "just a bit scruffy", that was it after I'd tidied it up!!  :lol:

Can you only use "fly-tying" threads, wool, wire, or can you use the normal stuff my wife uses or wire I have in the shed? Likewise, are the feathers, capes and fur all "treated" before we buy them or can I use natural stuff from the country? I'm not talking about roadkill, but I'm moving to a huge country estate in Morvern with gamekeepers etc so there will possibly be a lot of materials available.

[Wildfisher]

You can use absolutely anything you please for tying flies.