The Novice Fly Tyer   

Rabbit has suggested that I produce a series of articles aimed at the beginner to intermediate fly tyer, since we seem to have a number of them in the club. And I suspect we have even more members who have considered taking up tying but don’t know how to proceed or maybe are unsure if they really want to. So let me begin this series by discussing some of the pros and cons of tying your own and how to get started if you decide to go that route.

 Is fly tying right for you, and will you be good at it? It’s really not as hard as a lot of people think, but it does take some practice to become proficient. If you have done needlework or model making or any other hobby that requires fine motor skills, you’ll have a leg up. If not, your learning curve may be a little longer but you will get there with patience and persistence. There is also a wide range of difficulty among fly patterns. If you begin your fly tying adventures with relatively large hooks and simple designs that do not require any tricky techniques you will soon be turning out flies that will catch fish and that you can show off proudly.

Tying your own flies, and ultimately designing your own patterns, is a very satisfying and rewarding activity. And you don’t have to commit to spending large blocks of time on tying. If you can form the habit of regularly setting aside 15 or 20 minutes a day--just enough time to tie one fly--your skills will progress. So will your speed. Soon you’ll find you can produce two or three flies in that short time. And you may find it’s like eating peanuts—once you start you won’t want to stop. You’re more likely to stick with your tying if you can set up a dedicated space and leave your vise set up and your tools and materials out and ready to go. But if that’s not feasible you’ll just have to spend a little set-up time for each tying session. 

Nothing will help you learn about flies like becoming a tyer. Your knowledge and understanding of fly types, the names of fly patterns, what makes a good fly, and how fly design relates to function and performance will increase by a whole order of magnitude once you get into tying. The pleasure you derive from your fishing will also be greatly enhanced by fishing flies you’ve tied yourself, and especially by using your own designs.

A frequent subject that comes up about fly tying is whether or not it saves money. It’s possible if you fish a lot, use relatively few fly patterns and stick to tying just those. But people who start tying flies and like it almost always wind up being drawn deeper into this fascinating activity and becoming hobbyist tyers. And once tying becomes a hobby unto itself instead of merely an adjunct to fishing, you are almost certain to spend more money on tools, materials, gadgets and gizmos than you would if you simply bought the flies instead. Not to say that’s a bad thing, by any means. 

So what to do if you decide to take the plunge? A lot of beginners buy a fly tying kit, a package deal that includes both tools and a modest collection of materials. I don’t think this is a good way to proceed in most cases. Inexpensive kits are characterized by poor quality tools and materials. Yes, they give you a chance to play around a bit without spending much money. But cheap tools can be a source of frustration for any tyer. As a beginner, you will not know this, and may wrongly assume that the difficulty you’re having is due to an inherent lack of aptitude. In fact, almost everyone who ties for the first time feels as though he or she has ten thumbs. Working with poor tools only exacerbates this problem, and may lead you to give up on tying unnecessarily. Some higher priced kits have serviceable tools, but may include a lot of materials that you will never use. And they may cost more than if you simply buy what you need piecemeal. 

My recommendation is to buy a basic set of tools “ala carte” at your fly shop. The staff can help you with your selection. Also get a good entry-level tying book. There are many fine books on the market, along with videos, DVD’s and computer CD’s. My personal favorites are The Art of Fly Tying, by Jan Van Vliet and Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple, by Skip Morris. The Van Vliet book gets my nod for best choice, but either book will get you off to a good start. 

Find a pattern in your book that you like and think you will use a lot, and for which the book has step-by-step directions. Buy only the materials needed for that one fly, then go home and tie it over and over until you feel comfortable with the necessary techniques and your results are pleasing and consistent. Then buy the materials for a second pattern and do the same thing. You’re off and running. 

It’s easier than ever before to “go it alone” in learning to tie flies. Along with the resources listed above, there are numerous Internet sites about tying. But your learning curve will be a lot shorter if you get some hands-on instruction. This is available from a number of sources. Many fly shops offer classes, usually during the winter, as do a lot of clubs and organizations such as Trout Unlimited and Federation of Fly Fishers chapters. Your local fly shop can almost always steer you to instructional opportunities. 

As a DVWFFA member, you have a big advantage in exploring the possibilities of fly tying in a no-risk way. We offer several tying get-togethers every winter. These are free to members, and the club pays for the materials. A sister member who is an experienced tyer will act as lead instructor, and others will assist the beginners as needed. You can even arrange to borrow tools to use at the sessions. In this way you can “try before you buy.” It’s a nice social event, as well as being educational. We usually have a potluck luncheon, and everyone has a good time.

In future installments of this series, we’ll explore a variety of subjects including hooks, threads, and materials of different types. If you have any suggestions for topics, please let us know. 

--Mary S. Kuss--