When and How did you learn to tie flies.

[mo]

Totally self taught.

Started tying trout flies nearly 30 years ago, and then progressed to sea trout flies and about 10 years ago started tying salmon flies.

Initially started tying flies in my hand, before getting a vice a few years later, which definitely made things alot easier.

Have taught quite a few people to tie over the years, some who took to it really well, and others were all fingers and thumbs.

A great pastime, to keep you occupied over the winter months.

[ballingall512]

Some interesting replies so far. Guys. Out of interest were any of you taught by women?? Who I'm my experience are great tyers and patient teachers.

[CB]

I started as a small boy. I already had a fly rod and a few flies I fished, I can't remember exactly when I got it but I wasn't very old. I had trouble finding flies to buy, f.i. I used the largest salmon flies I could find to fish for pike. And when I did find flies I had problems paying for them. One day I borrowed this book from the library, the image on the front alone makes me smile:



I read about the red tag and the brown spinner and soon after that I was in business with a small starters pack and some materials from the tackle store and my hunting neighbour I didn't know anybody flyfishing or flytying and there was no internet back then to find tips and patterns etc. so I voted 'self taught' although really it was Steens book who taught me the basics. I found a copy of it in an antiques book store in Sweden a few years ago. It's almost 30 years old but I still think it's a great read

[neptune]

Totally self taught that was all of 40years ago started with trout flies which ihave to say were an abortion still they caught fish,then went onto seatrout tubes and finally salmonflies I would like to try doing classic salmon feather wings but.......................

[jimthefish]

Aug 24, 2010 21:14:42 GMT ballingall512 said:

Just as another point of intrest, do any of you tie flies in your hand, ie without the use of a vice??

I can tie flies this way if I have to, but it takes me ages,and the quality is not quite as good, although I have a couple of friends who tie most of there flies in this manner and the standard of their flies is quite incredible.


Dave.

I learned to tie flies at night classes back in the early 70's. Our teacher was a mature lady called Mrs Gardiner who was the head tier for Alex Martin the well known Glasgow tackle shop in Exchange Square at the time.

She forbade us from using a vice in her classes. We quietly cursed her under our breaths, having to put in a half hitch every time you wanted to put the hook down to prepare wings, etc. However, what a revelation it was to start using a vice "in real life". It all became so easy

To round off her series of classes, she ran a competition for the students asking us to tie six specific trout patterns. I was chuffed to win. Recently while clearing out my loft I came accross these 6 flies still pristine in a wee plastic box 35+ years later. How sad am I

[Deleted]

Nothing "sad" about that Jim.
A very special set of flee's that should be treasured in many ways and for many reasons IMHO.

[ballingall512]

I agree.

Nice to be able to look back at something like that Jim.

She must have done a good job teaching, if your flies have lasted that long

[goosander]

Have just found this thread, very intresting. Started tying trout flies when i was about 9 as i had no money to buy any and that was almost 60 years ago and have never bought any others.
Consider myself lucky to have been poor as it has taught me a lot more about fishing and the countryside than money could buy?

[midge]

Started with my boss, now sadly departed this mortal coil
I was an ardent maggot drowner, with matches most weekends. Then a allergy to maggots forced a change.
Derek was a keen flyfisher who also tied his own trout flies. He helped me with casting during breaks from work then I started tying flies badly. But with help from classes both from Derek and a lady from Ardleigh reservoir flyfishers I did improve. Hours of both fun and frustration - recomend it to anyone who fisher for either trout or Salmon.

Midge