Any of you be interested in tying some poppers for me ? I'd love to have some handmade poppers from any of you talented folks. Fly fishing in the spring and summer for bass and panfish gets me through until deer season!
My best advice for learning to tie flies, is to become good at a certain pattern or type of fly. For example, if you want to tie nymphs, pick 2 or 3 patterns and become good at tying those before moving on to more. Most nymphs, dries, or classic streamers all include the same "parts", and you can apply them to other patterns. For example, almost all nymph patterns include a tail, abdomen, thorax and wing case. You can apply that to almost any nymph pattern. These four patterns will work just about anywhere for trout, bluegills, and bass. Learn to tie these and will catch fish. Dry: Adams - imitates a mayfly dun, or used an attractor pattern. Nymphs: Pheasant Tail - imitates dark colored nymphs. Hare's Ear - imitates light colored nymphs. Streamer: Woolly Bugger - imitates leeches, baitfish, or large nymphs. Can be tied in a variety of sizes and colors. You can buy a book if you want, but there is a ton of free instruction on the internet. Lots of tutorials and videos. Start with those patterns and you will do just fine. You will learn how you can apply the techniques to other patterns. Any decent fly shop can give you instruction too. If there is one near you, that could be a big help. Don't feel dumb asking questions. If its a decent shop, they should be more than willing to help.
Heading to Arkansas for some trout fishing in February. I can have never have enough streamers. I definitely have more than I need...before my brothers raid my stash. These are about 7" long, and 2 hooks. Some rabbits and rams may have been harmed in the making of these flies.
There are a lot of good vices out there. I started with one that cost $20 when I was a kid. I think a decent vise starts in the $100 range, and $200 can get one you many never want to replace. You could also looked for used ones online. Another one from tonight...
Thanks for taking the time for the writeup. I'll mostly be fishing for smallmouth and redeye on the river. I think I'll wait on making a purchase until I can go out with my buddy and try his equipment. He takes his fly fishing seriously so I know I'll be in good hands. I guess all fly fishermen don't tie their own flies? I'm putting the cart before the horse if I plan on tying flies before I've made my first cast. Sometimes I forget that I crawled before I walked. :D Thanks!
Neato! I've never tied flies or fly fished. I used to prepare bird skins for fly tyers (tiers?). Woodducks, hungarian partridge, chukars, starlings, vulturine guinea fowl, grey junglefowl... etc. I still have gazillions of turkey, pheasant, chukar and partridge feathers.... Anybody need any?
Not all tie their own. I would guess less than half. For me, tying my own flies is part of the draw of fly fishing. I like tying something that will fool a fish. I have a bad habit of retiring a certain pattern once I know it works. I have A.D.D. when it comes to fishing. I'm always onto something new.
I missed this before, Christine. A fly tyer can never have too many feathers or skins. Need my address? This cold weather is boring me. My usual winter fishing haunts are frozen. Going to take a few days in the upper 20s to open back up. I'm stuck tying for the time being.
