want to start tying flies need help

[thaton]

hi all
i would like to start to tye my own flies, i am not sure where to begin. are there kits to buy or do you build piece by piece? i am out in the valley so i shop at hub and reaction fly and tackle, somtimes army and navy
thanks
tim

[phearless]

Hey thaton welcome to the site.
The best way to go about it is to decide what type of flies you want to tie and head to your fave shop and have them do up a kit for you with the exact products that you need to start.
As you progress you can add materials as needed.
Don't scrimp on the tools. Get good ones, it makes a difference.
Do a bit of digging on the forum here and you will find a couple of threads with much info on this topic.

Have fun with it.

[rmpearson12]

Go check with Daryl at Reaction. They have drop in tieing nights on Thursdays. THe guys there can give you a good idea of what you will need to get started. Like phearless said get good tools and then decide what you what to tie first. Get those materials and tie up a bunch of them and then start adding flies to your repertoire as you progress. The most important thing that I learned when I was starting, was from a master fly tier. He made sure that I new how to handle the maretial first, then you perfect your flies. Lots of practice and wasted materials but alot of fun. Welcome to the addiction.

[Bumpatter]

Hello Thaton,

Just a few suggestions based on a few years teaching tying:
1. Take a class at a beginner's level, not intermediate.
2. Buy good scissors and protect them, using old scissors to cut coarser stuff.
3. Watch the start of the fly, usually at the bend. If it starts right it has a better chance of finishing nicely.
4. Don't build up a fat ass (limit build up of materials at rear) and don't crowd the eye.
5. Buy quality hackle for dries but not necessarily a full cape
6. Good lighting good background to avoid eyestrain
7. Put away stuff from pattern to pattern to avoid creating an archealogical dig for tools and materials
8. As above, perfect handling and attaching materials, don't worry at first what they look like. Tie a few basics that are forgiving and catch fish and they will allow you to perfect your techniques: Woolly Bugger, Woolly Worm, Renegade, Halfback, Wet fly, Crackleback, Pheasant Tail etc. Don't jump around.
9. Eventually learn to use the Whip Finisher and also learn to use half hitches and also learn to whip finish by hand.
Just a few non-technical suggestions. The class and going to any fly tying expos are a must.

Best wishes,
Bumpatter (swittersb weblog for beginning flyfishers & flytiers)