My first fly

[msilv8335]

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll124/msilv8335/IMG_1537.jpg

Okay, so I know it isn’t the prettiest thing in the world. You can see that the ribbing is clearly uneven and the tail is a bit crooked. I did do a couple things right, though. The thorax is clearly thicker than the body... I had to experiment with my dubbing for a while to get that to work like I wanted it to. Also, the head is fairly decent and it’s finished off really securely. Hopefully this new hobby will be as fun as it seems to be so far. I really enjoyed tying the few I did yesterday. :)

[wildnative]

Looks good for a first.

Now go out and catch a fish with it. Then retire it and put it in a little frame with the message, "My First Successful Tie."

[TS30]

Now go out and catch a fish with it. Then retire it and put it in a little frame with the message, "My First Successful Tie."

Wish I would have done something like this. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.....

[wovenstonefly]

I still remember my first. It was a size 6 green and black bugger on Scofield. I was so excited I almost soiled my self.

[Jason]

Nice. That'll catch a few fish for sure. My first was a pheasant tail...which was not an easy fly to start out with. Looking back I should have started out with something more basic. Good luck with the new addiction.

[msilv8335]

Looks good for a first.

Now go out and catch a fish with it. Then retire it and put it in a little frame with the message, "My First Successful Tie."

Great idea! I'm getting out today and plan on fishing a few that I tied. I'll have to do this for sure. :)

[Marty]

Great first attempt. You have started down a path that will bring you great rewards. There is nothing like the feeling of catching a fish on a fly you have created, it brings the fly fishing process full circle. My only recommendation is to stick to one or two easy patterns until you get them down them move on to patterns that are more difficult. Remember proportions are the key and for new tiers I tell them to take what you think is proper then cut that in half.

[Clemson]

Marty is right, stick to one pattern and tie several until you get it down, then move on to something else. Often the first fly needs a bit of tweaking, and a good tyer can make the corrections in the next fly. When you're first starting out you will need a few more to get it to look just right, but after a few you will get it down. Other patterns that are similar will look better too because often the same techniques are used for lots of different bugs.

[msilv8335]

Went out to Birch Creek today and caght my first fish on a fly I tied. It was an elk hair caddis, and I caught a little 6" rainbow on my second cast of the outing. :)

I'll post more in a thread about today's fishing outing.

[wildnative]

Hey! You're one of us.

[Clemson]

There's no turning back now, you are officially screwed for life now. From here on out you will spend way too much time tying, way too much money on tying materials, spend way too much time in every shop you go into looking for that unique material you don't have....man it's good stuff though.

[UtahFlyGuy]

.........and thats not counting looking and scrounging in the Micheal Stores for other items.

[msilv8335]

No kidding. Today I found a bird's nest in the dryer vent of a house I'm remodeling and I started poking around in it looking for good feathers... plus my wife has already given me the "stop tying that stupid fly and come to bed" line. :)

[Clemson]

That's only the beginning. I go through periods where I tie like mad, then I may go several months without touching the vice. There's been a couple times before big trips that I tie every night for several hours. My wife is extremely patient, but after a certain point she grows tired of it and on a couple occasions she has more or less threatened to throw my shit away if I don't quit tying.

[Mr Sparkle]

You guys should just get divorced and then you won't have to worry about it.

Of course, I've been on the hunt and haven't CARED about tying in months...

[Clemson]

But then who the hell would do my laundry, clean the house and cook my meals then?