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If You Had to Teach Someone to Tie Flies, Which Pattern Would You Start With?
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November 20, 2012
If You Had to Teach Someone to Tie Flies, Which Pattern Would You Start With?
By Joe Cermele
There is a really good article posted on the website of the Alaska's Peninsula Clarion about tips for getting young people started in fly tying. In it, author Brian Smith interviews area flyfishermen and fly shop owners to get their pointers, a lot of which make sense. As a few examples, guide Nick Ohlrich suggests starting with flies that don't imitate something too specific, such as a flesh fly instead of stonefly nymph. Guide Lee Kuepper says beginners should start with a kit rather than get overwhelmed by choosing individual materials. It's worth a read, but it made me think of which patterns I'd start with if I had to teach someone to tie.
Those two patterns would undoubtedly be the San Juan Worm and sucker spawn (above), which happens to be something I've been tying a ton of lately for an up-coming steelhead trip. I realize that these bugs won't teach you how to split wings, work with hackle, or use dubbing, but in my opinion--and the article agrees--all of that can come later. What these two patterns will do is get someone used to working on the vise, help them learn the whip finish, and actually create flies that are simple yet highly effective quickly.
To me, that's important, because there is no better way to get someone amped about learning more tying techniques and mastering the art than getting them to catch a fish on a fly they made right out of the gate. And on another note, if you happen to already be an experienced tyer, shame on you if you buy San Juans or sucker spawn. I mean you should be able to tie those with you eyes closed.
So if you had to teach someone to tie, which pattern would you start with? Which pattern did you master first?
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Comments (23)
Wolly Bugger.
Wooly Bugger and Elk Hair Caddis.
Wooley bugger, San Juan worm. Anything that's large enough for someone to learn on easily, it's difficult to try and have someone tie a size 16 softhackle pheasant tail when they have no dexterity for the tools.
First thing I was shown was a Clouser Minnow followed by a Wooly Bugger. The first thing I ever tied by own direction and discovery was a foam ant. Can't even describe the satisfaction after that ugly thing caught a bluegill first cast. I am a mostly self taught fly-tyer and simply bought a kit and then worked at producing all sorts of my own ugly creations. One of the classic tying books and some basic materials are all someone needs to get started though a mentor can definitely help along the learning curve though too.
Wooley Bugger guys get the nob given it is what many classes start their students out tying. A good fish catching pattern, and, you learn Where to secure the tail, where the body starts, how to palmer a feather, and basic proportions.
sucker spawn, glo-bug, wooly bugger.
Yeah I know that's 3 but take your pick.
The woolly bugger will teach a beginner the basic concept for most flies. Also any most streamer patterns.
The sucker spawn is deadly. Careful where you throw it, you might catch a fish.
Woolly bugger. Easier to tie than most flies and versatile in cold and warm water applications.
San Juan Worm, Hairs Ear, Pheasant Tail, Ants, Wooly Worm, Wooly Bugger, Foam Spider, all good choices. After mastering techniques move to drys.
San Juan worm, wooly bugger and pheasant tail
Take your pick Hoski says..NO, you wouldn't start someone out tying that sucker spawn fly for several important reasons...One, it has no tail body, hackle to learn proportion from, and two you wouldn't start someone out using that caddis/pupa, curved hook!!! You need to start with a straight shanked, standard hook, and learn where the tail should be positioned, and where the body starts, not something you tie around the bend of a curved caddis/pupa hook.
I guess I am different as usual, I learned to tie a silver Carey special that I used to catch walleye during their pre-spawn in a reservoir outlet. It was so simple to learn to tie and a joy to find my first walleye was caught on a fly that I had tied.
Great fly, and a good choice to start with because...It is tied on a straight shank hook, not the one in the photo. It has a tail, body, pheasant rump hackle, and an excellent fly to catch fish with. You learn the basic requirements of how to tie a fly. I still use Carey Specials often in lakes and in rivers. A
San Juan worm, partridge and yellow, and partridge and orange. These patterns are simple and effective. I also have a hare's ear partridge hackle bead head that is simple and my "go to" nymph.
start simple and give them a taste for success while teaching no more than 1-2 new skills at a time. Scuds or san juan worms at the first sessions. brassies /midges with bead and wire. Then Wooly buggers. For dries, the griffith's teaches the basics. They'll know if they want to progress further.
Bead Headed Mohair Leech with Marabou Tail
My first fly was a wooly bugger. It teaches some of the basics, it's big, and you will catch a fish with it even if it's ugly which is also important. When you catch a fish with the fly you tied for the first time there's no better feeling and for a young angler that can get them hooked for life.
Give the human animal the credit it deserves...they can learn!..especially young people. A woolly bugger is not to hard to learn! You need a tail, body, hackle, and then the head to learn proportion...where parts start, and where they end. And do use a straight shanked hook to get the understanding of proportion. If I was wanting a beginner to learn to tie a fly, and also learn a flyfishing "SYSTEM" I'd have them tie my softhackles...tail..body, bumped up thorax, and then a softhackle, and then describe on a chalkboard, or take them fishing!!...how to cast, mend, follow the fly with the rod tip, let it hang for a second below them..couple of short strip/strips, and repeat the process...deadly, and no better way to have success in a river/moving water situation.
A San Juan worm or wooly bugger, and stress to the rookie that it is their fly, make it by the recipe but over time add a different look, make it custom, make it yours.
Wooly bugger is a good starting pattern but I also would have to say some of the salt water flies like the Clouser Minnow(I know it was fresh water to start with)make it easier to learn basic skills with heavier thread and bigger hooks.
Bugger
First pattern I mastered was a Carey Special size 12. Al Knudsen's Grey Spider and Wooly Bugger are good all around patterns for streams and lakes, easy to tie, and they catch fish.
My first was last year on my 12th birthday. It was an f fly.
Post a Comment
Wolly Bugger.
Woolly bugger. Easier to tie than most flies and versatile in cold and warm water applications.
Wooly Bugger and Elk Hair Caddis.
Wooley bugger, San Juan worm. Anything that's large enough for someone to learn on easily, it's difficult to try and have someone tie a size 16 softhackle pheasant tail when they have no dexterity for the tools.
First thing I was shown was a Clouser Minnow followed by a Wooly Bugger. The first thing I ever tied by own direction and discovery was a foam ant. Can't even describe the satisfaction after that ugly thing caught a bluegill first cast. I am a mostly self taught fly-tyer and simply bought a kit and then worked at producing all sorts of my own ugly creations. One of the classic tying books and some basic materials are all someone needs to get started though a mentor can definitely help along the learning curve though too.
sucker spawn, glo-bug, wooly bugger.
Yeah I know that's 3 but take your pick.
The woolly bugger will teach a beginner the basic concept for most flies. Also any most streamer patterns.
The sucker spawn is deadly. Careful where you throw it, you might catch a fish.
Great fly, and a good choice to start with because...It is tied on a straight shank hook, not the one in the photo. It has a tail, body, pheasant rump hackle, and an excellent fly to catch fish with. You learn the basic requirements of how to tie a fly. I still use Carey Specials often in lakes and in rivers. A
San Juan worm, partridge and yellow, and partridge and orange. These patterns are simple and effective. I also have a hare's ear partridge hackle bead head that is simple and my "go to" nymph.
My first fly was a wooly bugger. It teaches some of the basics, it's big, and you will catch a fish with it even if it's ugly which is also important. When you catch a fish with the fly you tied for the first time there's no better feeling and for a young angler that can get them hooked for life.
Give the human animal the credit it deserves...they can learn!..especially young people. A woolly bugger is not to hard to learn! You need a tail, body, hackle, and then the head to learn proportion...where parts start, and where they end. And do use a straight shanked hook to get the understanding of proportion. If I was wanting a beginner to learn to tie a fly, and also learn a flyfishing "SYSTEM" I'd have them tie my softhackles...tail..body, bumped up thorax, and then a softhackle, and then describe on a chalkboard, or take them fishing!!...how to cast, mend, follow the fly with the rod tip, let it hang for a second below them..couple of short strip/strips, and repeat the process...deadly, and no better way to have success in a river/moving water situation.
A San Juan worm or wooly bugger, and stress to the rookie that it is their fly, make it by the recipe but over time add a different look, make it custom, make it yours.
Wooley Bugger guys get the nob given it is what many classes start their students out tying. A good fish catching pattern, and, you learn Where to secure the tail, where the body starts, how to palmer a feather, and basic proportions.
San Juan Worm, Hairs Ear, Pheasant Tail, Ants, Wooly Worm, Wooly Bugger, Foam Spider, all good choices. After mastering techniques move to drys.
San Juan worm, wooly bugger and pheasant tail
Take your pick Hoski says..NO, you wouldn't start someone out tying that sucker spawn fly for several important reasons...One, it has no tail body, hackle to learn proportion from, and two you wouldn't start someone out using that caddis/pupa, curved hook!!! You need to start with a straight shanked, standard hook, and learn where the tail should be positioned, and where the body starts, not something you tie around the bend of a curved caddis/pupa hook.
I guess I am different as usual, I learned to tie a silver Carey special that I used to catch walleye during their pre-spawn in a reservoir outlet. It was so simple to learn to tie and a joy to find my first walleye was caught on a fly that I had tied.
start simple and give them a taste for success while teaching no more than 1-2 new skills at a time. Scuds or san juan worms at the first sessions. brassies /midges with bead and wire. Then Wooly buggers. For dries, the griffith's teaches the basics. They'll know if they want to progress further.
Bead Headed Mohair Leech with Marabou Tail
Wooly bugger is a good starting pattern but I also would have to say some of the salt water flies like the Clouser Minnow(I know it was fresh water to start with)make it easier to learn basic skills with heavier thread and bigger hooks.
Bugger
First pattern I mastered was a Carey Special size 12. Al Knudsen's Grey Spider and Wooly Bugger are good all around patterns for streams and lakes, easy to tie, and they catch fish.
My first was last year on my 12th birthday. It was an f fly.
Post a Comment