FS Digest

What have you all found to be the best way to learn flies? Books, videos or the internet? Also any references are appreciated.

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by wasatchwizard69

FS Digest

I've been tying for 20 years and I still learn from online videos. If I'm tying a pattern that's not something I do regularly, I'll search for it and watch 2 or 3 videos, starting with someone I trust (often Tim Flagler who's better on technique than anyone I've seen online). It's not at all rare to learn something new that improves the fly or the tying, making it easier or faster.

And my latest box is full of patterns I'd never tied 3 years ago. Sometimes they're variations, like the Frenchie/PT, but there are some great new patterns that catch fish and are easy to tie. Anyway, YouTube is a great resource for me. Lots of talented people demonstrating the best of their craft for free.

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by Jasper2006

FS Digest

Charlie’s fly box

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by dingusunchained

FS Digest

I think there are two related but slightly different things to learn here: fundamental techniques that can be applied to a multitude of patterns, and the patterns themselves. Sure, it's possible to learn the techniques as you're learning patterns, but I think it's helpful to focus on picking up the techniques themselves - then you can whip them out as needed on a variety of patterns. I like the way that Charlie Craven attempts to teach skills through particular patterns that in his books - Basic Fly Tying is a great place to start, but he uses that methodology across the board. AK Best and Poul Jorgansen used similar ideas. Be sure to read the text in addition to looking at the pictures!

Once you've got most of the fundamental techniques down, then you'll be prepared to go looking for patterns. Supposing that you're chasing mostly trout, one way to approach individual patterns is by type: dry, nymph, or streamer; there are a handful of techniques that support each of those, and some that are used on all of them. Then you can break down those first two categories - caddis, mayflies, midges, and stoneflies. That's how patterns will be organized in most books and magazine articles and catalogs. Once you've identified the names for some particular patterns you want to tie, looking up videos on YouTube is easy.

One other idea: if you've got a fly shop nearby, it's worth stopping in for a chat. They might have fly tying classes available - that's a great way to learn new tricks. Ditto if a famous fly tier is coming to town and doing a demonstration - that's common during fishing shows. Also, see if the shop folks will give you some pointers in person, right there in the shop. Most reputable fly shops have a vice permanently setup on a tying table, and most reputable salesfolks in a reputable fly shop are tiers themselves. If they've got time, most would be happy to sit down and answer questions and demonstrate techniques and tie a few flies for a customer (yes, you should absolutely buy some stuff if you do this - but you need more stuff anyway, right?) who's enthusiastic about learning to tie. If you're able to pick a time when the shop is empty, the staff might be happy to have interesting to do. Teaching abilities might vary wildly, but it's worth asking. Who knows? You might make a new friend....

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by fishnogeek

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

Go to a fly shop it's worth stopping in for a chat. They might have fly tying classes available that is a good way to learn new techniques.


🎣

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

The basic skills are the key to learning how to tie flies. The easiest way to learn them is in a class. A lot of shops have classes which are free if you buy your materials there. The extra advantage of this is you meet with other folks like yourself who are at the same level as you. Quick and easy way to make friends.

doc alden

Can you be a little more specific? Are you interested in natural or artificial flies? If natural are you wondering about their habitat, their life cycle and/or their regional extent? If artificial are you wondering about what they imitate, how to tie them or what works best for a given area, stream, lake or pond? Or what works best for a given species of fish? There's a lot to know about flies and how you learn everything about them can't be restricted to one method.

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

My favorite flys are pictured below. I used the Internet. Hope this helps.
Hack 🇺🇸🇨🇱

Horsefly
Fruit fly
Blow fly

Tanglefoot Loc: Brevard, North Carolina

Go back and read the original question. I don’t see anything there that references fly tying. WW69 is asking how to learn to identify flies.

I learned to identify from books and magazines. But then 57 years ago there weren’t any videos or DVDs. I would suggest you get a selection of 6 or 8 trout flies and learn to recognize them as you slowly add additional patterns. Before you know it you will be an expert.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

THANK YOU , Tanglefoot !!!!!!!

You have pointed out one of my biggest pet peeves of this forum. There are times that the initial inquiry isn't even visible, nor answered yet, after just a few posts. Just the other day a guy was recommending "heavier mono leader on your braid to get better 'roll casts' out of your baitcaster under docks".....uuuh, huh ?..... when the query was...yes... about roll casts....and preventing 'stacking', etc. Obvious fly fishing specific...as we're the responses PREVIOUS to the baitcaster thing. Please folks, try to keep your "chime-in's" PERTINENT, thanks... I'm done, sorry folks.... I have 'OCD curmudgeon disease' (OCDCD ? Lol).....it comes and goes..... I look for help....

To the query of fly identification:

Books and internet, specifically fly shop inventory listings. In an effort to generate sales, they often have excellent photography as well as detailed description for each fly they sell/tie/promote.
I have been an avid fly fisherman for a really long time and I'm not ashamed to admit, that though I have many boxes, with several hundred flies..... I doubt that I can correctly name more than two or three dozen.....and at least six of those will be called something else 50 or 500 miles from here.... and across the world.... ?
I think that Categorizing is the first step. That way you can determine if it's appropriate for your target, dry or wet, fresh or salt, as well as your gear's capacity and strengths.
If you get too hung up on trying to memorize names, instead of the "uses and seasons and what's tasty to whom"...... fly fishing becomes exactly as dilemma-ridden as........all the pot smokers in Oregon when they walk in a retail store and find out all the weird-ass and celebrity-related names* on display before them ! LOL !

* Rumor has it we can now purchase Willie Nelson products, and I regularly drive by a place that has on their "menu board" ..."Jim Belewski" in stock !! (Jim Belushi is now a "local" and openly "grows".Don't times change, huh ?)

PS -- names ? My favorite fly names of ones I actually use, are the "Toxic Chernobyl Ant" and of course, one of my all-time favorites for Steelhead, the "Egg-sucking Bunny Leech"... great names, great (and productive)flies.

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

Fixorfish, no offense but I really like my flies better. ☝️
Hack 🇺🇸🇨🇱

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

That's allowed ! LOL !

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

Thank you Sir... Cute ain’t they? LOL
hack 🇺🇸🇨🇱