Fly Fishing - New to Fly Fishing: Is It Too Late For Trout?

dax · Posted: Sat 07/10/10 10:52 am Post subject: Fly Tying: What Materials Do I Need?

i am going to try and tie my own flys (wich will not turn out well) and was wondering what essential flies i should try to tie that are fit for a starter. this way i can go and buy all the material i need

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

I just finished posting this in another stream on this site so you might want to take a look at it:

http://www.fliesandfins.com/postt2034.html#8681

I know this doesn't tell you what flies to tie but does give you what I think is basic info. I would suggest you take a basic flytieng class. Most flyshops offer them. You'll learn most things you will need to know to get into the hobby and to begin the fun of catching fish on the flies you tie!. First fly we tied when I did this 20 yrs ago was the Wolly Bugger and I'm still tieing it the same today and it will catch fish anywhere. You'll learn several techniques on this one fly. Good luck! Oh yeah, one more thing...........You will NEVER have all the materials you need.

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

KANSAS CITY

quinn · Location: So. Maine

Dax,
It depends on where you are fishing...
You can NEVER go worng with a bugger pattern - experiment with different colors and materials. You'll be surprised what works in different places...
A "Maple Syrup" works VERY well up here in Maine.
Streamers work well anywhere.
Try tying different patterns - even Bass will hit the ugliest of your bugs.
Clousers
Basically:
Bucktail - white, olive, yellow, chartreuse
Saddle Hackle - black, white, olive
chenille - olive, tan, black
bugger hackle - black, white, olive
Black thread
White thread
eyes - lead, bead chain
hooks
vise
Hope this helps....

dax · Posted: Sun 07/11/10 10:38 pm Post subject:

thx guys it really does help. now i can start to slowly build up material.
everybody has been talkin about whooly buggers but how do u fish them. do u let them drift,twitch them up stream ect.

Austin · Posted: Sun 07/11/10 11:26 pm Post subject:

Hi dax,
Quinn laid down some great materials that will get you started. When I started tying flies, I wanted to tie the most elaborate and realistic flies I could find. Even though it's easy to get hooked on tying the coolest looking flies in the book, stick to basic fly patterns when you first start tying. AND also, work your way up in hook sizes, learning how to tie is much easier when you start with bigger hooks (more room for error) then work your way to smaller hooks (for nymphs, dry flies, etc). Some good fly patterns to get started with are wolly buggers, micky fins, pheasant tail nymphs, and elk hair caddis. These flies are not too hard to tie and will catch lots of fish! As for fishing wolly buggers, it's a great (very versatile) fly whether dead drifted, striped and twitched with and against the current, nymphed, etc. In my experiences, I find trout and salmon hit the fly best when its casted upstream and drifted down head first with the current. So stick to the basics and good luck! Let us know how your flies come out...

dax · Posted: Sun 07/11/10 11:51 pm Post subject:

i have actually already tried to tie all of those but i didnt have the right material soo. they didnt come out so well

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

Dax,

Here is the basic pattern for the wolly bugger:

http://www.onlineflytyer.com/article_flytying101.asp

Excluding the hook and bead head (if used) your cost should be about:

marabou-$2.50
chenille-$2.50
thread-$3.00
saddle hackle-$10.00

This should give you enough material to tie 50 flies at least. I think the most popular color is olive green, but black and brown are also very popular. One thing that is critical in fishing a bugger is getting it down to the fish. This can be accomplished in several different ways or a combination of ways. 90% of my buggers (and I probably carry 40 in my streamer box) have beadheads. Also the majority are wrapped with lead wire, all to help the fly get down. I have a good friend who is a phenomenal bugger fisherman. He can catch trout anywhere with a bugger and he always starts with olive. He swears by full sinking line for this fly, but no need to add to your expense at this point. Just make sure you get the fly down. (Sink-tip line, long leader/tippet, or more added weight) He, and most people fish this fly by stripping it in.

Facing the stream, cast to about 10:00, mend the line upstream, and begin stripping. Be sure to complete the drift and let the fly swing straight downstream from you. Vary the stripping speed. Some people just let the fly tumble downstream in the current, but you still have to get the fly down. When the fish hits a bugger, typically there is no question about it. They slam this fly! Make a few cast, and then move a couple feet. Puts you into a new group of fish.

A note-This isn't the easiest fly to cast since you may have a lot of weight, depending on the depth and speed of the water. Be sure to wear sunglasses (polaroid) so you don't put an eye out!

My suggestion is that you ask for some help at the fly shop when buying materials. Most shops will probably show you how to tie the fly!

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

Dax,

Just thought of another source for you, and others who read this. You obviously have a computer sooooooooo download Itunes if you don't already have it for the music. You do not have to have an Apple computer or Ipod or anything but a pc. Then go to podcasts. There are a few flyfishing sites with weekly programs in there and you can get them all. Do a search on "Joe Cornwall". He has many patterns that he ties and you can watch him tie them-instructional videos! Most of these are probably a little advanced for a beginner, but not all, and you can learn some new techniques. He regularly adds new flies. Another program I enjoy is "The Itinerant Angler". Just a lot of interviews with major players in the flyfishing industry, and stories. And some great background music to boot! This is all free, but probably not too well known. First step is to download Itunes. Good luck!

grinr · Location: New Brunswick,CAN

Can't say enough good things about the lowly woolybugger....it's my hands down,#1,goto fly from April15(trout opener) throughout June unless I'm matching a hatch.Great searching pattern and when exploring new waters I have all the confidence in the world that if there's fish to be found,the WB will find them.As TOMWIGS stated,there is no wrong way to fish it.Swing it wet,dangle it downstream,strip it,nymph it....I've even had greedy brookies hit a brand newly tied on WB before it's even wet enough to sink,which inspired me to create a dry version.

dax · Posted: Sun 07/18/10 12:58 pm Post subject:

hhmm

that sound like a really interesting way to fish a bugger. i will surely get material for a bugger first and formost considering all the props its been getting. thx for all the tips i'v got from alla u. but i have one more question bout the bugger. im goin fishing with my grandpa friday and i am wondering what size bugger would u use for trout.(i abviously know a small one but how small?)

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

I would probably start with a size 10. Don't think you ever need anything smaller than a 12 nor bigger than an 8 for trout, unless you are throwing the big streamer up on the bank for big browns. 90% of mine are 10's, most weighted with beadheads. Just my opinion! Like I said earlier though, you typically have to get that fly down to the fish.

dax · Posted: Sun 07/18/10 6:42 pm Post subject: flyfishing

ok i will tell u how it went. thx again for all the help ppl

alfredo01 · Posted: Sun 08/01/10 8:38 pm Post subject:

make yourself a favor, just buy a fly tying kit, you can get them almost in every fly shop, like orvis, bass pro, etc. i got thhe bass pro which brought a dvd to make flies, also you can buy books that tell you what materials you need

dax · Posted: Mon 08/02/10 10:07 pm Post subject:

well i already have some material to make my favorite fly the pheasant tail. so of course that meens i have all the tools so are their kits that have ust material (it will cost less i asume) and if so should i save up and get an expensive one or just a cheap one to get started?

alfredo01 · Posted: Wed 08/11/10 2:16 pm Post subject:

it depends if you will use it well,, i bought the bass pro because i had no experience, and i didnt know if i will make them as hobby,,, but in this days i use to tie them when(i use them for salt water)

fliesandfins · Location: Internet

Orvis also has a few different fly tying kits to choose from. A saltwater kit, tying material grab bag, kit for beginners, etc... The clearwater kit comes with vise and the essential tools, plenty of hooks and material and detailed tying instructions. Worth checking out. Good luck.

dax · Posted: Wed 08/11/10 9:14 pm Post subject:

ok. well thx for all the help. i will try to find a good kit for trout becouse i really love'em. i'll check out the kits u put on the link for sure but im not sure if i can get one any time soon. im only 13 so i have either got everything i have in bunches every few months (allowence money) or a gift for my b-day nov/8.
hope to c u on the stream eventually