What I Wished I Knew When I started Fly Tying......... | Fly Tying for Beginners 

I wish I knew how addictive it is. I'm always buying materials even at stores not set up for fly tying. I see something that looks cool and instantly start thinking how I could use it in a fly. It's probably why seasoned fly tyers always are a bit "off" 😂😂

I wish I knew how therapeutic fly tying is. It helped me to shield myself from excessive stress. My fly tying vise is just foot left from my work screen. Whenever I am stressed out I tie few flies. I feel much better and end up more productive at work.

I love looking out for different materials, biscuit wrappers, crisp/chip packets, packing foam, cushion stuffing, carpet underlay (gold foil backed foam!), Christmas tinsel, hair extensions, artificial eyelashes, poodle hair are all things I’ve found and used for free! Pick up any bird feathers you see. Indelible felt tip pens for changing colours. It helps that the current Mrs Johnson loves crafting and volunteers in a charity/thrift shop and comes up with an endless supply of glittery stuff, maybe she’s a keeper!

Great question- my initial thought process was wishing I knew what I wanted to tie, and why. I've been in business in this industry for 11 years now but I remember the first year or so, I was all over the place. Every time I saw a new fly I wanted to learn to tie it- and of course- all of these patterns use different materials. For this reason, I actually recommend that most new tyers start with a kit. They are packaged in a way where you will learn patterns with overlapping materials. Sure- they aren't the greatest quality materials, but for learning it's hard to beat. Buy the material kits, but buy the tools individually. Show your shop (or email a shop like Fly Fish Food) and say- I got a fly tying kit with the following patterns- what tools do I need to tie these flies. You'll be better in the long run. If you aren't interested in a kit, I would suggest a class at a fly shop, or at the very least to pick a fly tying book and tie through it. Learning all of the patterns. It's something I enjoy doing all these years later. Another tip for new tyers- I agree that to learn a pattern well you should be tying at least 6-12 (you'll find out that you learn different patterns at different rates- one pattern you may get down in 12 flies, but many may take 24, 36, or more to fully digest) in one sitting to start understanding the techniques and proportions. But once you learn a pattern, give those flies to your buddies that don't tie. And then tie 3 of the best examples you can for your box. Even during my euro phase where I had 2 confidence boxes, rarely did I need more than 3 of any given pattern size/weight at a time. I know guys that tie 12 of each size/color/pattern and it looks great for social media photos, but it's completely unnecessary. Rather, tie 3 and then refill them when needed. Helps keep busy on the tying bench, which has been equally as entertaining for me as fly fishing. PS- don't feel bad if you don't have the time or money to start tying your own flies. You'll probably spend more time fishing- and that's not a bad thing lol. My first year I had a time intensive job, but still managed to tie almost 8-10 hours every day. I tied before work, on my lunch breaks, and after work- I fell asleep at my tying desk many nights. I was addicted.

I wish I knew how rewarding it would be... I had been fly fishing for 20+ years before I started tying. Always wanted to, but between time, tools and the overwhelming collection of materials required, never got around to it. I now reccomend anyone who fly fishes, seriously considers tying their own flies.

People always seem to find the money to feed their hobbies, if it’s really something they enjoy, rich or poor, you’ll find a way, so be smart about your spending and make sure the money you’ve allotted to spend goes to strengthen the fly tying industry. Support your fly shops, local and online,,, build relationships with these good people so we can protect this awesome industry. On days we can’t break away to hit the streams or lakes, there is nothing quite like a few minutes at the vice to decompress and make your own fly to trick a fish. Before long your boxes are full, and there is just a inner satisfaction and sense of pride for your own workmanship and the compelling thoughts of breaking away to use them!!! What I wish I knew then when I started tying back in the 80’s… discount stores and craft houses have enough money already, support the good folks in the fishing & fly tying industry that bust their tails everyday to make this all happen for us to enjoy!!! Great video FFF gang, thanks for all you do!

1:32 Was telling my wife the other night just this same thing. I've experience a huge leap in my fly tying recently and the biggest part of that was using deliberate and minimal wraps of thread. Makes it easier to go backwards too. I do a lot of that which probably also good advice. Takes only a second to 'get it right'

Appreciate your guy’s humility in showing how advance tyers were once newbies. 👍👍

I love these guys! It took me a year to figure out which way the slot on a slotted bead was supposed to face. Looking at a bunch of old flys, I tied at least half of them wrong....50/50 chance I guess....

Amen to the young man who spoke about substituting materials! Had I known, I would probably have saved whoknows....?$10,000? On materials

It’s crazy to think about how far the art of fly tying has come. You guys rock! 👍

Crazy how much things have changed since I started. There was no RU-vid. Had to,learn from books or have someone teach you. About 5% of the synthetics we have now. No beads, no tungsten, no UV resin, limited hook variety.

Thank you all . For all the good information and you all are so write. I got two vices I don't even use anymore.

The thing I wish I would of known: the difference in floating material and sinking. I bought stuff at a fly shop and tied beautiful flies. Just don’t fish well. Came down to material.

Well said. Most of us would probably have made at least half or more of those “wish I had known …” statememts.

Try tying in batches to master a technique aim to be consistent and don’t be afraid to take a blade to a bad fly. It so much more confidence inspiring to have a “perfect” fly that if you lose you have a n exact replica on standby.

That last one! I bought too much stuff! I have material I will never use but thought I might. UGH

How much more hackle was going to cost today vs. when I started tying.

Buying good materials, good hooks, and good tools is essential. Go for the higher quality not the highest quality. Skip the cheap stuff. Tie at least 3 flies in a row when you are learning a new pattern or new technique. Take an honest look at the differences in each of the 3 flies. The next time you are at the bench, tie 3 more of that pattern and compare batch 1 with batch 2. Yes, you have made progress.

That a "bead picker " would be the handiest tool of them all.

Don’t tinker and think you have a new fly pattern. Just tie the classic recipes. They are classics for a reason.

The one thing I wish I knew then….. Less is more, except for thread tension.

There is just something about catching a fish on something that you created and made with your own hands that you can't explain. It's almost disappointing to catch fish on flies you buy, like someone had to do it for you or something. 😂

Not using a whole foot of thread to start your fly is a good one

Number one , I wish I would have taken lessons. , Number two wish I wouldn't have bought so much material. I have enough dubbing and hackle to last two life times

I just started I didn't know enough to know what i wish i knew (74 years old)

when i go in a shop I look in discount bin and buy sale items.

I wish I had known about Tiktok

nobody said LEARN THE BASICS first? Basic techniques, not patterns. Thread control, material torque, tension, on and on. Master basic techniques before tying the latest flat brim white rim triple ripple articulated s***banger. Master the basics. But hey, I learned from books checked out of the public library 45 years ago, so what do I know.

Buy good tools. Buy good materials.

Just buy flies, you'll save $1000's of dollars..LOL