new to fly tying

[kev57]

I'm just about to attempt to tie my own flies and would welcome some advice. As a novice I must admit to being totally bewildered by the range of materials and fly patterns available. I have a copy of The Art of the Wet Fly by W S Roger Fogg and am thinking of using the advice re materials and patterns outlined in that book. I'll be fishing small rivers and streams in Northumberland and the Borders.
The book was first published in 1979. Are the patterns still relevant today? Have materials moved on making it easier to achieve good results?

Totally awed by some of the examples of peoples work posted on here. Some of you have taken the process to an art form in it's own right.

[wingman]

Oh yes old Foggy, there should be plenty of spider patterns in that one I'd presume which are ideal for up ere in't North lad, always good flies to start off with in fly tying as they are fairly straight forward and fairly simple to tie.
If you start off tying them on size 12's and then up to 14 and 16's, you won't find better flies in your flybox than those in my opinion.