New Tyer - Need Advice

[sbflyer]

Hi,

I will be tying my first flies over this weekend, but I need some advice.

I generally fish small streams/rivers and usually use the klink 'n' dink (New Zealand style) method, so I thought I would start by trying to tie the following:

Size 12 klink
Size 16 PTN

Can anyone suggest a good SBS to follow for a beginner, and also which barbless hooks I should use (and where to get them from would be nice!).

Thanks

SB

[blithfield2]

SB,

There are many tutorials on this forum, so try a search.

However, this link of Dave Wiltshire is very good.River Fly Box, fly fishing bristol, casting tuition, AAPGAI, Dave Wiltshire, trout, flies, tying, patterns, CDC, emergers, dry, nymphs

Any problems and someone here will come along and assist.

[SharkeyP]

Hi SB,
Two tricky patterns to start off with! The PTN looks simple enough but proportions are key. A beaded one is easier, and a 14 easier than a 16. Some very good SBS in the fly-tying SBS section. Check out the up-to date list at the very top.

With a Klink, or any hackled pattern come to think of it, feather quality is key. You'll need a small cock hackle with a fine stem. Cheap packet hackles will only cause you problems. I tie mine on Tiemco 212Ys and Kamasan B100 hooks, neither is barbless but a quick crimp with the pliers will crush the barb. For an indicator 'Klink' I give them six turns of hackle, 'too many!' the purists will cry but they float all day with a tungsten beaded nymph under them and pick up risers too.

Keep the post long and hold onto it when you wind the hackle under pressure. You'll have to let go to cross hands, just apply less pressure until you have a hold again. A dab of varnish on the post thread wraps before you tie in the hackle makes them more robust for a hard day on the stream. It's almost impossible to tie in a parachute hackle without trapping some fibres, just trim them off as close as you can before finishing the head. You can never have a pair of scissors too fine or too sharp!

Could I also recommend a bead head GRHE as an easy tie and an excellent 'dink'. It has the advantage of its scruffiness being part of it's attraction. Fly Tying Boutique "G" hooks are barbless and perfect for the job in 14 and 16. 2mm-2.5mm tungsten beads also available at FTB.

Nothing beats catching on your own flies, better still if you have tweaked a design yourself an it works better!

Happy tying! It very quickly gets easier than those first few steps.

SharkeyP

[sbflyer]

SharkeyP/Blithfield2,

Thanks for the quick replies. As these are the first 2 flies I will have ever tied, am I aiming a bit high?

Like the suggestion of a GRHE!

Are there any other indicator types which may be easier to tie?

Thanks

SB

[blithfield2]

SB,

You need to get 'feel' of how much pressure to put on both thread or hackle. It can be very frustrating to begin with - thread breaks or hackle snaps.

This is why a number of anglers, purchase tying equipment and get disgruntled when their first attempts, prove frustrating.

I would suggest starting off with a relatively easier fly for example 'Black & Peacock spider' - this will give you practise handling the materials. The GRHE is fairly straightforward.

Fly tying is not rocket science and the more you tie the better and easier it becomes.

[g1zmo]

Try a foam daddy, easy to tie and very floaty for fishing klink'n'dink.

[shuck raider]

You have to learn to walk before you learn to run. Attempting to tie a Klink as your first ever fly may well end up putting you off fly-tying for the rest of your life

There are some basic techniques which you should acquire first e.g. putting the thread on the hook, correct thread tension, ribbing, hackling, pinch and loop and whip finishing.

Once you have mastered these on a simple pattern like the Black Pennell or Black & Peacock, then you will feel confident enough to advance to more complicated patterns such as those you mention in your original post

[sbflyer]

g1zmo,

Is this the sort of thing you mean:

Parachute daddy long legs - step by step

[dabhoy]

To start with as has been said not the easiest patterns to get you started due mainly to proportions and on the sizes you want to tie.
Basically you need to crawl before you can run.
I would start of by getting some size 10 hooks and some 8/0 thread and practice your thread wrapping and tension control first that way you can get to learn the strengths of the thread and being able to lay a nice foundation for your flies. Then start trying to do some basic patterns on size 10's as the more accomplished you become at that size the better then you can start to move down in size.
There are a lot of other things that I could write but I believe that thread control is the number one main thing that has to be learnt.

[tonyt]

Originally Posted by shuck raider

You have to learn to walk before you learn to run. Attempting to tie a Klink as your first ever fly may well end up putting you off fly-tying for the rest of your life

There are some basic techniques which you should acquire first e.g. putting the thread on the hook, correct thread tension, ribbing, hackling, pinch and loop and whip finishing.

Once you have mastered these on a simple pattern like the Black Pennell or Black & Peacock, then you will feel confident enough to advance to more complicated patterns such as those you mention in your original post

Totally agree with this, start simple and work up. I've been tying for 18months coming up and only just started with klinks a few months ago.