First Flies to Try

[flyinghigh]

After spending the first year since I started tying apart from a couple of patterns i managed I havent actually tied that many patterns just made it up from patterns I have seen and incorporating bits and bobs of different patterns. So with the winter drawing in I have decided to start my campaign to fill my fly box with my own hand tied proper patterns, so my flie box looks like a real fly tiers box. So can some suggest some patterns to try that are good to start with but aren't over simplistic.

Thanks

Flyinghigh

[steve collyer]

Where do you fish & what style of fly-fishing do you plan to do?

[flyinghigh]

Nearly all my fishing is stillwater with just the occasional trip to a river. Mostly target rainbows, but have targeted sea trout and browns.

[steve collyer]

Well the American variant of the GRHE nymph is a good simple (but not too basic) pattern that involves several of the basic fly-tying techniques.

After a B & P spider, Diawl Bach and so on, the AGRHE is the type of fly which will not only catch bags of fish absolutely anywhere but also help refine the novice fly dresser's skills.
Here's the dressing:
Hook: 10-14
Silk: brown or black
Tail: hare's body fur guard hairs
Rib: oval gold tinsel
Body: hare's body fur
Wing cases: dyed black turkey/goose fibres
Thorax: long fibres of hare's body fur, picked-out with a dubbing needle

I add lead or copper as an underbody to get the fly down quicker, but this is purely optional.

Here's roughly what it should look like:

[flyinghigh]

Whats a b and p spider, sorry probably a stupid question.

Flyinghigh

[steve collyer]

Originally Posted by flyinghigh

Whats a b and p spider, sorry probably a stupid question.

Flyinghigh

Black & peacock spider.
An old, very basic fly created by Tom Ivens

You could also look at the step-by-steps.
The seal's fur damsel
Cockwill's seal's-fur damsel nymph
& Collyer nymphs
"Collyer's" series of nymphs
are both quite easy to tie & will catch anywhere.

[flyinghigh]

Great pattern those collyer nymphs look like a real fish catcher am going to try patterns now and will post picture when finished, probably not great quality considering I will be taking them on a phone, because my cameras broke.

Flyinghigh

[Shamus]

Hi

I would suggest not over complicating your approach. There are hundreds of patterns and thousands of variants. It can get confusing and very expensive!
It's pointless mastering a pattern if you're unlikely to use it.

Work to a plan separating your fly box in to catergories/areas, such as dries,wets, nymphs, lures....etc. Stick to a few successful patterns for each catergory and then expand with variants eg: Nymphs- Diawl bachs, hares ears, ptns..etc. If you tell us where you fish, i'm sure a few forum members will help you out with suggesting popular patterns or rather successful patterns for that water.

Remember, simplicity more often than not is best.



Shaun

[arkle]

If you want a really easy to tie pattern that catches LOADS of fish, esp in bright conditions then use Glo-Brite fire orange thread on a #12 B175. tie on a back of brown or dk. green raffene, then a a rib of med. oval silver & a short body of white ostrich. (Chenille doesn't work !). Finish the body 2/3 along shank & tie in moistened raffene, then create a large-ish head with the thread before finishing. A sort of Hot-Headed Chomper, & only use a minimum 6lbs point as they hit this one hard !

[Jackwow]

Originally Posted by flyinghigh

So can some suggest some patterns to try that are good to start with but aren't over simplistic.

Flyinghigh

You obviously fly fish, so you presumably know what flies you like to fish with. So surely they're the flies you should be trying to tie?