First ever fly from beginner to tying...

[czechnympher]

OK, I've fished for years, but never tied. So I've decided to give fly tying a go...
I thought I'd get a kit, and vice, so I bought the Veniard kit. Then I thought I'd try and tie one of the flies I'd use. A partridge and orange.
First problem, there's no orange thread in the kit. So I thought oh well, give it a go with olive thread just for the sake of practice. And here's what I've come up with. Feel free to comment.
First thoughts from me:
1. Body is really messy. Need to spend more time getting this even and with threads next to each other, not all over the place
2. Damaged partridge hackle, I can see one of them is bent. Also I cut two of the hackles off when cutting the waste feather stalk
3. Looking through the stuff, I realise that buying the kit was a bit of a waste of time, should have thought about which flies I want and just bought the materials for those and taken it from there.
4. The fly is so much smaller in real life, this blown up picture really shows the flaws!!!!
I'm a bit embarrased to post up the picture actually, but thought I could post my progress over time....
Cheers

[greenock]

Don't be embarrased mate thats a fine first effort a lot better than mine And that will take a fish.

[fly in mi eye]

No need to be embarrassed,i would fish that no problem,by the time you have tied another ten they will be perfect,

Paul

[g bigtrout]

Yip as said....nice looking spider and will have a fish or two.

[sweenytodd]

As been said , no need feel embarrased , fair play to you

I know nothing about spiders but would think that will catch a fish . Yes the close up pics are a bit scay aint they !!! Just keep at it and all will come good in time . Use the pictures to see where things have gone a little astray .

Cheers

[Alanc]

Come back and tell us how many fish you nailed good effort m8.

Alan

[czechnympher]

Wow, thanks for the comments and the encouragement.

I've ordered some extra materials, and hope to come back with a genuine partridge and orange next time!

Cheers

[dun09]

damn kits should be banned there always full of c**P
iv never bought one and never will!
anybody who intends to start tying (START FROM SCRATCH!!)
to start all you need toolwise is a descent pair off fine point scizzors, bobbin holder,whip finisher and a hair stacker and possibly hackle pliers,
which iv never needed! then choose the flys you need and use.
find out what materials is needed for the patterns then buy them!
not bad tying mate, if your having problems protecting the hackle when tying off?....brush,pull all the hackle backwards out the way, by the looks of it you,ll get the hang in no time.


tight lines

[BRUCE1]

CZN,

a nice tie for your first ,sparsley dressed ,thats good spiders dont have much anyway ,keep them sparse as for the body just lay your thread in tight even wraps down the shank ,if need be after so many push them up together with your fingernail to close them up a bit , then instead of going back with tight wraps along the shank take the thread back as a rib , as to the bent hackles dont worry about them the trout will bend the bu66ers anyway maybe IMO make the head a couple of wraps larger, and as to the cut hackles just trim then as close as possible as with any loose thread ends

well done mate

PS ,what hooks are you tying on ??

extra PS , consider yourself now hooked on tying ...

[czechnympher]

thx dun09, I will definately brush the hackles back next time. Just a bit worried about damaging them on first go I guess, they are probably more robust than they look.

cheers barbusbruce, the hook I used was - to be frank - just one of the varied selection in the kit. I will need to use the right hooks in due course, just thought for the first go I'd use any old thing to start with....

Cheers. Great feedback all.