Frustration!

[czechnympher]

I started tying last week. Indeed I posted a pic of my first fly up here, it was meant to be a partridge and orange, but had no orange in the kit I bought, so it turned out to be a partridge and olive. And I noticed - in the blown up pic - that the body was pretty badly tied.
So......
I ordered some orange, and spend this morning practising tying tidy, straight bodies. And I practised whip finishes. Whoopee, well done me... BUT...

Then I tried to tie a hackle on. Couldn't make it work like last week. Tried again. And again. And again.. All I got was a big pile of waste partridge neck feathers. I just couldn't make it work. Either the hackles got all tangled up as they went round, or the stem of the feather snapped as I was turning it, or I couldn't tie it off at the end. I just couldn't do it.

Packed it all away. Will try again next week...

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by czechnympher

I started tying last week. Indeed I posted a pic of my first fly up here, it was meant to be a partridge and orange, but had no orange in the kit I bought, so it turned out to be a partridge and olive. And I noticed - in the blown up pic - that the body was pretty badly tied.
So......
I ordered some orange, and spend this morning practising tying tidy, straight bodies. And I practised whip finishes. Whoopee, well done me... BUT...

Then I tried to tie a hackle on. Couldn't make it work like last week. Tried again. And again. And again.. All I got was a big pile of waste partridge neck feathers. I just couldn't make it work. Either the hackles got all tangled up as they went round, or the stem of the feather snapped as I was turning it, or I couldn't tie it off at the end. I just couldn't do it.

Packed it all away. Will try again next week...

Lots of fishing clubs do some fly tying sessions over the winter, these are great for learning the basics and usually pretty cheap (or even free!). Might be a good idea to help get you going, there's nothing worse than not knowing what you're doing wrong!

[Lewis McIntosh]

Originally Posted by czechnympher

Packed it all away. Will try again next week...

Well first things first don't try again next week get the gear out as soon as you have time and get some flies tied.

I would suggest trying with either a normal hen or cock hackle first as I find partridge pretty tricky at times.

Obviously the feathers are really short and can be quite brittle as well.

And try and make yourself tie a certain amount every time you sit down to tie.
Tying one each time will not help you try say 3/4 then gradually tie more each time.

But at the same time don't sit there to long either because strange as it may seem you will tire and your tying will start to suffer.

[lyttletyer]

I know exactly how you feel!!! My advice is to go to Davie McPhail's YouTube site. The man is a master.
Ian

[czechnymphing]

winter fly tying lessons will help.

look for a loacl fly tying club people are usually so helpful

regards
czechnmphing

[Lewis McIntosh]

Originally Posted by lyttletyer

I know exactly how you feel!!! My advice is to go to Davie McPhail's YouTube site. The man is a master.
Ian

Yeah I agree with that aswell I started watching his vids last year and he really makes tying simple.

I could never tie upwing dries until I watched Davie.

[czechnympher]

Brilliant, thanks for the encouragement and advice from all, inc PM's. I'm definitely going to check out Davy McPhail on youtube at the weekend and let you know how I get on!
Cheers
Stuart

[boony]

Hi,
as a matter of intrest what thread are you using? If you are using soming like uni, then the thin twisted thread may be poping (cutting) you hackle stem. If you want to tie a partridge and orange then pearsels thread is the original. Also you may be a bit heavy handed and be pulling the stem out of your tread wraps, as metioned above watch Davie Mcphail and see how to folds back the hackle tip to stop it pulling out.

Hope this helps.

John.

[czechnympher]

Cheers John, yes I am using pearsalls, so don't have that as an excuse! The heavy handed bit sounds more like it!
Cheers
Stuart