Materials list for tying the classics.

[darwin]

Hello everybody,
I am new to tying the classics and am trying to get a list of materials needed. I want to do the winged & hackled wet flies, mayflies, dabblers and bumbles to start. I have the hooks, thread and other basics. I guess my question is, what would you consider the required/most used materials? (wings, cock & hen neck/saddles, seal's fur and colours ect.). None of this is available to me locally and will need to be ordered in. Do you have a favorite mail order source that ships to the states? ( I have a list working, just trying not to miss something important)

Thanks for your time and help, it is greatly appreciated.
Cheers

Here is what I got going...
Seal's fur, trout colors. hen & cock saddles black,brown, white(hen), olive,yellow,orange,red
tinsel, gold & silver, oval and flat. dyed duck quills, pheasant tails
wings (pheasant,snipe,mallard,teal,grouse) partridge hackles,golden pheasant,bronze mallard, teal hackle,Guinea Fowl hackle

[arkle]

There are several ways you can go, it depends what or how you define "classics". The first way is to get hold of books concerning the types of classic you want to specialize in, if, for example you were interested in spiders then there are quite a few books out there which give you ample info. The same applies to classic wet's & for that matter dries, a lot depends on your budget. There are quite a few of these (older) books online.

A dealer such as Steve Cooper of cookshill flying is invaluable as he not only offers the best natural materials his service is second to none, although his website however isn't that great. However anything you need he will be able to advise you on.

If you could define your use of the term classics a bit more accurately, then we may be able to be a bit more specific.

[splashtestdummy]

I'm with arkle, the last 'traditional' fly I tackled seriously took quite a bit of research and a day or so to source the elements on line and a few bits picked up elsewhere ... I had a while chatting to my tying mentor on the approach to the tying and also a trip to 'Sweets' in Usk to talk to Jean about how she does them ... I probably tied it in a way that almost everyone would advise I might have tackled differently.

Big subject, perhaps best tackled one fly type at a time?

[maharg]

Check out the sticky at the top of the fly tying section. Many forum members have contibuted here to list some of the "Classics"

The Classics to date

[emerger1981]

(irish mayflies a fly fishers guide) is a lovely one to have in the collection

[darwin]

Originally Posted by arkle

If you could define your use of the term classics a bit more accurately, then we may be able to be a bit more specific.

I am interested in the flies that maharg mentioned "The Classics to date" and many of the flies in the books "Trout and Salmon flies of Scotland, Wales and Ireland", I just purchased these and I really like the Scotland book. I am thinking the flies I want to start with are the Mallard & Claret, Grouse & Green and Black Pennell to get my technique down then move on to the more complicated. I really like the simplicity of the North Country Spiders (got that book to) and the complexity and colorfulness of the Irish Mayflies & Bumbles. I found a link on here to Caithness Quality Flies and I nearly lost my mind.. This person is another one of many of you that tie beautiful, high quality flies. So that is what is in my head. Most of this I may not fish with but I want to learn and become a respectable tier.
Many thanks

[darwin]

Originally Posted by emerger1981

(irish mayflies a fly fishers guide) is a lovely one to have in the collection

Hi emerger,
Does this book have good pictures and descriptions and such? I found it but it has not been reviewed on either Amazon site. I have not seen the book locally and will have to order it. Thanks

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by darwin

Hi emerger,
Does this book have good pictures and descriptions and such? I found it but it has not been reviewed on either Amazon site. I have not seen the book locally and will have to order it. Thanks

yes mate, Davie mcphail recommends this book on one of his vids
(the gorgeous george) if you want a little taste of picture and so'on
i havnt got my copy at the mo its in london
crackin book

[darwin]

That's good enough for me... I wish I was in London,Ireland, Scotland... but its all good, I will spend all of next week fishing great rivers and tail waters. Big ole fish on lil bitty hooks Thank you sir.

[arkle]

Ahh, I see you mean "traditional's" which compose mainly of patterns from the last century with perhaps some from the 19th C. such as the Invicta or to give it it's original name "The Pride of Devon" Now that narrows the field down a bit. Thank you.

A.C.Courtney-William's Dictionary of Trout flies is a good book to start out with before you get to esoteric with the many 100's of other titles.

Take a look through some antiquarian book dealers lists for descriptions such as Coch-y-Bonddu Books Antiquarian Fishing Books, John and Judith Head, The Barn Book Supply are 2 of the main ones over here, there are many dozens in the U.S as well.