Hi', Roger, and welcome to FFF. As one who is now 74, I appreciate how you must feel, starting out to learn the ins and outs of fly fishing and fly tying. I wish I could help with our learning; but geography is in the way, I am a Cumbrian, bred and born, and I stll live here.
A clue to the feathers you use is found directly in many patterns by seeing the name of the fly. For example, Partridge and Orange means just that --- a dark partridge hackle, taken from between the shoulders, and a simple orange tying thread body, or one made using fine floss, segmentatation, or attraction, being given by the use of a fine gold wire rib. Generally, when a dressing is given for a fly, all the materials are listed, usually, like Thread, Red silk or a modern material; Body, peacock quill or a dubbed fur; Rib, gold or silver wire; Hackle, red game hen or cock, for a dry fly or a wet fly; Wing, starling primary, mallard, CDC, polywing etc; Tail, as hackles, or red ibis, wool tag etc.
It gets a lot easier as you gain knowledge. Start with simple patterns and master the control of the basic materials and methods before going on to winging and the more complex, iimitative patterns, which are not really essential anyway. Click on to Fly Tying and Step By Step in the drop-down listing. There is loads of help available, and do not be afraid to askwhat you think are very basic or daft questions. We all profit when someone asks a question. Best of luck, and hope to hear more from you on here. Terry Cousin
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