Top 5 Fly Tying Tips For Beginners // Watch this before you start tying flies
This video breaks down the top 5 tips for beginner fly tyers. If you are new to tying or just dabble this video is for you.
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To add to your list of beginner advice: don’t get hung up on finding the identical materials listed in a tying recipe. If a recipe calls for fine moose brown dubbing and you can only find (or already have) superfine stonefly brown dubbing don’t worry about it - use what you got or what is easily available.
I agree. You can tie the same patterns with a multitude of materials. Thanks for watching!
Amen Brother
Yes, I remember when I started I went looking for polar bear hair,
I had an instructor when I started that said “tie 12 and remember a razor blade clears off the hooks so you can try again”. She also said … “we mostly tie to be perfect for us to look at -- you are tying for the fish”. #12 should match the pattern you are after and the fish see it differently in the water than we do in the vise.
I gotta say, irrespective of your advice, the video is just flawless. Good stransitions, b-roll, change of zoom, etc. As a creator, I appreciate the work you put in. Keep it up my dude!
Hey thanks! That means a lot. I hope some of the info was good too 😂
I have absolutely no intention to ever go fishing, I only came here to learn what I need for rigging small model ships. Thanl you for the tips, very helpful!
I appreciate the guidance, new to fly tying and overwhelmed with all the different material.
Start on bigger hooks and practice techniques over and over again
great idea
Thank you I am brand new to fly tying this helped out so much it can get overwhelming with all the products
As a soon-to-be tier, I really appreciate these tips. It helps me focus on what I really need to get started and reduces some of the stress I feel when I think about all the stuff I see being used on the tying videos I've been watching. Thanks.
Awesome! Let me know how it goes :)
If you haven't got a vise yet look at the wolf atlas vise made in Indiana great vise
Great video. I agree with all of your suggestions. My beginner advice is as follows: 1) Learn how to finish a fly before you start trying to tie one. 2) As your first pattern pick something super simple like a zebra midge or Walt’s worm. 1-2 materials. No tails.
Solid advice 👍🏻
Yep, solid advice here! Thx man
The internet is a wealth of information, and your demo videos are excellent, but I think it's a good piece of advice to tell people to take a fly tying class locally if they possibly can. There's a lot to be learned not just about specific patterns, but just by watching the way another tier works at the vise and having the opportunity to ask questions. I pick up little tips and tricks better this way and it's also nice sometimes to see that out of a group of people there are often many good paths to the same outcome.
That’s a great idea. I think it slipped my mind because I never had the opportunity to do something like that :)
Solid video and advice!! I would probably add, tying the basic fish catchers first, p tail, hares ear, picket pin, wooly bugger, yes egg n sucker spawn til you get proficient.. Put the money into the vice and buy good materials not hobby lobby junk, but only buy what you need!!!!! I already have more than I can possibly use!!!!
Yup, buying the good stuff is always the best choice when it comes tying
Great advice! Doing one pattern well helps in the confidence of the techniques used for other patterns later. I also loved the comment on being able to pick the materials. I never thought that the hook was that important until I started having large trout bend small hooks. That motivated me to tie more of my own trout flies. Also, with the materials selected, look at how it performs in the water and fishes. Loved the video!
Hooks are so important, you figure that out pretty fast after you hook a large fish 😂
EXCELLENT VIDEO CLEAR CONCISE INSTRUCTION THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR INFO
Good advice. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome advice! As a just starting tier this is solid advice.
👍🏻
Excellent video. Great advice.
Hey thanks man! Appreciate it
Great intro video for tiers new to the experience. Thanks for sharing.
Happy it helped!
Absolutely great info 🙌
Glad you think so!
Great suggestions. Here’s my two cents: 1) If you can afford it, purchase dubbing in multipacks rather than individually. It will allow you to tie multiple variations of the same fly. 2) pick a fly that works in the area you fish and is easy to tie (no articulated streamers or spinning hair). 3) a needle in an exacto blade holder makes a great bodkin that can be adjusted by the size of the needle you choose.
All great advice 👍🏻
We have a new member to our winter fly tying group who is new to tying and just purchased the exact Renzetti you've shown. This is great advice and I am sending him a link to your channel.
Awesome! It's a killer vise 👍🏻
Your videos are great. I’d love to see a video where you talk about yourself, journey into fishing, etc. I feel like you sorta popped out of nowhere about a year ago. I’m glad you did!
That's a good idea. Maybe I could do a Q&A type thing down the road. Thanks for watching!
Awesome advice & breakdown,simplify your tying & practice 1 pattern,great advice,when I started 30 + years ago,we didn't have KZhead,only books,you got 1 pattern broke it down,bought those materials & tied it,2 pieces of advice I'd give is develop your own style,be you & start simple don't sit down thinking your going to tie something complicated at first,learn the basics
Good advice 👍🏻
imvery new to fly tying I haven't even bought a vice yet I ws actually thinking of learning to tie flies to sell, more as a hobby with a little profit , nothing crazy.I did like your advice , thank you
Good info , it helped me a lot, many thanks
awesome
Good advice I needed this like a year ago lol man I got a lot of extra stuff now lol
You and me both!
Sounds like good advice!
thanks!
FLY TYING IS AN ART MEANT TO BE ENJOYED AS IS FLY FISHING THE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN YOU GET YOUR FIRST TROUT ON A FLY YOU CREATED IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
Nice thanks for the tips
Thanks!
Thank you 🙏
Any time!
Good advice all around and pretty much describes my learning experince. Tying flies for beginners can be frustrating (it was and still is for me) but starting off simple as you described can ease the frustration level. After one year of tying flies, getting a good rotary vise can not be over emphasized. I quickly gave up on an inexpensive vise, picked up a Renzetti Presentation and it made all the difference in the world. It's like having a third hand. I also found that a lighted magnification lamp was a critical piece of equipment, especially for the smaller sized hooks. Now, back to the vise. BTW, new sub here.
Yeah, I still need to add the magnification :) Thanks for watching
@@FlyingTies your eyes are younger than mine so you still got some time 😉
That could possibly be true lol
I really appreciate this video. I started researching what I needed to get started, and immediately began to get overwhelmed by options and cost. Starting with just one pattern is a much better option for me, and it’ll allow me to put the majority of my budget into the vise, instead of buying a bunch of stuff I may not use for a while. Thanks!
Happy to help!
I started tying when I was 7. flies relate to what your fishing. learn the base model, add some, repeat. learn what works and where. salmon is what I tie. dry fly takes patience. tight lines
As an absolute new beginner, thank you so much for this. It can be so over whelming walking into the fly shop. As I actually prepare to tie my first fly.... thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video and advice. As a suggestion, put you hook deeper into your vice to avoid damaging the tip of the clamps. Also, use the adjustment nob until it holds the hook and then only crank the vice lever until it's horizontal with the table. Your vice will last longer with these two tips (from the Renzetti instructions).
👍🏻
Thank you so much for the video - i‘m just getting into fly tying! What book do you have on your table at 6:36? And do you have any book recommendations? Thanks for your work and help!
Excellent advice - buy only what you need, buy quality and practice to learn the techniques. Thread is what (literally) holds flies together, my advice to new tyers is to learn to keep good tension (ALL THE TIME) when tying, that and don't use too many wraps. Resist making a couple of extra wraps every time you touch the bobbin, if the materials are in properly they are not needed, add unnecessary bulk and waste thread! Most of the time three (proper tension) wraps, two behind, one in front of the material being tied in is all that is needed. Suggestion (from someone who has enough materials to supply several stores) is to buy white thread and a set of permanent felt markers to color the thread as needed. Nice sets are available... I have two, one with 36 pastel colors for nymphs and such and one with 8 neon colors for hot-spots. Cheers!
I do the same thing with the markers. I would say if you like extra thread wraps you can just use nanosilk and it doesn't matter 😂 but I do agree
@@FlyingTies yeah, the ultra fine threads allow more wraps and (as my old mentor would say) "sloppy tying". Throwing in extra wraps would earn me a rap in the head LOL! With thicker threads you have to plan your construction as you can't be running up and down the hook shank willy-nilly everytime you tie in a material. Been tying for 50+ years, learned with 3/0 thread so every wrap was counted... I still prefer the thicker 4/0 & 6/0 (or often 3/0 on hooks #10 and larger) threads. Just an old guy with old habits 😉
Another way to start fly tying is a fly tying workshop. They give you all the material during the course. And then you will see if you like it or not. And as a bonus, you will also learn how to use the tools with tips and tricks. And after that you can start spending money.
While dry fly hackle can be expensive, it’s worth the up front cost to get a nice cape. With any hobby I am a firm believer in “buy once, cry once.” Don’t know how much junk ended up in the garbage out of frustration
yup, completely agree
Whiting 100s are a good starting point as well.
yeah those are a great idea
Just subscribed. Need all the help I can get
Thanks!
If You are a beginner don't Buy expensive devices. Never know if you gonna like the hobbie or not. I started with the cheapest tying device and its being great so far. I have learned a lot of patterns and fished a lot too.
True :)
I have a cheap vice and sure you can tie with it. Now I have been looking at a better one. So if I would start now, your advice on buying a good vice would be spot on. They don't depreciate in value, so you can get rid of a good one easily if you don't like the hobby.
I've used most vise brands.. regal, Renzetti , griffin etc. The Renzetti traveller has been my go to vise for everything. I also got a griffin mongoose vise that I leave at the house and use when I want to tie just 1 fly... multiple flies will be tied on my renzetti
Nice! I'd love to give the new FNF Talon a try but it's big $$
@@FlyingTies it honestly looks like a fancier renzetti in my opinion
@@mykehuntsweat2651 yup, similar for sure
Great video. My advice for a new person is to just take your time.
Yup! Great advice
You made that look so easy😅
haha always trying
Great video! Thanks for helping people getting started in fly tying!👌 I suggest also getting a good beginner tying book, for reference. Local flyshop owner (Martin Pursch/Country Flyfisher) sold me Charlie Cravens Basic Fly Tying, before I started years ago, it is incredibly helpful, he starts simple and advances throughout the book. I have lots of pages tagged that I still refer to. He also has a KZhead channel. Watch Kelly Galloups channel also, you won’t find better information on how to tie. Good luck and have fun catching on your creations! 🎣👍👍
Yup! That’s good advice for sure
I personally think you need to have a bag of hares dubbing, peacock ice dub and shrimp pink ice dub. With those, spool of thread and tippet [that you already have] for ribbing you can tie something that is easy and will catch. Enjoyed the video
Yeah, you could do a bunch of different patterns with that combo :)
Great video! Do you prefer clamp or base stand style fly tying vices?
I really like base style vices
I’ve got a couple Renzettis. I’m curious about how your vise is connected to the base? Shouldn’t the part you have underneath the vise be down next to the base with the vise going through it? Good tips. One thing I tell beginners is to not feel like they have to tie all their flies. I don’t tie foam hoppers for example because I rarely lose one. 😊
My advice would be to start with only Veevus 6/0 thread. Super strong and almost difficult to break. Also, spend $30 and get a Stonfo Bobtec Bobbin..... or get online and get a Jvice bobbin or better yet, buy three Jvice bobbins and reduce the shipping costs. Thread tension control is usually very difficult for a beginner.... but today you can buy bobbins that control the tension and reduce broken thread nightmares. I am not a fan of Rite bobbins but most people like them. Bobtec and Jvice are far superior IMO. The Renzetti Vice is pretty good but if you plan on tying mostly streamers or large flies, the Regal Revolution with stainless steel or big game jaws might be a better choice. Ask around for advice but first identify what fish you are planning to target and what size food they eat.... Renzetti is great for small flies.... not so much for large flies targeting saltwater species or pike.
Start with a pattern you fish a lot. That'll keep you coming back to the vice cause you'll be constantly replacing that fly. And it'll make the practice fun cause you'll really be invested in getting just how you want it.
Yup, totally agree 👍🏻
Great video, lots of information for those getting started. However I was stressed out the whole video about his laptop hanging over the edge.
Lol it’s not really hanging over the edge that much 😂
Aye zach so can I ask how much does it cost you to tie flies ...I get it everyone has there own cost ..I jus like a ball park figure thanks man.
What brand is the vise your using looks very good quality
Brand is Renzetti, this is the Traveler model. I own one and highly recommend!
I am new into fly fishing. Have read george book on euro nymphing and was wondering should I get into euro nymphing or general fly fishing.... which one you recommend. Thanks
I wouldn't limit yourself to just one style of fly fishing, you can start anywhere really. But if you want to catch fish right away it's a good place to start.
@FlyingTies Thanks man... lovely to hear you kindly advise... being new and fast big rivers we have... what do you think euro nymphing is a right choice?
I would also add spending money on good scissors. I see in the video, you tie with the same Dr. Slick scissors I use. Very sharp and great thin point. Also, get a cheaper pair of scissors for cutting wire and rough materials
Yeah those are both great ideas 👍🏻
I wish I had been told that certain materials in some recipes could be substituted with other similar materials. I definitely started behind the eight ball on that one.
Yeah, substituting alternate materials comes with experience. It's something that your local fly shop should be able to help with though
Advice: Find a hook comparison chart online somewhere or start building one. Otherwise you'll follow patterns and buy 11 hooks by 5 manufacturers that are all basically the same. I keep a list of all my patterns, organized by their hook style (3xl, 2xs, 2xh, etc), and settle on one hook that fits the job for all the similar hook descriptions. My (not counting dry flies) spreadsheet is 4 pages, 113 different flies with about 55 different hooks called out, but i only need 13 hooks to match those 55 that are in the patterns. And then I just buy various sizes that I need in each style. I can't image what it would cost to buy various sizes in 55 different hooks.
Whoa, sounds like an awesome spreadsheet. I have some favorites and just stick with those as much as possible
Would you be interested in sharing a read version of your spread sheet so we could learn from your experience ?
Anyone..thoughts on a peak vise
One tip would be! Don’t give up if things don’t work don’t get upset just walk away and come back to it till you get it right! Because you will get upset sometimes it happens when you first start out!
Great advice for sure! Sometimes I forget that it was frustrating in the beginning lol
@@FlyingTies for sure I forget sometimes then I do something and get pissed off lol 😂
haha nice
I just blew $300 on a Regal. I bought a cheap $80 POS to see if i was gonna get into it. Which would have been smart, but i was pretty damn sure id fall in love with it so two months later i got my regal. Since it came with the basic tools it really wasnt that bad. For my two cents I would suggest you learn to tie wooly buggers and the Walt's worm. Then Hares Ears and Pheasant tails. Im a noob and only use flies for steelhead and Ive mostly gone over to crnterpins so i dont really mess eith streamers but im tying those and jigs every day and by tying those flies you will learn the techniques to tie TONS of others. Really its almost more about learning how to use different materials. Like a wood duck nymph you use the same basic techniques but wood duck or mallard flank is much harder to use than pheasant tail fibers in my experience,. especially when palmering. Hopefully this inspires others because it truly is an awesome hobby and an art form tbh. People who didnt think they jad an artistic bone in their body often discover one while tying. I remember as a kid watching field & stream in the late 90s early 2000s and seeing a guy who painted pictures of flies he tied and it was cool as hell
Yup, good thoughts!
Start big and then move down to a smaller fly as you get better. For example tie a zebra midge on a size 12 hook even though nothing will probably eat it it will make for good practice.
That’s a good one
“High quality beads”. Funniest phrase ever.
What lol
Hello Sir! My name is John.i am a 60 year old physically disabled angler who has recently started tying. I've made 6 flys lol.i wantto stank you for the advice. I bought a Renzetti saltwater Travelet vice because I prefer fishing saltwater . However I've recently gotten interested in freshwater tying and fishing as well. What an addiction I'm developing! I also hit the jackpot a few months ago and found about $500 worth of tying materials at a yard sale! I really think I have alli need to start....more actually. I also have my tools, resins and a light, three books, and i even took a thrèe hour saltwater fly tying class. Here's my problem...where do I start? I have so much stuff but don't know if I have the "exact stuff" that I need for any specific fly. So what advice would you offer me? Thanks in advance for your time! John R. Lindsay
I would start with anything really, it sounds like you have some killer options. Don’t worry about having the exact materials, you can usually just substitute something else and it works fine.
Yes, buy the vice but you must learn how to whip finish before anything no point without being able to finish the fly.
I’m just starting in fly tying and was wondering if there is a special type of thread that is used
There are many different threads that you can use which makes it a bit confusing. But the simple answer is yes, we do use a special type of thread a lot of the time
@@FlyingTies what is the best type for a beginner
70 denier ultra thread is what I would suggest for basic trout flies
@@jeffmaninfior2382 Veevus 6/0 is strong without being bulky. They make finer diameter thread as well but for getting started, the 6/0 size is really strong.... much stronger than other materials/ brands. You won’t have as much accidental thread breaks ..... very frustrating when your thread breaks and the fly unravels.
dont forget the crazy glue and nail polish. the glue to set your flies, beads and knots, and the nail polish so you can make real nice design with sparkles and even finish nymphs.
How about how to use each tool an what each tool is used for???? I dont care what materials u use how do u use those if u dont know what the different tools are??
I bought a Peak any thoughts?
I haven’t used one myself but I’m sure they are great
Pro tip bribe hair cutters for natural fibers.
My top tip if your starting out is don't buy a vice at £300 incase you find tying isn't for you and you end up selling it on eBay for £40.
Eventually, when you gain confidence in your fly tying abilities, you may experiment with cheaper everyday materials. You really don’t have to buy the latest fad materials to tie productive flies.
Yup, that is true :)
I love your videos but I have one nit to pick: When you transition from your voice to the "background" music, the music is too loud! With the volume set for your voice, when you stop talking and the music comes up it is very loud. In my case it disturbed someone in the next room & if I set the music to a reasonable volume it was nearly impossible to hear you speak. This is a minor issue to be sure, but there's no need for it. Just a friendly suggestion; you may disagree.
Haha ok sounds good, I’ll work on it :)
What is wrong with your Renzetti vise, WHY DO YOU have it that way,, the stem ,the big knob should be on the base plate not next to the vise chassis, it is in the way. Don't tell me it is not.
I had it the correct way for awhile but switched the position because it actually performs better with it up too. Crazy I know 😂
Was wondering the exact same thing, in what aspects did you find it performed better?