Making flies

I go fishing all the time with regular rods but have never tried fly fishing. I have a fly fishing rod in my basement that i just got ready to use and my brother gave me a whole box full of feathers,fur, hooks,leaders,flies and tools to tie your own flies. So i decied i would give it a try. I just made these and these are the first two i have ever tied. How can i make them better or what should i do differnt.
P.S. tied the flies bigger because my brother said it is the end of the season and all off the bugs are bigger now.

A basic understanding of aquatic entomolgy and fish feeding patterns are a good place to start if you want to improve your tying.

I learned from some friends and read this book

http://www.westernfishermanspress.com/tying-nymphs.html

There are TONS of fly-tying vids on youtube etc.

Since you like forums here's a start, although I'm sure there are much mo betta ones out there.


http://www.drakemag.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=6

Lexi-Bell's response about knowing some basic entomology would be helpful. If you can find Schollmeyer's Western Hatch Guide, you'd have a great souce on bugs.

Kaufmann's Tying Nymphs and Tying Dries are two of the best instructional tying books around. If you tie a fly from each chapter of the books, you should be able to tie anything.

If you can have your brother teach you some basic tying mechanics, you would be off to a good start. Whenever I teach people to tie, the very first fly I teach is the San Juan Worm because it teaches thread control. The second fly I teach is the Woolly Bugger because it teaches a multiple amount of steps.

Denny

edit: Don't be afraid to go to a local shop to get help tying flies. Most shop guys I know are willing to help out.

[curmudgeon] I just wanted to point out that you don't "make" flies, you "tie" flies. "Making flies" sounds about the same as "playing skiing". [/end curmudgeon]

Welcome to the sport! It can keep you interested for a long, long time.

Fly-fishing can be a fairly complicated game. As such, I would suggest you buy some patterns that are suggested by a local shop, unless you are primarily interested in tying. This will simplify your learning process.

That being said, those flies will catch fish, although this is not exactly the ideal time of year for them. If you can find shallow panfish at a nearby pond or something, try twitching those flies in front of them.

Also, fly-fishing is so popular because it is an addictive and non-passive sport. It is, in a sense, totally different from most types of fishing. Read lots about it and actively pursue it and fly-fishing is incredibly rewarding. Go to a lake, toss a fly around and wait and you will miss the best parts!!!

In re: the flies being "bigger" now - you would need to look into this more specifically where you are fishing (probably by asking around at the shop). Some regions are seeing big grashoppers late in the year while others are seeing tiny tricos in the morning and miniscule ants in the afternoon.

Thanks everyone. Went to the store today and got tippet and leaders. I tied about 10 more from derections i saw on the internet. Going to the creek tomarow to try it out. Bringing a woolly bugger,nymphs and a box full of other flies. Post pictures if i catch anything.
Ive also been practicing in the yard and have wacthed about 30 videos

Well, you're fucked. The sickness just gets stronger with time......