Over the past ten plus years the focus of our PVFF Beginner’s Fly Tying class has been to learn the basic procedural steps in constructing a specific fly pattern. Our standard protocol, like many others in reference books and on the internet, for tying a specific fly pattern (such as a Woolly Bugger) details the step-by-step method for that pattern. Indeed, this approach is fundamental for the beginning tyer to understand the techniques for tying materials to a hook to create an imitations of natural fish food. Indeed, this is critical to tying a “good” imitation that induces a strike from the fish.
While this approach to teaching basic fly tying has proven successful for many of our club members, I feel that an additional element needs to be added to our beginner classes. That “element” is for our class to have a better understanding of the nature, qualities, and purpose of the natural and artificial components of the respective fly pattern. Having this understanding, I believe, is characteristic of a good fly tyer (and perhaps a more successful fly fisher).
The creative nature of an experienced fly tier, I would contend, is the reason why there is such a diversity of fly patterns found in fly tying books, catalogues, and on internet sites. Many fly patterns are variants of older patterns. Case-in-point, the Royal Wulff and Wulff dry fly patterns developed by Lee Wulff in the 1930’s were based on the Royal Coachman first tied by John Haily in 1878. This is only one of many examples in which a classic fly pattern was modified to enhance its appearance and fish-catching ability. A review of the history of the development of new fly patterns is almost spell-binding to those engrossed in the construction and use of artificial flies.
Beginning in January and continuing through the year, our PVFF tying classes will include the use of alternative materials in tying variant fly patterns to represent classic terrestrial, streamer, wet fly, dry fly, nymphs, annelids, crayfish, etc. Join us at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, when our beginner class will tie the March Brown spider, a variant of the classic (Frank) Sawyer pheasant-tail nymph. Our Beginner’s class is held in room 207 at Trinity United Methodist Church, West Patrick Street in Frederick.
As always, we welcome club members who have never tied an artificial fly to join our class. Materials for the fly pattern of the month are provided to all who attend. Vises and tying equipment can be loaned to those who need them. Kindly let us also know (dfine1443@gmail.com) if you will require a vise and tools for the tying session.
By Don Fine
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