Flyology 101

[SoMuchWater]

Flyology 101, sorry this isn't where your going to find anything about the the latest rap or hip hop album by anyone. We're talking fly tying here.

more specifically the science of fly design.

But the first thing I want to get out of the way though is that you have to decide which camp your going to pitch your tent in. There are two basic sites. The one that says there are no new patterns only reproductions of the same old thing with updated materials. Yes a woolly Bugger is a Woolly Bugger is a Woolly Bugger no matter what you use to replace the hackle, true enough. But to think that there is nothing new to be discovered. To that I call Bullshit! That's like saying there are no new paintings because there all just paint on canvas. Setup camp here you may become very proficient at tying Woolly Buggers and become little bored.

The other camp considers that not even the hook is a common denominate any longer. Tube flies arguably use no hook in the design of the pattern. A stretch to make that statement because a hook is after all still ultimately required to catch the fish, well maybe that statement is a stretch, but so what. We're tying flies here not calculating a trajectory for a Mars mission launch. This is the camp where catching fish really is second to being at some of the most beautiful places in the world. Fly fishing is just fun and I'll never consider it a sport. Sure I want to become better at it. Ty a better fly, catch a bigger fish. But my competition is with the elements and the fish not the other guy or gal from any camp.

You don't have to choose your site but know eventually it will more than likely choose you if you continue to ty.

Click Here to read the full story

Then come back here to say:

What is your favorite pattern type to fish?

What is your favorite pattern?

What do you catch with it?

[jdmidwest]

I have been tying flies for over 30 years now. There have been many great patterns designed. Try looking at Mary Orvis book and see if anything today resembles what it did back in the 1800's. Look at the old Catskill flies and see how simple they were.

Turn of the century flies were streamers, dries, wet flies, and full dress salmon. Nymphs did not even come about till later. Who even tyed a saltwater pattern then?

New materials spawn new designs, that is the great thing about evolution.

[SoMuchWater]

I have been tying flies for over 30 years now. There have been many great patterns designed. Try looking at Mary Orvis book and see if anything today resembles what it did back in the 1800's. Look at the old Catskill flies and see how simple they were.

Turn of the century flies were streamers, dries, wet flies, and full dress salmon. Nymphs did not even come about till later. Who even tyed a saltwater pattern then?

New materials spawn new designs, that is the great thing about evolution.

I'll have to look at that book thanks for the info!

I enjoy finding materials not intended for fly tying and finding new uses for them.

Thanks for taking a look