Things I wish I knew before starting Fly Tying

Chris Niccolls from Bow River Troutfitters gives you a beginners guide to the common pitfalls you'll encounter tying flies. This is part 1 of our series because there are many tips and tricks to improve the fly tying experience. Subscribe so that you don't miss part 2, and check out bowrivertroutf... for all your tying materials.

[@newhampshireoutdoornetwork9505]

When i started tying 25ish years ago i had a problem crowding the eye, but I learned to section off my hook and tie it in the right proportion. If you see a fly you want to tie, buy one and use it to help you tie the fly you want to tie the right way until you learn how not to crowd the eye and proportion it right. When I started tying there was no youtube to help. We don't have many fly shops in my area and we never have had many . Luckily I was introduced to tying by an older guy that lived down the road from where I grew up. He taught me all sorts of tips and tricks.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Thanks for sharing your story! Learning the proper proportions of flies is one of the hardest but also most necessary parts of learning to tie flies.

[@philipdennis-rh7uj]

Good job. Its summer of 2024 and suddenly fly fishing is on the uptick. Myself have rejoined the fray and tieing is part of it. I had forgotten the fun it is. Thats why i used to fish...to have fun. Tieing? Completely satisfied every time i try and do. Every point you made is a truth that i have experienced. Thanks!

[@TedJ71]

I have about 40 yr of fly tying materials collected ! The countless hours of enjoyment it gave me is priceless imo . I never looked at it as saving money from buying flies. The amount of hours I spent playing with different materials , developing new tying methods and new flies is what it’s all about. Over the years for every one fly I developed that turned out to be a killer pattern there were a lot more that weren’t ! To me that’s what makes it fun. My learning was all before the internet and KZbin videos. Trial n error. Today however I can see any fly that catches my eye and tie it pretty much without having to run to a fly shop for those materials! lol

[@jakeroth3879]

Also, because tying is expensive, support your local fly shop and try to get your materials from them instead of going on line. You’ll make friends and you’ll have a place to take your flies and questions if you need help.

[@richardzacamy4605]

I'm just starting to learn how to tie my own flies. I'm part of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, it's for disabled veterans, I'm learning a lot from them.

[@alecmckelvey4425]

Great information! I'm just starting my fly tying adventure. I inherited my father's collection, which has flies that my grandfather tied in the 1930's. Can't wait for the next installment.

[@MB-ne8pq]

Nice video. Everything you say is true, helpful to beginners, and delivered in a pleasant manner 👍

[@michaelburk9171]

Thanks for the great advice. Tying can be part of fly fishing. But it can also be seen as a separate hobby. And hobbies tend to cost money, not save it. I started tying during the pandemic shut down and went as simple and cheap as possible just to see how I'd do. I practiced techniques with sewing thread, yarn, feathers I found in duck ponds, Christmas tinsel, and unraveled craft twine. I made my own bobbin and used a pair of vise grips as my tying vice. I cut materials off lots of hooks and started over till I like the results. And I tied, or tried to tie, every pattern I could think of. From trout to tarpon. I found i really enjoyed tying and started getting legit tools and materials. And like you pointed out, knowing what you need and don't need is helpful when you go in to a fly shop. Don't know if this approach would work for others. Not a huge list but so far I've caught sun fish, and large and small mouth bass on the flies I've made.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

I made a fly from a hairball of my parents' cat two seasons ago. That "cat bugger" caught a handful of nice trout before I lost it.. I already had plenty of material to tie with, but I wanted to prove to a friend that you can put anything on a hook and catch fish. Also, what appeals to the fisher doesn't always appeal to the fish. Sparse and ugly often work better than anything! lol. It's cool you found this new interest during the apocalypse.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

It's the best decision ever! Easily worth the time, money, and any frustration you have along the way. You will learn and you will love fly-fishing even more.

[@danbolton3180]

In the late 1980's I wanted to get some caddis fly larvae flies for summer steelhead. When I went to the local fly shoppe the store owner talked me into taking a class and buying a few beginner tools and an inexpensive vise. Roll forward two years I was tying daily, buying nicer equipment, and started a business tying flies. Truthfully I could never get the costs down to compete against the ladies of Taiwan. I eventually turned those fly patterns into earrings and stick pins, all the while draining my bank account. One fateful day I stopped tying, took a paying job, and never looked back. It was fun, but for all the money I spent on equipment and tools could have bought a lot of life's necessities, and a few nice flies.

[@cougmantx]

So I always enjoy your reviews on DPReviewTV but now, you're talking about the second greatest things in the world. Fly tying and fly fishing. Bravo

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

We're glad to see you here as well on this channel. Might have to disagree with which is better though. Fishing or Photography.

[@cougmantx]

​@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary, I can understand that; it's a close call. 🙂

[@interestingsociety]

Hi mate thanks for the video, as a beginner in fly tying, I'd like to see a video regarding the basics of "MUST HAVE" materials you should be have in your fly-box getting started in the game of fly-tying. That would be amazing, and i think it would help people out. As i feel like i am not the only one that has purchased some materials after watching tying videos and then not really sure how to incorporate that into something else and somewhat regretting spending that money when if i had more knowledge, i could have spent it on something more universal. Just a thought. Nice vid.

[@TheRolfenize]

Hi Chris, what a surprise to find you whilst searching for fly tying(and not cameras😉)! Well, atleast to me. Always a joy watching your videos! Thank you

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate it.

[@marks.5288]

All very good subjects were mentioned here for starting out.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

things I wish I knew, 1st how to properly put a hook in my renzetti vice, what is too tight, and what is too loose. 2nd how to find cheaper materials, 3rd how to organize things so they dont end up all over the place.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Some great tips there, some made me giggle as I thought of the piles of unused materials and flies that didn't work. The greatest tip though is the one about the thread. 8/0 uni will make you cry every time you hit the point of the hook. I haven't used Nano Silk yet, will give that a try but Veevus GSP in 50d and 100d feels like it changed my life. You can just about tow a car with the stuff and it hardly builds up excesss body. Sounds like Nano Silk is the same. Makes a huge difference on small flies. Thanks for sharing.

[@mikekuczynski1552]

I’ve been tying 30+ years and find it very satisfying to catch fish on flies I’ve tied . Tying is not just about tying it’s about being creative and it gives you a better understanding of the insects and other food’s fish feed on . Unfortunately it also turns into an addiction you tie nymph’s, dries , emerges , cripples, bait fish , trout Spey soft hackles, intruders and the list goes on and then you get to salt water , crabs , shrimp and all the rest and the next thing you know you have a room dedicated to tying with closets full of all your materials not to mention fly boxes full of flies . My wife asked me once , since you tie thousands of flies what do you think it actually costs you per fly ? Ya know I had to think about it , and to my chagrin I figured about $300 per fly . Oh well enough of that , I have to run to the fly shop and pick up some lady Amherst and Jungle cock . Thanks for the video and remember to support your local fly shops .

[@scottmacdonald9269]

Well done with the video.

[@coasterbrookie]

Excellent tips! I’ve fallen into the black hole regarding materials. Being organized and knowing your inventory WILL save you a bunch of cash!

[@scottsoucy6186]

I haven't tied flies in years, but I do plan on getting back into it as I get closer to retirement age. The last time my basement flooded I lost all of my hooks and threads, as well as a fair amount of materials. I haven't had the extra money, or time, to replace the lost items. At the time I was amassing my collection I was employed in the retail fishing industry, but now that I work elsewhere the hooks I prefer ( Tiemco, Partridge and Daiichi) have gotten quite expensive. I probably lost about $1,000 worth of hooks and threads in that flooding.

[@markt5450]

Spot on brother!

[@namicus]

I'm sure you'll cover it but I'd like suggestions on the best barbless hooks, beads and uv resin-related materials we should consider. Also desk lamp/magnifyers. Great video!

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Thanks for the input! We will definitely focus more on specific gear issues for Part 2. Appreciate it!

[@niccollsvideo]

As far as what I personally like to use, I use a lot of Ahrex hooks for my own fishing, and when we tie flies for the channel. They have barbless hooks but with longer points so they hold fish well. As far as beads go, as long as they are tungsten. By far my personal favorite UV finish is Solarez Bone Dry. No stickiness at all.

[@chili1593]

This is super helpful. Thank you!

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Glad it was helpful! Stay tuned for part 2.

[@flytyingtex]

Great advice in this vid.

[@FD-dh2fu]

Great info. Thank you.

[@rattapan9552]

I love this guy

[@GregariousAntithesis]

This should have been the very first thing said. Pick 2 or 3 patterns you like and fish and learn to tie those first and just buy the materials for those specific flies. It will save you a tremendous amount of money and confusion and unless they are crazy intricate patterns you will get better with flies you already fish and so losing them wont matter as much.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

That's a very good piece of advice! Sticking to a few solid patterns and really learning how to tie them well is a great way to improve your skills.

[@skypieper]

Good stuff. I started tying a few months back. Had a feeling my bobbin was sh!t.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

We've all been there! Upgrade it as soon as you can, and you'll spare yourself some frustration.

[@skypieper]

Finally got a new bobbin and wow what a difference.

[@TedJ71]

Use the cheap bobbin for wire or lead ! Works great

[@mediumdun18]

Thanks.....Would love to know what camera gear you usually have in your bag streamside.🙂

[@niccollsvideo]

We like the Olympus EM1mk3 and OM1 from OMSystem. They don't need tripods in many situations, are very rugged, and have built in functions to do motion blurred rivers and waterfalls. We pair them with Olympus 12-100 f4 lenses, which are versatile and sealed.

[@mediumdun18]

@@niccollsvideo thx chris

[@dennisgrocholski4190]

I am a commercial tyer. Well said and well done.

[@jeroenschoondergang5923]

So weird to see your face there, as I follow the Dpreview podcast.. Funny how KZbin works.. Keep up the good work!

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Glad you can join us on both platfroms!

[@chili1593]

Great tips thanks

[@pattenonlife483]

Can we talk about waders? Boots and this kind of gear? I’d love a deep dive into it

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

This is a very good topic for a deep dive. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@MichaelGile19]

I agree on all accounts

[@paulmeyers6569]

This video is too late for me. I have made every one of those mistakes and it’s way cheaper to buy at the fly shop,but way more fun fishing the flies that you make. I also really enjoy giving away flies to friends and strangers. I’m elderly and sometimes ask for help, then they definitely get streamers.

[@davidmercer1246]

Please cover vises, scissors and the differences in dubbing.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Definitely! Dubbing alone is a topic with much to explain. Thanks for the feedback, and stay tune for part 2.

[@jdoza5184]

Tying for 35 years, respectfully my tips are (1) try to find a tying partner who will share the cost of materials, you’ll save a lot of money and not accumulate materials that you’ll never use up. For example, good necks are about $120 I have at least 15-16 none are close to being used up. On that note find a flyfishing club you can donate excess material to someone will greatly appreciate it. 2) use what you have. you don’t need a the latest and greatest pair of scissors, bobbins etc every other year. (3) I live in Ca. and I purchase 99 % of all my gear and fly tying materials from out of state fly shops because I fish in the Rockies, Mt.,Co,Ut, Wy NM, and Idaho so I choose to support shops in those states. Occasionally, If I’m passing thru a city in Ca. (2 that I know of) that has a fly shop I’ll stop in and buy a few hooks,beads things like that to show some support. Thanks for the video.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Certainly good points!

[@thefella131]

The best advice i can give anyone bying thread is dont spend £10 on two rolls of UTC thread and buy it off Temu instead . Its called Royal Sissi and its £3 for two rolls and jist as good as Utc.

[@fusionstar916]

I spent over $800 on fly tying tools and materials. I've tied a dozen deceivers that look like ass that I could have just bought for 30 bucks. 😂😂

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Sounds like most of us! Anyone who says you get into fly tying to save money is lying.

[@glennplatvoet7111]

I just couldn't leave you at 666 just remember kids big fish eat big fly's they'll also eat everything else

[@JordaneWilson]

Make sure you sell plenty of nano silk. It will dull scissors quickly. Great way to sell a lot of overpriced scissors. 😂😅

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Use a cheap spare pair or a razor blade. Not a big deal.

[@TieitAndFlyit]

“i’m gonna save money” haha exactly, Nope

[@jimmynoname4089]

Don’t take offense to this, but you look like the kid from Six Sense movie… lol