Scouts fly tying classes - Chosing the pattern

Hello again fly fishing gang.
I have picked up so many really good tips, how to and advice from this
group and the bass fishing group by reading through posts, following
links etc.. I really wanted to come back again when it was time for
me to get some more opinions.

I have gotten pretty good at tying quite a number of patterns, and
lately have really grown to enjoy tying wire tandem flies. I also
think I now have got a good handle on keeping my streamers upright and
all.... Thanks again, I am now looking much more closely to my knots.

I am going to get together with the local scout group and do a fly
tying 101. The problem I am having is which pattern to have the scouts
try for a starter pattern. Everyone seems to go for the ever present
woolly bugger.
I will probably graze this pattern, but I would like to go for
something equally as effective, and as easy to learn, but a different
than the norm.

Any suggestions? I think I might go with a simple bucktail streamer,
but would like to mix it up with some different patterns, maybe a
nymph and an easy dry. I want to be able to offer the scout tying
kits, or figure out how to raise a little cash to donate some kits.
So material cost for the patterns I choose is an issue. Anyone can
just throw chenile, herl, and a few feathers in a kit, but I want to
put together kits with materials that the scouts will be seeing in the
101 or demonstration.

Lloyd M
The Fishin' Hole
http://www.mainetackle.com

On Nov 28, 1:33 pm, Sprattoo wrote:
Any suggestions? I think I might go with a simple bucktail streamer,

The Black-nosed Dace is another good (and oft recommended) beginner
pattern. If they're up to smaller stuff, the GRHE is easy enough.

Joe F.

On Nov 28, 10:33 am, Sprattoo wrote:
Hello again fly fishing gang.
I have picked up so many really good tips, how to and advice from this
group and the bass fishing group by reading through posts, following
links etc.. I really wanted to come back again when it was time for
me to get some more opinions.

I have gotten pretty good at tying quite a number of patterns, and
lately have really grown to enjoy tying wire tandem flies. I also
think I now have got a good handle on keeping my streamers upright and
all.... Thanks again, I am now looking much more closely to my knots.

I am going to get together with the local scout group and do a fly
tying 101. The problem I am having is which pattern to have the scouts
try for a starter pattern. Everyone seems to go for the ever present
woolly bugger.
I will probably graze this pattern, but I would like to go for
something equally as effective, and as easy to learn, but a different
than the norm.

Any suggestions? I think I might go with a simple bucktail streamer,
but would like to mix it up with some different patterns, maybe a
nymph and an easy dry. I want to be able to offer the scout tying
kits, or figure out how to raise a little cash to donate some kits.
So material cost for the patterns I choose is an issue. Anyone can
just throw chenile, herl, and a few feathers in a kit, but I want to
put together kits with materials that the scouts will be seeing in the
101 or demonstration.

Lloyd M
The Fishin' Holehttp://www.mainetackle.com

I would suggest starting with the biggest hook you can find. I did
the Boy Scout thing and started with an 8/0 or so "Shark Hook" i
bought at the local marine supply place. You can show them the
wraping techniques and how to wind turkey feathers etc on a hook.
They have better eyesight than you will do the small things OK once
they know what to do.

"Sprattoo" wrote in message
...

Any suggestions? I think I might go with a simple bucktail streamer,
but would like to mix it up with some different patterns, maybe a
nymph and an easy dry. I want to be able to offer the scout tying
kits, or figure out how to raise a little cash to donate some kits.
So material cost for the patterns I choose is an issue. Anyone can
just throw chenile, herl, and a few feathers in a kit, but I want to
put together kits with materials that the scouts will be seeing in the
101 or demonstration.

You might have them tie a Renegade. Decent wet or dry and will give them
some exposure to wrapping tinsel, peacock hearl and hackle. If you choose
this fly, wrap the hearl around the tying thread to strengthen the wrap.
Makes for a much more durable fly.

JT

On Nov 28, 2:14 pm, "JT" wrote:
"Sprattoo" wrote in message

...



Any suggestions? I think I might go with a simple bucktail streamer,
but would like to mix it up with some different patterns, maybe a
nymph and an easy dry. I want to be able to offer the scout tying
kits, or figure out how to raise a little cash to donate some kits.
So material cost for the patterns I choose is an issue. Anyone can
just throw chenile, herl, and a few feathers in a kit, but I want to
put together kits with materials that the scouts will be seeing in the
101 or demonstration.

You might have them tie a Renegade. Decent wet or dry and will give them
some exposure to wrapping tinsel, peacock hearl and hackle. If you choose
this fly, wrap the hearl around the tying thread to strengthen the wrap.
Makes for a much more durable fly.

JT

We have always began our tying classes with either the Wooly Worm or
Wooly Bugger. The pattern is so easy to tie that it pretty much
guarantees success, which is important with beginners. Remember, most
of these kids will need instruction on how to start the thread on the
hook, so don't get too fancy.

If you don't have access to a video camera and projector, then the
suggestion that you use a very large hook for demonstration purposes
is a good one, and don't start the kids with anything smaller than a
#8. Also, use the strongest thread you have available, as broken
thread will be your biggest problem.

"Sprattoo" wrote in message
...

Any suggestions?...

Pass Lake:

http://www.gula.org/roffswaps/recipe...e=FS2000&id=14

Relatively easy to tie, while offering a variety of techniques and
materials, extremely durable, works wet or dry (pretty much at its own
discretion), highly visible.....and VERY effective.

And it comes with a photo and complete tying instructions! Huzzah!

Wolfgang

On 28 Nov, 19:33, Sprattoo wrote:

Best to start with a few simple techniques. If you have access to
internet video, then these are useful for beginners;

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1470

I usually start beginners with a simple hackle pattern on a size 8
hook, and move on from there. For complete beginners, I think a woolly
bugger is too complicated, and introduces too many techniques at once.

TL
MC

On Nov 28, 3:27 pm, Mike wrote:
For complete beginners, I think a woolly
bugger is too complicated, and introduces too many techniques at once.

I still remember being a newbie, and the wooly bugger definitely had a
great "gee whiz"-to-difficulty ratio. It's only three materials, so
you learn to tie stuff in order as well as three simple techniques;
and it's a pretty cool result that even a bad one can catch fish.
It's the kind of fly that will give you the confidence that maybe you
*can* get the hang of this fly tying stuff. I don't know about kids
at scouting age; but as an adult newbie, I thought it was an easy
first fly.

Joe F.

On 28 Nov, 22:05, rb608 wrote:

I don't know about kids
at scouting age; but as an adult newbie, I thought it was an easy
first fly.

Joe F.

This is often cited as a good beginner fly, but in my experience it
most definitely is not.

There are a lot more than three techniques involved.

Start the thread, wind the thread evenly to the tie-in point, tie the
ribbing in properly, tie the tail in, pinch and loop, strip the
chenille to the core, tie it in, wind it on, changing hands,
( assuming non-rotary), using hackle pliers, tying hackle in,
palmering hackle, ribbing hackle, whip finishing.

This also ignores the material preparation, selecting hackle,
stripping fluff from base, and the various reasons for doing some
things in a certain way.

TL
MC

Oh, and it is five materials! Thread, ribbing wire, marabou tail,
chenille body, hackle.

A simple hackle pattern only has two.

Second lesson, hackle pattern with a rib

Third lesson, hackled with tail and rib

Fourth lesson, tail, rib, and palmered hackle.

Things like using wire, tensioning materials and thread also have to
be learned before one can tie an even half way presentable Woolly
Bugger. Whip finishing and other things too.

The main problem for newbies is working on such a small scale, and
coordinating hand and eye. This is best learned in small cumulative
steps. Trying to do it all at once is doomed to failure, and causes
disappointment and frustration.

TL
MC