Fly Tying lessons/course/club

[robbie]

As a self taught and poor fly tyer, I would love to improve my techniques. What thoughts do others have on forming informal tying meetings for forum members within local geographical areas. This would also give forum members the opportunity to meet and greet other than on the riverbank
Robbie

[rpsalmon]

That meetings should have a focus and structure.

I say this because I have attended various Fly Dressers Guild meetings throughout the UK and found most people only turning up for the social side, because most meetings didn't have a structure or agenda they often ended up being nothing more than p*** ups.

The best run Guild I came across actually ended quite quickly because the chairman and myself wanted to take things seriously and some members didn't. We set out a programme where by the first part of the meeting involved a brief speech on the last type of fly (Say spey flies) discussed and members would produce their "homework" and ask questions to resolve problems or make suggestions about improving an element of the style. Practical demonstrations would work in with this. We would then move on to a chat about fishing these lures and then vote on which type of fly to tackle next (say summer tube flies). We would then tie such a pattern, discuss traditional and modern materials and members would tie and experiment with a version of their fly for the next meeting. This went on for about nine months but as soon as we got through the major types of flies, how to tie them etc, most of the members didn't need the guild/events because they pretty much knew it all....and simply stopped coming!

[robbie]

To be honest a 6-9 month steep learning curve would be fine for me however I think that the informal, social side is important as well. If the groups did just become a pub-time social then so be it, what a good way to get to know other forum members. I think that the Flydressers Guilds and that ilk are set up to be more serious affairs and I would attend those with that in mind, if they degenerated then I would simply not attend anymore

[Speyducer]

robbie said:

As a self taught and poor fly tyer, I would love to improve my techniques. What thoughts do others have on forming informal tying meetings for forum members within local geographical areas. This would also give forum members the opportunity to meet and greet other than on the riverbank
Robbie

I would be delighted to *arrange/host/prepare 'agenda'/attend (*select all or all that apply) a regular Fly Tying Club or Guild in the North of England (I'm based in Leeds), but further flung meetings could also be arranged with somewhat less frequency.

Any other offers of help or other input for such would be appreciated.

Mike

[robbie]

Well done Mike. lets see what response we get over the next day or two and see if sufficient interest is there for "regional" meet ups, or whether we will just have North and South etc.
Robbie

[ibrox]

Robbie/Mike

I'd be very interested in participating in fly-tying lessons, helping out with the basics and hopefully learn some new tricks myself ;D

Sounds a good idea, hope it takes off.

Mike

[robbie]

Thanks AA,
any one else interested?

[fenton]

Yes!

I think that this is an excellent idea, and I categorise myself alongside Robbie (although I'm probably displaying less modesty than he is!).

Our local pub would be a cracker to use as a venue (if a little far for some people), proper old traditional yorkshire pub, a games room with tables ideal for fly tying, good grub, ale and rooms to stay for folks from further away!


Having said that I'd make the effort to travel anywhere in the North east for a (close season) weekend of craic and tying,

cheers
F

[salmondan]

Excellent idea. I'm interested.

A few beers, a few flees, a bit of a chat about tying, fishing and so forth would be a great way to spend an evening/day/weekend. Maybe a tying demo/class could be organised. Most of us would probably learn something useful and if not, at least we could put some faces to the posts on the forum.

There should be enough of us in the "near enough" area to car share our way to an event like this, thus cutting the cost substantially. Somewhere in the area between Carlisle and Newcastle would be close enough for the Yorkshire/Lancashire peeps and the Borders/Dumfriesshire (even Ayrshire at a pinch) chappies.

Best Regards, Dan.

[billytheghillie]

Fenton, would my car be safe in car park of your local pub? I have just bought a new aerial! ;D ;D ;D

[hornet]

I did this for tying trout flies and had a superb time. It was organised for one night per week and ran 8 weeks before and after xmas. It drew around 12 boys each night and cost a fiver a night for the instructor.

We had a tying schedule of flies that included popular dries, wets, lures and some of our own creations. The list of materials were also drawn up for us to get.

Pity this is so far away as it is a cracking idea and well worth it. The best satisfaction i got from it was hooking a rainbow on my own flee ;D

Hornet

[robbie]

Hornet,
Dont let the distance put you off yet, Lets see how many people are up for it and maybe there can be more groups.

[rpsalmon]

Sorry, but am I missing something?

The medium of this internet forum already allows fly tying sessions to take place, no need to worry about everyone trying to meet at the same time and in the same place as each person can do it in their own time. Even fewer ozone/azone/bzone/czone/co 2 emissions/no room hire charges/petrol costs/don't have to travel etc etc etc

[robbie]

Dear RPS
Yes you are missing something - the opprtunity to interact/make friends, fish with, HAVE FUN, learn in a different way. If this is something that you would not like to be involved in then don,t. However I am sure you would be made welcome, I for one would be pleased of the opportunity to put faces to names, and to pick your brains over a beer, rather than a soul-less keyboard, where sadly the written word is lacking in idiom, depth and often inadvertantly causes offence. I would suggest I am not alone with the ideas of forum gatherings for whatever reason. As for carbon emmisions etc - you can always cycle there
ATB
Robbie

[Speyducer]

rpsalmon said:

Sorry, but am I missing something?

The medium of this internet forum already allows fly tying sessions to take place, no need to worry about everyone trying to meet at the same time and in the same place as each person can do it in their own time. Even fewer ozone/azone/bzone/czone/co 2 emissions/no room hire charges/petrol costs/don't have to travel etc etc etc

Hands on instruction & tips that don't easily travel over the 'net.

Mike

[acw]

rpsalmon said:

Sorry, but am I missing something?

The medium of this internet forum already allows fly tying sessions to take place, no need to worry about everyone trying to meet at the same time and in the same place as each person can do it in their own time. Even fewer ozone/azone/bzone/czone/co 2 emissions/no room hire charges/petrol costs/don't have to travel etc etc etc

The get togethers that happen thru the various forums (including my infamous grayling ,steak and wine bashes )tend to be great social events where sparring partners on the web find out that so and so is not a pompous a hole and is just a nother brother of the angle !
If I lived further north would be in for the meet myself

[salmonking]

A great idea esp,,,in the close season.

[juststartedagain]

I would be up for a Perthshire/Edinburgh or even London (where I am most of the week) group.

[robbie]

If I am not mistaken, that makes 3 people from Yorkshire, 2 from SW Scotland, 2 from the Borders and 1 from Central belt and 1 from the back of beyond! (Hornet). I would like to think that if we keep this thread alive, that by the "close season" we may have a few more people who may be interested.

[Speyducer]

Although during the season, step-by-step 'lessons' may be more practical, the added dimension of hands-on tying & instruction, face to face meeting (not to mention a swallie or three ), would seem to be the order of the day for the longer dark nights of the close season.

Mike