Saturday, May 9th, from 12:30-4:30ish at Fletcher Library, 823 North Buchanan St, Little Rock, AR. 72205
This item includes a drop down (under availability) with the ability to enroll or join a wait list once filled.
Regardless of where you are in your fly fishing experience, tying your own flies should be on your bucket list. There’s no greater pleasure in fly fishing than catching a fish on a fly you tied yourself. Tying a good-looking box of flies can look easy after watching experienced tyers do it on YouTube videos. However, after investing in a tying vise, a set of tools, and a few materials, many new tyers quickly become discouraged when they realize it’s not quite as easy as it looks.
Why is that?
Well, just like anything else in life worth doing, when you’re new at tying, you must first learn the basic skills of tying before you can tie quality, durable flies that consistently catch fish.
The AFF Basic Skills Class is designed to focus on the basic skills needed to be able to tie virtually any fly pattern you want. It’s been our experience over the years that when you’ve taken the time to master just a few basic techniques, you’re not constantly trying to figure out how to do this or that. You’ll get more enjoyment out of the time you spend tying, and you’ll also produce better quality flies, which will greatly enhance your enjoyment when you’re on the water.
What will you learn?
First things first, THE most important skill to master is thread control, so that’s where we’ll start. Thread is what holds the entire fly together. It’s both a material and a tool, and if you don’t have good basic thread control skills, it’s almost impossible to consistently tie good quality flies.
We’ll go over the different types of threads and thread bobbins. You’ll learn about different knots, proper tension, how to attach different materials to the hook in different ways, and how to manipulate the materials as they’re being attached to the hook.
Next, we’ll go into dubbing. Applying dubbing to the thread to form a fly body is one of those basic skills so many tyers never seem to get right, so we’ll go over the characteristics of different types of dubbing from synthetics to furs, and how to properly get them on the thread to wrap around the hook shank. It’s not as hard as it sometimes seems when you know the basic techniques.
Next, we’ll move on to feathers, showing you how to wrap hackle for dry flies, wet flies, streamers and nymphs. How you attach different hackles to the hook determines how well the fly will look and how effective it will be in the water.
Lastly, we’ll apply everything you’ve learned to tie a couple of fly patterns that you can fish with right away. You’ll be surprised how good yours will look when you’ve taken the time to learn the basics!
To ensure that everyone gets one-on-one, hands-on instruction, classes are limited to six participants. If you’re interested but don’t have your own vise and tools yet, no problem. We can furnish a vise and tools for you to use so you can get the feel of it before deciding if want to take the plunge and get into this very rewarding hobby.
The class will be held in Meeting Room B at the Fletcher Library, 823 North Buchanan St.
Little Rock, AR. 72205. It’s an excellent learning venue with a large TV screen so you can see what’s being tied on the vise ‘up close’ as it’s being taught. The class will start at 12:30 and go until around 4:30 or so, depending on how it goes.
A basic charge of $10 covers all the materials and hooks we’ll furnish for all the instructional exercises and the flies you’ll tie at the end to take home put in your box. If you’ve been wanting to get into tying, or improve your skills to tie better flies, this is your chance.
Since we’re limiting the class to six people, if you find the class is already filled, please sign up on the waiting list so we can schedule another class if there is enough interest.
If you’ve been wanting to get into tying, or improve your skills, this is your chance.
If you have any further questions about the class, feel free to reach out to me, Larry Maas., at calguy49@yahoo.com and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.