Tie a fly when the snow flies

Joel Evans

About Trout

MONTROSE -- After having participated in a hobby or sport for awhile, we become interested in other aspects of the hobby. A car collector is no longer satisfied with owning a classic car, but now wants to restore one. A sportsman seemingly content to own and train a great bird dog, suddenly wants to breed and raise dogs.

Another natural progression is to start making, instead of buying, some of the equipment one uses. At first we might be motivated by an attempt to save money or maybe in our imaginations even make some money. But truthfully, our efforts can cost more than just buying the stuff in the first place.

So we turn to other rationalizations, like “it’s a good winter activity” or “well, even if I don’t save any money, I will a least have a better quality item.” My favorite self-imposed philosophy is, “the pride in having made it myself.” Well, if you are like me, I neither need something to do for “doing’s” sake, nor do my creations rival the quality of purchased equipment. While there is some truth in each of these rationalizations, the real reason is because it’s just plain fun!

Fishing is no different. It’s a natural progression for a fisherman to think about making some of his own equipment. Building a rod for example. Or maybe making the lures and spinners we fish with. For me, it was learning to tie flies.

Now I’m not one of those guys that ties for tying sake. Catching fish is still the primary objective. So, although I didn’t realize it when I first stared learning to tie flies, the best reason to learn is that tying actually improves your fishing.

Trout activity is motivated primarily by two factors — temperature changes and the search for food. Almost sneakily, as one learns tying, one also learns about the kinds of insects that trout feed on, where these insects can be found, their various colors, shapes, sizes forms and the various stages of their life cycles. And it is not just insects we imitate, but other trout food such as small fry fish themselves. Understanding what trout are eating, or likely to strike at, will increase the catch.

Don’t let the seeming difficulty dissuade you from getting started. Fishing and fly tying are like most of our minor obsessions, in that one can indeed buy and buy and buy and still not have it all. So think simple at first.

A minimum tool assortment includes a vise, scissors, bobbin, a bobbin threader, and a bodkin. As with any hobby, there are many specialty tools that can be added to your collection as needed. You can buy these tools in a kit or individually. As to quality, you very much get what you pay for.

A vise is the largest and most expensive tool you need, available in cheap to expensive. For the occasional tyer, the less expensive models are adequate. You can always get a better one later if you find yourself engrossed in the hobby and tying non-stop.

Good scissors are critical. Cheap scissors will work, but if there is any one tool you might spend a little more on at first, then scissors should be it. In fact, you might even want two pairs. One better pair for 90 percent of your cutting, and a second pair for cutting heavier material and light wire, thus saving your better pair and keeping them sharp.

Scissors come in several different shapes, that is to say the shape of the handles themselves. They are of course available in the traditional configuration with two finger loops, but other handles may fit your fingers better, thus making them easier to use. If you have really big hands, your choice of scissors will be best determined by handling and trying several models first. Just make sure your fingers fit the handles and the loops.

A bobbin is a critical but inexpensive tool. The cheap ones will work, but your tying creations will be much more durable if you use a quality bobbin. The bobbin holds a spool of thread, guiding the thread into small and precise placements. Getting the thread placed right is often the key to durable and life-like flies. Tension by the bobbin on the spool must be just right so that you can concentrate on tying rather than unraveling thread.

Then how do you get started? I’m glad you asked.

Since those brook trout are buried in snow right now, this is a great time to visit your local store and try a tie. Over the next several Saturdays in January and February, Cimarron Creek will be hosting free fly tying demonstrations - a free lesson!

So what does it take to create such a concoction that a fish will actually believe is something to eat? Probably less than you think. Think simple at first, get some basic fly-tying tools and materials, and then use your own fly to catch a fish!