My first ties

Can't get the photos to show so I included the links

Thanks for posting the pics, I have now read the tutorial and know how to do it in the future.

Clint:  If these are some of your first 20 flies, you should be proud--my first ones didn't look nearly that good.  I'd go lighter on the maribou on the tails--sometimes less is better, though some may disagree.  Sometimes a lighter dressed fly will have more action in the water as the material can move and undulate more.  One of the hardest things to learn is the proportion of flies--how big the tail, body, thorax and head should be.  It takes some practice and an "eye" to get it right.  I've been tying many years, though not a great deal lately and I still have trouble getting the proportions right.  Those flies will catch fish--enjoy.  You will find that fly tying can become an obsession but will add much to your enjoyment of the sport.  

hey clint there is no doubt in my mind that those flies will catch fish... as said by others the tails are a little bulky; and yes, with maribou they will get quite clumpy when wet; keep up the good work though...

Clint,
as said that is a great beginning.. keep at it but take it slow at first trying not to just put out as many as you can... those flies you came up with are awesome for your first ones and fish them well.
EagleCrg is correct , proportion is a big part and gave some good tips..

when I first started everything was from a book or trial by fire.. It was tough for me to learn with out seeing so I went to the video store and rented all the VHS vids I could find..
Now there are many tying clubs and on line videos that help with the showing..

If your looking to fish for Great Lakes fish then a few simple basic ones are:
Estaz egg : they are just a few wraps and done
Sucker Spawn : great trout fly, one material and you just loop the yarn on
Single egg: again one material needed, just wrap chenille in a tight ball & tie off

now obviously these are basic and you will get bored with those but they really catch trout (steelhead-browns) well at this time of year and last night I milled out about 6 dozen.

Keep at it and have fun doing so..
Great Job !!

Thanks guys.  can't wait to actually catch a fish.  If it stops raining I am going up today if not I have Wed -tues off next week.  I am also thinking of using some of theses with variations for walleye fishing in the summer. The next ones I am going to try are the egg patterns.  I am going ask Santa for some better materials as now I have one $2 bobbin and a pair of vice grips and a clamp to hold the hooks.  I am also going to the "gulp"  craft shop to see if there are things there I can uses that cost less than Gander Mountain   or the shops up in Pulaski.
Clint

Clint, one thing I just discovered tonight is it's HELL to get old(er).. I wanted to tie up some naturals and experiment this year using hair wings and traditional steelhead flies..
I havent had to tie any naturals or intricate flies since last season and man my eyesight went down hill in the last year..
Noticed it coming on as just threading the tippet through hook eye was becoming difficult but tonight I struggled to tie up 2 hair wings.. I mean I just can't see when it came to adding lots of various materials..

Hate to admit it but I really need to get some glasses & not rose colored ones, altho John Lennon sure looked cool wearing them .. lol..

If your young, cherish the little things and live life to the fullest..

well here is the fly which was giving me a fit to tie.. I received one a year or 2 ago in a swap and it was killer for chrome, until I lost it.. Have no idea of the name but I just liked the heck out of the style .. I'm thinking more of these and other traditional will be in my box this year, as long as I can see to tie the darn things..lol