FlyGuy's Individual Fly-Tying Lessons

Last Update: 25-apr-07

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Fly-Tying Lessons

I have been tying artificial fishing flies for three-decades and professionally for the last 15 years. In 2005 I was selected the first Official Fly-Tier for Fly-Fishing TeamUSA. I pride myself in my ability to tie clean, accurate and well-proportioned flies as well as my ability to teach those same skills. I am pleased to offer high- quality, individual fly-tying lessons to customers in the surrounding Syracuse, New York area.

I provide intensive individual fly-tying lessons for the serious tying student. Lessons are held in my house in Liverpool, NY, at my bench, with me tying by your side. This is simply the best way to learn how to tie flies.

Each session will introduce new skills and reinforce prior skills. All you need to bring are your tools, I will supply all hooks and materials for each session.

You will be assigned "homework" between each session. This serves three purposes:

It forces you to practice.
You will be responsible for obtaining the necessary supplies thereby building a useful bank of materials.
It provides finished products that I can evaluate, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses

My schedule is flexible in the truest sense. Please EMAIL ME or call (315) 652-3740 for more information on the courses.

Course Outlines

Basic Fly-Tying ($285)

8-sessions; allow 2-hours per session

Basic Skills: Black/Olive Woollybugger (2 methods)

Jam Knot
Hooks
Proportions
Palmering
Reverse Palmering
Ribbing
Hand Whip-Finish

Nymphs: Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear and American Pheasant-Tail

Proportions
Coarse Dubbing
Fiber Bodies
Wing cases
Teasing

Wet Flies: Leadwing Coachman and Quill Gordon Wet

Proportions
Peacock Techniques
Hackle Collars
Quill and Fiber Wings

Traditional Dry Flies: March Brown and Sulphur (PED) Dry Fly

Proportions
Sparse Dubbing
Upright/Divided Wings (fiber and hackle tip)
Hackle Collars (2 techniques)

Hair wing Dry Flies: Royal Wulff

Proportions
Floss
Hair wings

No-Hackle Dry Flies: Isonychia and Blue-Winged Olive Comparaduns

Proportions
Comparadun style hair wings
Outrigger Tails

Spinners: Coffin Fly (2 methods) and Rusty Spinner

Proportions
Clipped Hackle spent wings
Deer Hair spent wings
Poly Yarn spent wings

Terrestrials: Fur Ant and Foam Hopper

Proportions
Rubber Hackle
Foam

Advanced Fly-Tying ($285)

8-sessions; allow 2-hours per session

Clouser Deep Minnow and Black-Nosed Dace

Deer Hair wings
Proportions
Lead Eyes

Woven Stonefly Nymph

Proportions
Shuttle Weave

Woven Polish Nymph

Lead Form
Shuttle Weave with Rib
Split Thread Dubbing Loop

Humpy

Black Shenk’s Sculpin

Hair Collar
Clipped Deer Hair Head

Muddler Minnow

Parachute Adams and Parachute Caddis

Hair Hackle

Black Ghost Streamer

Feather wing streamers

Upon request, I can tailor the above outlines to reflect localized patterns, or specific patterns, provided they achieve the desired goals for the session.

Custom Sessions ( $35/hour)

Feel free to pick from any of the above sessions (based on your skill level) OR inquire about a specific skill or pattern.

Note: I do not teach skills for Atlantic Salmon or exclusive Saltwater patterns.

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