Best flies for beginner tyers

[Miles]

Hello tyers! 

We are rebooting our beginner's table starting in January, and want to offer more or less a schedule for what we'll teach. 

We want 6-12 patterns that are our 'standards' covering a variety of fly types, fish species, and materials and techniques. We want stuff that's easy to learn to tie, but not too repetitive or boring. 

What do you think should be on the list? 

thanks,

Miles & Casey 

[Alex Hume]

One vote for the black ant. Thanks for doing this! 

Alex C. Hume
achu...@gmail.com
(703) 864-7372

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[Catherine Peltier]

Oh, goody! Ants is simple and  very effective, big or small.

When I used to tie ants at the TU TIC releases, I would introduce the concept of eating ants. (They taste lemony.) The girls would go catch big ones in the grass and chow down. The boys not so much!

Casey Peltier

FV-502

703-819-5733

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[Scott Diaz]

Walt's Worm

Rainbow Warrior. 

Wolly Bugger

[Catherine Peltier]

Scott,

For years I've used Walt's Worm to teach dubbing and weighting. Good choice!

C

Casey Peltier

FV-502

703-819-5733

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/CAApPaiyDhpzkhuYn%2BdB0qraKg01dcbiAqkiF9aht4Si%2Bo4mwmg%40mail.gmail.com.

[namfos]

Crackleback

Griffiths Gnat

Soft Hackle (Partridge & Orange, Pheasant Tail, etc)

Clouser Minnow

Gurgler

Zonker  

[Greg Feder]

Slumpbusters 

Cheers, 

-- Greg

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 8, 2026, at 3:41 PM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Crackleback

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[Misha Gill]

Seconding:

Walts worm (easy upgrade to hares ear nymph)

Ant

Woolly bugger

Clouser minnows

Soft hackles 

Suggestions:

San Juan Worm 

Green Weenie 

Egg pattern

Pheasant tail nymph

Bluegill bully

SJW and GW are boring but super easy and perfect for true beginners.

Michael "Misha" Gill

@DistrictFlyFishing (Instagram)

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[Lane Thurgood]

Green weenie is a gotta have and even better tied in pink.

I always teach foam beetles and foam ants to scout groups. Simple and effective. And a foam beetle is a good forerunner to the gurgler mentioned above.

[Catherine Peltier]

I like them all! Thanks for the input!

Casey Peltier

FV-502

703-819-5733

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[Jim W]

FFI has a good guide for beginning fly tying. Might be able to find good options in that guide and information that folks can use between the monthly meetings.

Thanks

JIm

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[Catherine Peltier]

Jim,

thanks for the input! Our basic problem is too many flies to choose from, so we asked what folks fishing locally might suggest. Flies that are simple (we didn't say easy!), require just a few materials, and effective are the goals.

And given the conditions in the teaching space, simplicity of construction is also a good parameter.

Do you have a favorite?

C

Casey Peltier

FV-502

703-819-5733

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