The Flydressers Guild - Fly Tying at The Herts Branch
The Flydressers Guild Herts Branch (part of the Flydressers Guild main organisation) was formed over 42 years ago to further the interests of fly anglers who either tied, or were interested in fly tying / fly dressing and tying their own flies. Meetings are held twice monthly between September and June (see our current programme) at 8.00pm on the 2nd monday evening and 8.30pm on 3rd Monday evening at the Village Hall in Lemsford, nr Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Click here to view a map on streetmap.co.uk.
Our meetings include guest speakers and casting/flycasting clinics and demonstrations. Some of our speakers have included the late Peter Lapsley, Charles Jardine, Stoyan Filipov, Bob Church, Taff Price, Wendy Gibson, Roy Christie, and the late Steve Parton to name but a few. There is a Casting Clinic in June with Phil Barker & Roger Miles who will help with any casting problems you may have. See our current programme. As well as the regular monthly meetings, the Herts Branch undertakes an annual Branch Outing to fish a water. Typically, the fly tying class before the trip concentrates on fly patterns relevant to the time of year and the water that's being visited. Recent years have seen us fishing Ravensthorpe and Elinor fishery.
One of the Branch's popular winter meetings is a friendly competition called 'Tie Team' where novice tyers are teamed with an experienced tyer to produce a range of patterns.
Click here to see a map of the Herts Branch's Meeting venue.
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Fly Tying Classes
Fly tying classes start in October. The Novice's class follows the structure laid down in the FDG's Bronse Accreditation Course to allow for tyers to work towards this certification if they so wish, but is a broad-enough course to allow the learning of many basic patterns and techniques. Should a new novice tyer feel that these pattern & techniques are beyond their current tying level, then simplified tying techniques can be taught on a 1-2-1 basis.
If you are interested in joining the Novice's Fly Tying Class there is no need to wait until the new season, we can provide one-to-one teaching for those who need to start at the beginning or those who just need to catch-up with the rest of the class.
The Intermediate Class follows a series of patterns throughout the season as well as teaching more advanced techniques such as winging.
The Advanced Fly Tyers The patterns and techniques explored in this class are picked to stretch the abilities of the more advanced tyer.
The Fly Tying Classes are held throughout the year and are aimed at all levels of proficiency including those who have never tied before. For total novices, one-to-one tuition with members who are incredibly knowledgeable fly tyers can be given. It's not a difficult skill to learn, and given some practice, even those who have not attempted to tie flies before will find it relatively easy, and there is a great sense of satisfaction when a pattern that has been self-tied catches fish! As a novice tying for the first time, all materials and tools can be provided, so you don't have to invest before you find out if you like it or not! Please be advised that it is advisable to purchase at least some of the materials for these classes if you attend regularly. Fly tying classes start at 8.30pm and there is a £2 charge to members to attend each class.
We acknowledge that once someone has been tying for a while and is competent in the techniques required to tie a range of fly patterns, there may not be much incentive to attend the fly tying classes. For these members, we have an intermediate / advanced fly dressing class where techniques such as split wings, married wings and woven fly patterns are explored and often re-visited.
During the fly tying classes, a range of (mainly trout) fly patterns are tied, many of which are suitable for many waters including the Midlands Reservoirs. See some of the fly patterns that have been tied here.
Newsletter of the Flydressers Guild Herts Branch
Each month the Herts Branch issues a newsletter, 'The Hackle'. Delivered either via email or post, it outlines the current month's meeting and has articles of interest on a variety of fly tying subjects including any fly patterns that were tied by a guest speaker. View a sample issue of 'The Hackle' (PDF) here (right-click (PC) or alt-click (Mac) to download direct to your computer).
Membership to the Flydressers Guild Herts Branch
Membership to the Herts Branch of the Flydressers Guild is £12 only, it is a condition of membership to also become a member of the Main Flydressers Guild £20 per year.
There is a Branch Meeting fee of £3 each month on the door for the first meeting of the month and a £2 fee for the Fly Tying Classes each month. If you are interested in fly dressing, learning to tie your own flies, or just for more information on membership to the Flydressers Guild Herts Branch, contact the Membership Secretary, hertsfdgmembership@gmail.com or you can download a Membership Enquiry Form (PDF) here (right-click (PC) or alt-click (Mac), or use our online enquiry form.
You are more than welcome to attend one of our meetings before you decide if you want to join the Flydressers Guild. Meetings start at 8pm. For more details contact the Membership Secretary or the Chairman. Herts Flydressers Guid Contact details here.
Following the generous example set by Verulam Angling Club in offering free membership of their club to the personnel of our local regiment, The Royal Anglian Regiment, who draw the majority of their recruits from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and the whole of East Anglia, and who are at present on active duty in Afghanistan, your Committee has contacted the regiment, with a view to offering them the same facility.
Captain Kevin Main, the Unit Welfare Officer, was contacted explaining who we are and what we do and offered free membership of the Branch to any personnel who would like to come along, as a small expression of our gratitude and support for the amazing sacrifices they make on our behalf. Captain Main explained that after injury or trauma, a long period of rehabilitation is sometimes required which can be tedious and very boring and that even in ordinary rest and relaxation periods something that helps the troops to focus on something completely different can be very useful.
He was very grateful for our thoughts and the offer and as soon as their present tour of duty is complete he will advise them of the opportunity and put anyone who is interested in touch with us. I am sure that you will extend the usual warm branch welcome to them should they wish to come along.