Please critique!

[RH1]

Im very new to fly tying and looking for all advice and constructive criticism!
I just tied this for panfish and want feedback. Please tell me what I did good and what I need to focus on getting better at.
My first thought is that I cut the legs to short? Fire away!!

 

[dudemanspecial]

Looks like a perfect panfish bug to me!

Can't tell for sure but looks like you crowded the eye a little. Common beginner mistake. Be sure to give plenty of room.

 

[RH1]

Looks like a perfect panfish bug to me!

Thanks.. im having a blast learning how to do this!

 

[Kms]

I can’t tell from the pictures, but would say be careful to avoid either obstructing or reducing the hook gap, because that can limit hookups.

 

[RH1]

I can’t tell from the pictures, but would say be careful to avoid either obstructing or reducing the hook gap, because that can limit hookups.

Great point, I didn't even take that into consideration.
I was so focused on making good ties

 

[jifigz]

That's a nice looking tie. Crowding the eye happens. It still gets me from time to time on certain patterns.

That'll catch lots of fish.

 

[gentleshepherd]

I have been known to crowd an eye, I was taught by an old timer that sometimes if you lay the back edge of your scissors against the crowding you can push back a bit. He showed me that sometimes if he was tying a lot he would even put clear nail polish on his thumb nail to give it strength to push back. I tried that and it worked. He did it because he did not want to stop and pick up a tool if he was tying for clients. Good luck in your new endeavor. Merry Christmas as well!

 

[poopdeck]

that’s a good tie. I’d only worry about the hook gap. I woukd bend the hook out a bit and go fish it as is.

You’re probably wondering why you thought fly tying was difficult. Starting is the hardest part. It only gets easier from here on out,

 

[jifigz]

that’s a good tie. I’d only worry about the hook gap. I woukd bend the hook out a bit and go fish it as is.

You’re probably wondering why you thought fly tying was difficult. Starting is the hardest part. It only gets easier from here on out,

I agree. It feels very awkward at first, but one quickly gains skills and dexterity. Each little speed bump or new technique makes one better.

 

[Ladove]

Just focus on the basics, like everyone has said. Pick a pattern that’ll help you with that and make sure you maintain proper thread tension. No need to worry about making an extremely clean fly if it’s just you fishing it, the buggy stuff works wonders

 

[Solitariolupo]

Looks good to me. Good points on not filling up hook gaps. Also it happens can offset the hook point.

Better than the first fly I tied haha.

 

[nfrechet]

less amount of tail and shorter. stack the hair for the tail

less dubbing for the body