Wet fly rookie question

[Fishnkilts]

I'm a little confused. I have read books from the great older generation writers, W.C Stewart, T.E. Pritt, F.M. Hallford and a few others. And the term, and I see it here on the forum as well, dressing wet flies.

I have never really heard that term with tying dry flies, only with wets. Would someone please explain this to me? The way I understand it is, dressing is referring to the materials to tie a wet fly?
Or is tying and dressing the same thing. It can't be, because here on the forum you have tying wingless wets and fly dressing wingless wets. And even though I have looked at both topics, I can't distinguish the difference between the two subjects.

So am I correct in saying that fly dressing is the material being used? W.C. Stewart discussed dressing flies in The Practical Angler, which I took as actually tying flies.

[redietz]

"Dressing" is simply the older British term for "tying". It's also the term for "pattern" (in the sense of "recipe"). It has nothing to do with what's being tied (or dressed.)

[Johnno]

I think “ the fly was dressed.... “ Is a phrase from an era where the Poms did everything wearing a tie......


In fact talk to some of their salmon fly affecianados and they still “ dress” a salmon fly....

[Old Hat]

You can "dress" a fly or you can list the "dressing". Just as you can "tie" a fly or you can list the "materials used". Just depends if you eat crumpets or English muffins.

[wsbailey]

Also, you could join the Fly Dresser's Guild.

http://www.flydressersguild.org

[Old Hat]

cropped-Fishing-Print-1.jpg (584.46 KiB) Viewed 2324 times

[Fishnkilts]

cropped-Fishing-Print-1.jpg

I want that print above my tying desk.

Thanks friends! I had a feeling I wasn't too far off the meaning of "Dressing flies".

Also, you could join the Fly Dresser's Guild.

http://www.flydressersguild.org

I will definitely give it a look over. Thank you sir.