FLY TYINGTie One OnFLY TYING Why Tie Your Own? Many avid fly fishermen really enjoy tying their own flies. Half the fun is taking a few tufts of hair, a couple feathers and some thread to disguise a hook as an insect. Tying flies is a great way to enjoy your fishing hobby during inclement weather or when a fishing trip is impossible. If you have family members who enjoy fly fishing, it is a great way to build family memories and get hands on teaching at the same time. Alternatively, you could get to know some of the guys at the local fishing hole and get a few pointers. You'll find people to share your hobby with, and learn a few new skills in the bargain.
Tying Tools There are a few tools you'll need to gather to tie flies. One of the most important is the fly vise. You'll want one that can hold a variety of hook sizes and shapes without slipping. You should be able to position the vise so it is comfortable to use with any size of hook. Two of the absolute best manufacturers of fly tying vises are Peak Engineering (a.k.a. Peak Fishing) and AnvilUSA. Both Peak and Anvil make their products from scratch and skimp on nothing. Peak make both rotary and non-rotary vises. AnvilUSA makes vises for the beginner and intermediate fly tyer (Apex model) and the Atlas model for the intermediate to experienced fly tyer. If Made in the USA still has that magic ring, take a look at what America can still produce. WOW. Bobbins are also very useful. You run your thread through the bobbin, which holds your spool of thread. You can use the bobbin to keep tension on your thread while you are tying the fly. Don't skimp on the price of your bobbin… a good bobbin will last you a long time, while a cheap bobbin will almost always end up cutting your thread.
Scissors are a necessity. A fine-tipped pair for snipping threads will be one of your most important tools. You may also want to get a heavy duty pair used for cutting hair. This will let you cut large bunches of hair easily. Old worn out scissors can be used to cut wire or other materials that are hard to cut. Hackle pliers are made to apply constant tension when you are wrapping hackle feathers around a hook. They come in a large variety of sizes and styles, but they all do the same thing. If you can only get one, get a midge size. This will let you work on all sizes of flies with ease. Bodkins are needles placed in a handle. You can use them for getting stuff out of hook eyes, applying cement, picking hair out of fuzz on flies, folding wings and all sorts of useful tasks. Hackle guards hold the hackles back from the eye of the hook while you tie the finish knot (also known as a whip finish) for the head of the fly. They make it a lot easier to tie these finish knots without messing up your fly.Hair stackers align the hair tips when you are making wings, tails and heads. If you can get only a single hair stacker, the medium size is the most adaptable. Some flies like the Madame X pattern require a bullet head. For that, you will need a bullet head tool. You can make them without this tool, but it sure makes the job easier. Finally, to tie a really good finish knot, you should learn to use a whip finisher. This odd looking tool will help you tie the best finish knot possible. There are two basic styles of whip finishers: the Thompson and the Matarelli. Both can be used on different styles of flies, but each also have their pros and cons. The Matarelli is easier to learn and works well for bullet heads, jig heads, bead heads, foam heads and cone head flies. The Thompson can tie the same knots as the Matarelli but it works differently. It is a bit more challenging, but it works exceptionally well in confined areas.
SO MANY MATERIALS, SO LITTLE TIME
Beads are used to make fly heads. They come in many different shapes, colors and styles. Eyes of all sorts can be added as well, including stick-on eyes, rattles and lead eyes. Dubbing is used to build up the body shape. Dubbing can be made of silk, under fur, synthetic fibers or anything similar. Dubbing can be found in all sorts of colors and styles. All kinds of fur can be found to use in tying flies. Rabbit, fox, moose, deer, elk, squirrel, and all sorts of other furs can be used to make many types of flies. Fur is usually used as small clumps or a few strands of hair at a time. You can find fur that has been dyed all sorts of bright colors or in natural tones. Skins and hair from a variety of animals are also available, like hare's masks, deer belly, calf tails and more. Feathers are used to make wings, fuzzy bodies and other details on flies. Pheasant, turkey, goose, duck, peacock and rooster hackles and saddles are frequently used. Other wild bird feathers can also be found online or in fishing shops. You usually only use a few fibers off of a feather at a time. Feathers can also be dyed in many colors. Chenille and yarns can also be used to create vivid flies. Some translucent yarns with filaments make terrific spiky bodies, and many yarns are very reflective to catch a fish's eye. Cements, super glue and other adhesives are used to help keep everything in place and to secure the end of knots. Threads of all kinds are also available. Some are pearlized or shiny, others come in many different colors. Tubing and foam are also used to make covers and other details on your flies. Of course, you don't want to forget your tying hooks. Depending on whether you are making a midge, a nymph, a dry fly or a wet fly, you will want to choose the proper hook. Buy several of one size so you can practice each style you try more than once. This will help you develop your skillsg. Click here to read an in-depth article on natural and synthetic
Fly Tying Materials
Enjoy a great video series on basic fly tying tools, materials, and the basic steps in tying your own flies.
INTRODUCTION
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