Fly Tying for Fly Fishing

Steve Brocco Tri-Color (steelhead fly) (Photo credit: andrewb823)Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage by TenkaraAshley via FlickrOne of the best parts of fly fishing is learning the art of fly tying.  While you can buy pre-made flies, there’s nothing more satisfying than tying your own flies and being able to share with your friends the fact that you caught a 20 pound fish using a fly you made yourself.  While it’s not complicated, fly tying for fly fishing can be a very delicate art.

The first piece of equipment you will need when undertaking fly tying is a fly vice.  These hold your hook while you are tying it together.  You’ll want a vice that can hold all sizes and shapes of hooks and that is easily adjustable.

Get a bobbin that will hold your thread.  A bobbin will keep your thread tight and organized while you are tying your fly.  Bobbins come in a variety of sizes, but they all basically do the same thing.  Spend just a little bit more money on a bobbin and you won’t have to worry about cut threads before you are through.

You need to also splurge on a good pair of scissors.  To start out with, one pair of scissors is enough, but as you get better at fly tying, you’ll want to have a variety of shapes and sizes to meet the needs of the flies you are tying.  The loops should fit your fingers comfortably, and they should be kept sharp.

Hackle pliers are small pliers with enough constant tension designed to wrap hackle feathers around the hook.  As with scissors, they come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do basically the same thing. 

Find a good bodkin too.  A bodkin is basically a needle in a handle.  You can use a bodkin not only to tie the fly, but also for delicate work that requires a small, sharp point like separating out pieces of feather and fur.

Of course, you’ll also need a large selection of feathers and fur to match the different types of flies you want to match.  Mink fur and pheasant feathers are good materials to work with as are peacock feathers.

There are several books and websites available that can teach you fly tying for fly fishing as it can’t really be explained in a few short paragraphs.  The best way to learn how to tie your fly fishing ties is to experiment and keep doing it.  You’ll eventually find techniques that work for you and be well on your way to becoming an expert on fly tying for your fly fishing needs!

Fly Tying Tips and Tools

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaTying your own flies can be very rewarding and relaxing. It also has another benefit in giving you something to do if you are unfortunate to live where the rivers are frozen in winter, or fly fishing is closed for some months each year.

The tools are simple. You could make most of them yourself, however it would be best for beginners to buy at least a fly tying vice. There have been over the years quite a number of different vice types manufacturered. In my opinion, the cam type of vice is the easiest to use. This is a vice that has a cam lever to open and close the jaws. It's adjustable to various angles and hook sizes. Quick and easy to open and close.

The next thing to get your hands on are some hackle pliers. These are also a cheap spend, but really worthwhile. They are a little difficult to make a pair yourself.

Apart from these items, you'll need a pair of curved scissors with sharp points and another set with small straight blades. You probably could also do with a needle that is pushed into a stick. This is for fixing hakkles that have been inadvertantly wound under. You can also use it for putting laquer onto the finished head.

What sort of hooks should you use? My advice is to not fall for the trap of using any old hook. Buy proper fly hooks. These have a tapered shank and are usually hollow ground. These are lighter than normal hooks, a real advantage in dry flies.

The tapered shank lets the head, especially the eye of the fly be tied tighter and smaller. When you consider the work involved in tying a fly, why waste effort on the wrong hook. If you make a mistake, all you need to do is cut the fly off the hook and start again.

Something you could consider these days is the opportunity of actually buying a complete fly tying set. These sets cost only around $50 or so. They have vices, scissors, pliers, hooks and all the feathers and fur you need to get started. Some even come with videos or DVD's.

Whichever way you go, it is a cheap way to spend many an hour, in preparation of catching your next bag of fish. The satisfaction of catching your next trout on a fly you tied yourself is imeasureable.