Tying Your Own Fly

There are several degrees of fly fishing enthusiasts. There are those who fish often, those who fish with the finest equipment, those who fish with old bamboo, and those that tie their own flies. Fly tying is a true combination of art and science.

There is something very satisfying about learning about the bugs fish eat and then being able to replicate them as a fishing fly. For some people tying flies comes natural and easy. For others it is much more difficult. An easy way to see what is involved is to watch a fishing video of fly tying. Most videos show the basics of materials and equipment.

There is not a lot of equipment required to tie flies. The vice is the basic tool. It holds the hook at many different angles so you can see and manipulate the fly. Another tool is the thread feeder. This tool feeds out the thread in an even manner so your fly is neat and the wraps of the thread are laid out perfectly.

Another important tool is a pair of pointed long handled tweezers or hemostats. They are used to hold the material while you wrap the thread around. You will also need a small pair of long handled scissors to cut the thread and material.

After you have the basic equipment you will need materials. The list of materials depends on where you live and what you will be fishing for, but the common material is the hook. However, even hooks are different in sizes, styles, and shapes. The hooks used for little brook trout are much different than hooks used for bonefish. Using the right fish hook size is very important.

Learning to tie your own flies is a fun part of the fishing game. It’s a different thrill than online fishing games, but it may be the most fun of all fishing games.