Tying Flies for Fly Fishing

One of the most enjoyable parts of fly fishing could be tying your own flies. While they are readily available for sale pre-made in many stores, when you take the time to tie your own, you can make the flies look even more realistic than those you can buy in a store.

Fly tying isn’t as difficult as it might first seem. You need to have some basic tools such as a fly vice, scissors, pliers, and thread. The equipment you use can make all the difference in quality work and shoddy work. The goal is to make your flies look as identical to a fish’s food source as is humanly possible.

You can find supplies for tying in various places. Besides the vice, scissors, and pliers, you will want to have on hand the following items:

* Hooks of various shapes and sizes
* Different colors and gauges of thread
* Fur from animals such as mink or fox
* Feathers from pheasants and peacocks
* Craft cement

Precision is the key to accurate fly tying. You should start out with a picture of the fly you are trying to replicate. You can find pictures of may flies, caddis flies, and other natural food sources in many places on the Internet. Once you have a picture, just get materials that will mimic the look and try to duplicate it.

Start out by wrapping thread around your hook and then add fur and feathers as you go securely tying them to the hook. As you go, you will continue to add materials until you achieve the look you are going for. Of course, there’s a little more to it than that, but that is the general idea.

You can take classes on how to tie your own flies and you can even find instructional videos online. When you start taking an interest in fly fishing, it’s best to stick with the pre-made flies, but as you gain more experience, you will want to start experimenting around with different lures to bring the fish to your line.

Tying your own flies can be a great way to bring you more and more into the fly fishing experience. It certainly isn’t for everyone as you need to have a lot of patience when you are tying flies. It doesn’t always come easy, but once you learn the basic techniques, you will probably find a new hobby that gives you some great joy!

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Fly Fishing Basics - Equipment

Just as with any other sport, the equipment you use when fly fishing can be very important. There are various types of equipment that you need when you undertake fly fishing, and be prepared because some of it can get quite expensive!

Of course, you’ll need a rod and reel. What type of rod you choose depends on the type of fish you will be angling for. Fly rods are ranked according to their net weight capabilities (nwt). The nwt number will tell you what type of fish you will be able to catch. Fish that weigh 8 pounds will require at least an 8 nwt rod, etc. The larger the nwt number, the larger fish you can catch.
Some rods are multi-rated (e.g. 7-9 nwt). These rods are good to use because they can accommodate a variety of fish, but multi-rated rods tend to be less flexible than single rated rods.

Rods are made of fiberglass, graphite, or bamboo. Fiberglass rods are durable and less expensive. Fiberglass rods are best for beginning fly fishermen because they can be used in a variety of situations. Graphite rods are lighter and will give you more fighting weight when it comes to landing a fish. Bamboo rods can be expensive, but they are extremely strong and are suited to a more laid-back casting style.

Your fly line will need to match the nwt of your rod. If you have an 8 nwt rod, you’ll need to use an 8 nwt line. It is acceptable to go one or two sizes above or below your rod weight (i.e. 9 nwt or 7 nwt). Buy line that is strong and durable. Some lines are specially designed for freshwater, saltwater, etc.

You will also need to have a durable net that you can carry with you. After the fish has lost its will to fight, a good net is used to scoop them out of the water. This can be a big part of your fly fishing equipment because without a good net, you won’t be able to get your fish out of the water!

Having the right fly fishing equipment is important for both the beginner as well as the experienced angler. As you get better and better at the sport, you will begin to see how important having good equipment can be. You can always upgrade, so it’s good to start out small and work your way up to the more expensive stuff. Your fly fishing equipment can make a world of difference between landing that big fish or catching an ordinary one.

Get some great tips and a free fly fishing ebook at Fly Fishing Basics 101.