How to Make a Yarn Fly

The yarn fly is a simple but proven form of fishing flies that uses only a hook, thread and yarn. The fly's lightweight composition does not break the surface tension of water, allowing the fly to float on top the water like the insects it is created to imitate. A yarn fly's simple construction makes it a beginner's dream as it provides basic fly tying skills and familiarity with the specific tools needed to complete more elaborate fly tying projects.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • Orange glow bug egg yarn
  • Fly hook, size 10 or 12
  • Fly vice
  • Orange fly thread on spool, size 8/0
  • Fly bobbin
  • Fly head cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut four 1-inch segments out of your orange glow bug egg yarn.

    • 2

      Clamp your hook into the vice right before the barb of the hook. The hook shank should curve up and away from the vice.

    • 3

      Insert the arms of your bobbin into the holes found on either end of your orange thread spool. Run the thread through the eyehole of your bobbin. The bobbin creates an easy way to hold your thread and applies pressure to the spool so you can make tight loops around your hook.

    • 4

      Attach the thread to the center of the hook shank by making consecutive overlapping loops (about 12) around the shank to anchor the thread. Use your bobbin to pull the thread tightly after each loop.

    • 5

      Lay a piece of your 1-inch orange glow bug egg yarn lengthwise along the top of the hook shank. Make several light loops with your thread over the egg yarn and then pull the bobbin tightly to cinch the yarn in place.

    • 6

      Clip away excess yarn that extends past the hook shank.

    • 7

      Rotate the hook 90-degrees in your vice. Lay and tie another 1-inch segment of yarn on top of the hook shank. Rotate your vice 90-degrees two more times laying and tying a segment of yarn after each rotation. Clip excess yarn between rotations.

    • 8

      Cut your thread as close to the hook as possible after your last piece of yarn is tied down. Apply fly head cement to the end of your thread and press it firmly onto the hook.

    • 9

      Fluff the yarn around your hook with your fingers. Trim the edges of the yarn with your scissors until the yarn is symmetrical egg around your hook.