How to Tie Fishing Flies

An additional pleasure often associated with fly fishing is tying your own flies. Fly tying provides the angler a method of expanding the hobby to include making the artificial lure that is used to catch a fish. Some fishing flies are considered works of art and may require hours or even days to produce, but working flies can be tied quickly and inexpensively. Tying flies during the winter or on rainy days will allow anglers to enjoy their hobby without actually being on the water fishing.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly tying vise
  • Fishing hooks
  • Waxed tying thread
  • Fur and feather body materials
  • Single-edge razor blade
  • Small scissors
  • Head cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Position the fly tying vise on a table or bench so that the vise jaws are at elbow level, measured when you are sitting in front of the vise. This position will allow you to spend several hours tying flies without developing hand or arm fatigue.

    • 2

      Clamp a hook in the tying vise and check to make sure it is secure and will withstand some tugging and pulling. Fly tying vises have a jaw adjustment that will allow you to tighten or loosen the jaws, depending on the size of the hook.

    • 3

      Wrap one layer of waxed tying thread around the hook shank, wrapping from the hook eye to the hook bend and stopping directly above the hook point. Keep the thread under tension so that it does not unwind off of the hook shank.

    • 4

      Hold a small amount of feather or fur material over the top of the hook shank and begin wrapping the waxed thread forward, toward the hook eye and over the material. Apply just enough thread wrapping over the feather or fur material to hold it in place, but do not cover it completely.

    • 5

      Stop wrapping the waxed thread just behind the hook eye and tie a half-hitch knot while keeping the thread under tension so that the feather or fur material does not come loose. Cut the thread close to the knot, apply a drop of head cement onto the knot and wipe any excess cement from the hook eye.

    • 6

      Place the flies in a safe location, away from wind, and allow the head cement to dry completely. After the head cement has dried, trim any lose hairs or unruly feathers using a single-edge razor blade or a pair of small scissors.