Tying flies is a relaxing pastime and a perfect off- and in-season indoor complement to fly fishing. Catching fish on your own handmade flies gives a great sense of pride. There is no limit to fish foods you can imitate by tying flies.
The normal evolution a fly fisher goes through usually includes fly tying sometime after the first year or two. Some take up fly tying to cut the costs of all the flies they seem to leave in bushes and trees everywhere they go. Others want to try it to increase their involvement in the finer details of the sport. No matter what your reasons are, tying flies seems to be an integrated part of the whole fly fishing picture.


There have been perhaps more volumes of books and articles written on the art of fly tying than any other aspect of fly fishing. If you subscribe to any of the fly fishing magazines, you have encountered articles that included fly patterns. In fact, a few magazines are dedicated to the art of fly tying. Those magazines will enhance the information you find here and I encourage you to consider subscribing to one or two.

Like I said earlier, there are a lot of books about fly tying on the market. I won't try to duplicate those efforts, but rather attempt to show you some of the basics. I won't try to show you specific patterns, but you'll learn a few in the course of this instruction. I will try to help you solve some of the most basic but troubling problems new fly tyers usually encounter.

Dry flies are simply flies that float. They usually represent adult insects that are emerging (breaking out of their nymphal shuck), drying their wings so they can fly away, or returning to the water to lay eggs.

Since dry flies are the most fun to use (you get to see the fish take the fly), more fly patterns have been designed as dry patterns than any of the rest. Although some folks separate emerger flies from dries, since they usually float, I'll include them with dries.

Wet flies are simply flies that don't float. They usually represent nymphs and pupae that are swimming toward the surface of the water or trying to break through the surface film to become adults. Since many insects become lunch menu items during this stage of their existence, it's useful to know how to tie wet flies.

Streamers are flies that represent minnows, crayfish, leaches and a variety of other life forms that swim under the surface of lakes and streams.Since fish often eat minnows, leaches and crayfish, this is an important type of fly to learn how to tie.

In the weeks ahead, I'll show you patterns and methods for tying all of these types of flies. It will be simple and easy so don't give up yet. It's easier than you think.

Fly Tying Tools & Materials

We offer you the very best quality available from leading brands such as Veniard, Kamasan, Varivas, Snowbee, Turrall's, Marryat & more. If you are new to fly dressing and want to create your own trout flies, why not start off with one of our specially prepared fly tying kits? Our selection of fly tying tools includes vices by Lazzeri, Marryat, Snowbee and the new Marc Petitjean Swiss Vice

Fly TyingTubes

Fluorescent plastic tubing used in conjunction with different weights and colours of tungsten cone heads have changed the look of modern tube flies. Using the tubes as they are or combined with any translucent type material gives a bright fly that shows up well in low light conditions. Each packet contains 5 x 200 mm Coloured outer tubing and 5 x 200mm clear stiff liner.

Loop Bottle Tubes
Uniquely shaped short brass tubes with tapered head for a fine finish. Supplied with tying instructions and hook sleeve. Available in silver or brass finish.