Start fly tying
Wrap thread, fur and feathers onto a tiny hook and you have a fly a trout will eat. Tie your first one in an evening. Here's the video that hooks everyone, and everything you need for your first fly.
Space neededA corner of a table
First projectA San Juan worm in one evening
Skill levelBeginner-friendly
Good forAnglers, winter evenings, any age
The video that hooks everyone
How to start fly tying, the easy way
A fly tier sits down at the vise for the first episode of a beginner series, with spools of thread and a few simple materials on the bench. Press play and see why it hooks people.
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Tool list
What you need to start
Everything you need for your first project, and nothing you don't. A basic vise and a few tools last for years.
Starter kit
01Fly-tying viseHolds the hook. A simple pedestal vise sits on any table.
02BobbinHolds the thread spool and lets you wrap with control.
03Thread, 6/0 or 140 denierBlack and olive cover most beginner flies.
04Fine-tipped scissorsSharp to the very tip for close trimming.
05Whip-finish toolTies the last knot at the head of the fly.
06BodkinA needle on a handle. Picks out fibers and places a drop of cement.
07Hackle pliersGrip a feather while you wrap it.
08Hooks, sizes 10 to 14A pack of short hooks and a pack of longer streamer hooks.
09Chenille, red and oliveA fuzzy cord. The body of your first flies.
10Marabou and hackle feathersSoft tail feathers and a few saddle hackles.
The manual tells you what to look for when you buy each one.
- 1Crowding the eyeLeave a little bare hook behind the eye. Without that space you can't finish the head or tie the fly to your line.
- 2Too much materialBeginner flies get fat. Use less marabou and fewer wraps than you think. Sparse flies often fish better.
- 3Losing tensionIf the bobbin swings free, the wraps loosen. Keep a little steady pull on the thread, or let the bobbin hang.
