Fly Tying

Hair and Fur Hair and Fur is a component of many flies. Selecting the proper type is crucial to achieving good results in tying. To discern a quality hair patch, look for straight hair without much curvature. Any curvature will be difficult to use especially for wings and tails. Also look at the hair tips…

Thread, Floss, Tinsel, and Wire Selection of Thread, Floss, Tinsel, and Wire can be a personal choice. Thread can be based on Silk, Nylon, or Polyester materials. Each has their own merits. Most thread, today, is polyester. It is easy to handle and has a good breaking strength. Many threads are rated by diameter such…

Dubbing Dubbing is material that is wrapped around the thread and usually applied to the fly pattern as a body material. Dry flies generally require a fine textured dubbing while nymph patterns usually utilize a coarser dubbing with guard hairs present. Dubbing materials can be either natural or synthetic. A generalism exists that fur from…

Synthetics Fly Tying Materials are often divided between Natural and Synthetic origins. The natural materials were those that could be captured within nature. Items like feathers, hair, and fur were utilized for fly tying exclusively up until the 1970’s. Starting in the 1970’s, synthetics, which were manufactured materials, started to play an important part in…

Other Feathers Turkey Feathers Turkey Quills and Tails Mottled Quills are used for hopper, muddler, and caddis wings as well as wing cases on nymphs. The Barred Quills are dyed to different colors and are usually used for hopper legs.                              Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail         Mottled White Tipped Turkey Tail          Ozark Barred Turkey Quill         Mottled Oak Turkey…

Marabou History Marabou is a soft webby feather usually located on the belly of the bird. It is an important feather for fly tying but is also a desired feather for the fashion industry in creating boas, for hat plumage, and edge lining of garments. Originally collected from Marabou Storks of Africa, marabou is collected…