How to Make Your Own Flies

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

Making your own flies for fishing can seem like a very complicated task. When I first tried to tie my own fly, the end result left much to be desired and looked like something a fish would laugh at before swimming away. As they say, practice makes perfect, and after a few more tries, the flies I was tying turned out much better than that first attempt. If you follow the step-by-step process based on what type of fly you’re trying to tie and take your time, the results are usually pretty awesome. Catching a fish on a fly you tied yourself is a great feeling as well!

The whole idea of constructing your own fly is to create something that resembles a food source for the fish you’re trying to catch. Although, some flies look nothing like the insects you would find in or near the water but still hook plenty of fish. Flies are usually constructed with fur, feathers, and tinsels attached to a hook. Below I will go over a list of necessary equipment needed for the art of fly tying.

The first necessary piece of equipment is a vice to hold the hook while you attach the fly material (nothing fancy is needed….just a small quality tool to hold that hook in place). The next necessary piece of equipment is a scissor with very fine blades to precisely cut off the excess material to length. A dubbing needle will be needed to remove fly tying cement from the eye of the hook and help move feathers that may have been accidentally tied down. A hackle pliers can also be used to turn the hackle feathers around the hook. Various furs, feathers, silks, and hooks will be needed to tie the fly of your choice. There are plenty of kits available out there that have all the equipment needed in one package.

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

The easiest way to begin tying flies is to either attend a workshop or find a mentor to teach you the craft. There are plenty of YouTube videos and books out there but it is definitely a lot easier to learn the skills needed when you have someone experienced guiding you on what and what not to do.

If you’re looking for some more info on how to tie your own flies be sure to give us a call at Fly Fishing Colorado and keep us in mind for that next fly fishing trip you’re looking to book!

Cheers!