Online Fly Tying Course Part #1
Introduction…continued…
I remember when I first considered tying flies I could not imagine how it could be done. Mind you, I’d done little in the way of research but it seemed like a mystery. Without the internet, I set out with books and videos. I was relieved to find out this; Fly tying meant spinning fur onto thread and wrapping it around the hooks shank, tying feathers on and wrapping them, tying wire on and wrapping it….proportion, hand control and sequence were the only obstacles!
Easy, right? Well, it WAS easier than I thought, but getting my flies to the level I wanted took a little more time.
The important thing, at least for me, was getting results that caught fish. Once you learn what to look for when tying, you’ll find that you observe natural insects more carefully, looking for the right things like size, proportion, color translucency, presence of gills/antennae, number and size of tails etc. etc. etc. If you’re like me, you’ll soon realize that the flies you used to use were not that close to the naturals in several ways. Optimism creeps in….this tying thing just might pay off!
Lets get started….
To begin with, we’ll tie a simple nymph. This pattern was the first one I learned from a book by Skip Morris,
I think the title was "Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple." Excellent book, good fly to start with. This pattern will
address the following;
1.Hook placement
2.Starting your thread
3.Dubbing
4.Finishing the fly/thread head/half hitch knot.
Fly recipes typically list the ingredients in the order you’ll employ them. So then, here is the first fly;
Caddis nymph
Hook:Standard nymph hook, size #16-#10
Thread:Brown 8/0
Body:Hareline dubbing, Green and Brown
Note:For demonstration purposes, larger/more colorful thread is used in the beginning of the pattern.
Hook placement
In these photos (above), you see a hook placed in the jaws of my vise. In the first shot, its in the jaws WAY too far. While it is secure, it’s location prohibits good access while tying. Photo #2 shows the hook TOO close to the tips of the jaws. It might be held tight, but the chance of it coming loose and flying out have been greatly increased. This can damage the jaws of some vises, not good. Photo #3 shows about the proper location of the hook. With the hook in place, you need to test the "grip" the jaws have. (or at least where you’ve set it) With your finger on the eye of the hook, push down with enough force to flex the hook shank. If the hook begins to slip, take it out of the vise and tighten it. Place the hook back into position and check again. Once set, the vise should not need any adjustment. When you change hooks, or hook size, you’ll need to do all this again, but it only takes a few seconds.
Threading the bobbin
With the thread loaded into the bobbin, slip a pc. of monofilament fishing line into the end as shown.
When it comes through the neck, slip the end of the thread through the hoop in the line as shown.
Pull the line out of the bobbin, it is now ready to tie.
Starting the thread.
With your left hand pulling down on the loose, or "tag" end of the thread, position your right hand as shown~
thread in FRONT of the hook’s shank, approx. in the middle of it.
With your "bobbin" hand (right hand), make 3-5 tight wraps of thread forward as shown, keeping the downward
pressure with you left.
With both hands now keeping thread tight, begin wrapping the thread BACK towards the bend. (these wraps represented
in pink)
Continue wrapping PAST the point where you started and OVER the thread being held tight with your left hand.
Using your fine-tipped scissors, clip the tag end of thread off~the one that was held in your left hand.
Wrap the thread back to the end of the hooks shank.
TIP~Practice this sequence until it becomes second nature. You should also INTENTIONALLY break the thread a few times to get a sense OF its strength.
TIP~How do I get the thread past the hook point without cutting it? Yep, it gets in the way but here is the way
around it;
Thread in the upright position, ready to wind around the back of the hook shank
Once wound around to the back, pull the bobbin towards the eye of the hook as it goes under the shank~clearing the
hook point.
With the thread now past the point, return it to a position perpendicular to the shank.
Continue up to the starting point.
