Fly tying refers to the craft of making artificial flies that are used by fishermen and angler in order to catch fish during the sport of fly fishing. The process involves binding different materials to a hook using thread, and is usually based on observing fish and what they prey on, and then developing a fly that resembles the prey in order to lure the fish. There are specific patterns for tying flies for different species of fish that are being sought by the fisherman, such as trout ties. There are also flies that are made that resemble no prey in particular; these flies are known as attractor flies because they are beloved by fish at attracting a strike. Fly tying can produce flies that are particular for species such as bass, pike, salmon, saltwater fish, and tropical varieties, and are usually characterized by their makeup to include imitative, searching, attractors (as mentioned above), or impressionistic.
The Process
To tie flies, rudimentary equipment is needed, including material for the pattern that you have chosen to tie and a pattern that you can follow to make the fly. Materials that may be used include feathers, furs of different types, yarns, hair, cork, balsa, tinsels, threads, and hooks, although there are newer generation synthetic materials that can be used to tie flies, and they are available in a myriad of different colors. A weight is also required and is usually made of glass, beads or bras. If you do not wish to tie your own flies (which most people do not but it can be a fun hobby for the sport fisherman), you can find flies that are tied by hand on the market that range from a few dollars each and on up.
Many people find fly tying to be both a rewarding and challenging hobby, while others may tie their own flies in order to save money or to get their hands on the perfect lure to catch the big one. Fishermen have been tying flies for centuries or longer, and in days gone by they were not privy to the different hooks and equipment that are now available for the avid fly tier, such as a hook vise that holds the materials while the fly is being made. The essential tools of the modern fisherman who wishes to try his hand at fly tying include the hook vise, magnifying glass, bobbins, pliers, hair stackers, hackle gauges, lights, and scissors. Some folks also like to have toothpicks, floss bobbins, dubbing twisters, blenders, bobbin threaders and wing burners on hand as well; it all depends on the complexity of the fly that is being tied.
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