Fly tying for beginners

Tying your own flies is one of the great pleasures of fly fishing, and it is easier to get going than many think. The flies that take the most fish in put and take, such as the Woolly Bugger, are also among the easiest to tie. Here is how you get started.

Why tie yourself

There are three good reasons. The economy: the materials last for many flies, so each fly becomes cheap in the long run. The fit: you can tie exactly the colours and sizes your water wants, for example an extra bright Woolly Bugger for freshly stocked fish. And the feeling: few things beat catching a rainbow trout on a fly you tied at the kitchen table.

What you need to start

The basic kit is small. You need a vice that holds the hook, a bobbin, a pair of scissors and a little material for a couple of patterns. A ready starter kit with tools is often the simplest and cheapest way in. The details sit under tools for fly tying and materials.

Start with the right flies

The key to not tiring of it is to start with simple, reliable patterns. A Woolly Bugger and a couple of simple nymphs take you a long way and teach you the basics: fixing the thread, tying in material and finishing neatly. See beginner flies to tie for a list, and follow tie a Woolly Bugger step by step for your first fly.

Take it at your pace

Fly tying is a craft that grows with you. Start with two or three patterns, get comfortable in the basic moves, and add new flies and techniques as you go. If you first want to understand which flies catch and why, read flies for put and take.