Materials for fly tying

Fly-tying materials can look overwhelming in the shop, but for the flies that catch in put and take you only need a handful of sorts. Here are the basics, what they do and how they sit on a fly, so you know what you are buying.

The basic materials

• Hook – the foundation. Streamer and nymph hooks in size 8–10 for put and take.
• Tying thread – thin thread you lock everything else with, in black or a matching colour.
• Marabou – soft, fluffy feathers that pulse in the water. The tail on a Woolly Bugger.
• Chenille – a fluffy “cord” that is wrapped into a full body.
• Hackle – a feather wrapped around the body that gives legs and movement.
• Dubbing – fine, fluffy material spun onto the thread for a buggy, meaty body.
• Tinsel and beads/heads – for flash and weight, for example a gold bead.

Start small

You do not need to buy the whole wall. Start with materials for a couple of patterns in a few colours, for example black and olive, which cover most situations. A small set of marabou, chenille, hackle and dubbing stretches to a surprising number of flies, because each fly only uses small amounts.

Colours that catch

Follow the same logic as for ready-tied flies: muted (black, olive, brown) for clear water and fish that have stood a while, and a signal colour (orange, pink, chartreuse) for freshly stocked fish and coloured water. If you have black and a signal colour of each basic material you get a long way.

Get going

With tools and materials in place you are ready to tie your first fly. Follow tie a Woolly Bugger step by step, and read more about the hobby under fly tying for beginners.