Beginner flies to tie

The key to not tiring of fly tying is to start with the right patterns: simple to tie, fun to succeed with, and above all reliable. Here is a short list of flies worth tying first, all proven in put and take. Start with one, get comfortable, and add the next.

Start here

  • Woolly Bugger (black, size 8–10) – the obvious first fly. Learn tail, body and hackle at once. Follow tie a Woolly Bugger step by step.
  • Simple nymph (Hare's Ear style) – a dubbing body on a hook teaches you to build a meaty, buggy body. Catches cautious fish in clear water.
  • Attractor (simple Blob or a signal-coloured bugger) – teaches you to work with bright material, and is deadly on freshly stocked fish.

With these three you cover an active searching fly, a slow nymph and a loud attractor, exactly the spread you want at the water.

Why simple patterns

Simple flies teach you the basic moves without you getting stuck in hard details, and they catch at least as well as advanced patterns. The fish cares more about size, colour and movement than about perfection. Your first slightly crooked flies will take fish, and that is the best motivation there is to tie more.

Next step

When the basic patterns sit you can add classics like Montana Nymph and Pheasant Tail, and vary colours for different conditions. Read which flies catch and when under flies for put and take and flies for rainbow trout. If you need to refresh tools and materials, see fly tying for beginners.

FAQ

Which fly should I tie first of all?

A Woolly Bugger in black, size 8–10. It teaches you all the basic moves, is hard to get wrong, and catches fish in almost every put-and-take water.

How many patterns should I start with?

Two or three is enough. A Woolly Bugger, a simple nymph and a bright attractor cover most situations and teach you different techniques without it becoming too much at once.

Do the flies have to be perfect in order to catch?

No. The fish cares more about size, colour and movement than about the fly being perfectly tied. Your first, slightly crooked flies catch fish – that is the whole point.

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