Having Trouble in Tying Flies? Here’s 12 Tips on How to Tie Fly

| Last Updated November 18, 2020

The ultimate season for fly fishing is almost there.

Fly tying, is a technique of encasing the necessary luring materials to the hook using nylon thread.

When you saw those bright feather-like objects or nylon threads or just a bunch of regular bead chain eyes and threads over the hook, those are the flies and the technique of tying those objects to the hook is called fly tying.

So, in case, you want to be a fly fisher, you know you are going to use a dry fly as your lure. But do you have any idea how to tie a dry fly? If yes, that's splendid. If no, it's okay, you'll learn soon.

But that's not the important part.

The important part is-

You must learn to tie faster!

Why it’s necessary tying a fly faster:

To make your lure, you have to tie the materials to the hook. But you should do it fast. Because -•

  • That will save you plenty of minutes.
  • The faster you are done with the fly, the sooner you can leave for fishing.
  • Make many flies in a short time.
  • To be a professional tyer, learning to tie fast is important.
  • You won't face many difficulties in tying a fly.
  • You will learn to work swiftly.

Here are the 12 Tips on How to Tie Fly Faster

#1. Your First Pattern

There are different types of fly. For each fly, there are different patterns. When you are going to tie your first fly, also have some concentration on its pattern. Because following the pattern is essential to tie the knot. And if you are thinking of becoming a professional tyer, you have to be expert. To expertise the technique, you must know the pattern very well. So acclimatize your fly pattern. Sharply experiment on it. Explore and discover how you should assemble your materials, how you will tie the thread around it and stick it on the hook.Your concentration on your first pattern will help you on your next flies.

#2. Collect Your Kits

When you are making a fly, you also need to arrange your own materials. You should have best fly tying kits to make your flies. So, estimate the amount before you start and collect them. You can prepare the materials by yourself as well. As materials, feathers, yarns, fars are the usual choices, but you can use other similar stuff as well. Though the selection of your material depends on the pattern, you choose. And remember you just can't pick any random length, so shape all of your materials equally. Having all the materials ready before you start, is going to help you tie faster.

#3. Be Organized

When you are about to work, and your stuff is lying systemless, it's really hard to find the right stuff at the right moment. But that's a waste of time. Keep your materials and tools in order so that you can find them right before your hands and that will save some of your minutes.Have your things organized in a toolbox.

#4. Complete the Similar Steps First

If you are making lots of flies that all require the same pattern, then repeat the same step on all of your flies. Like, when you're adding glue to your materials and sticking them together, you can hold one piece of equipment to one fly, then go for another fly and stick a material to the spot you worked on over the previous one, while the glue of that fly dries. Repeat this step on every fly, that will save your time what would get wasted, if you had just made one fly at once.

#5. Use More Than One Vise

It'd be better to use more than one vise at once. Well, you can't handle ten vises at the same time, but can use two at least, right? Sit with two vises before and complete each step together on two flies at once. It will lessen your fly tying time!

#6. Start Holding the Scissors in Hand

When you are tying several flies, taking the scissors in hand and then putting it down each time is annoying. But if you hold the scissors in your hand for the whole time, it saves you some seconds. It may seem weird at first, but if you keep on doing it for some times, you will get used to it.

#7. Don't Trim if it's Not Necessary

Don't trim always. Sometimes additional trimming makes a bit of material invisible.

#8. Don't Make Too Many Thread Wraps

You don't need to make too many thread wraps. Way too many wraps create bulk, and that destroys the fly's look. And if wrapping is tight, few wraps are enough. Making few wraps will speed your fly tying.

#9. Fold Some of Your Materials

When you are using synthetic materials, fold them back. It will take a little time only. And will also save you some materials and you will be able to tie the fly with few wraps.

#10. Shortened Threads are Better

Try to use short thread instead of a long one. You will need more time when you are wrapping with long threads because the covers will become loose. But for a tight wrap, use little threads. Besides, to prevent long threads from being untangled, you will have to spend some extra time. So, choosing short thread is the smart choice.

#11. Use an Applicator Bottle

Buy an applicator bottle. When you use an applicator bottle to spread the head cement, it reduces the complex three steps of spreading it to only one step. Where you usually have to open the bottle of head cement, then get the cement out and spread, you can pour the cement into the applicator bottle and just squeeze it to let the adhesive come out and spread.

#12. Practice a Lot

If you want to be fast in tying, you must practice to tie again and again. If you tie more and more flies, you will become an expert at the pattern, and you will be able to follow it easily. Nothing is better than trying continuously to become a pro in tying faster.

Fly Fishing is a fun sport. So is making the dry fly. We tried as much as possible to help you with the tips of tying the fly faster. We hope you will find the tips helpful.

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My name is Caleb and I am obsessed with hunting, fishing, and foraging. To be successful, you have to think like your prey. You have to get into the mind of your target - and understand Big Game Logic. If you have any questions, or just want chat about your latest hunting score or big catch, you can reach me at admin@biggamelogic.com. Read more about Big Game Logic.