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Art, Skill and Fun Combine to Create Fly Fishing Flies

In order to make your own fly fishing flies you will need to know the rudiments of the anatomy of a fly. You will also need some basic tools including fine tip scissors, thread, a bobbin to hold the thread, needle-nose pliers and a vise to hold the hook. These tools are all readily available at fly fishing stores. Another particularly useful device is a small weighted base unit that attaches to a tabletop or any flat, smooth surface by means of suction. There are typically three articulated 'arms' attached to it - two are equipped with alligator clips for holding small items, and the third has an adjustable magnifying glass on it to allow for detailed viewing when working on small objects. If your sporting goods store doesn't carry something like this, your local hobby shop most certainly will.

Fly tying patterns are techniques for building flies. If you want to try your hand at making your own flies you will need to know a few basics. Different flies are used depending on the species of fish you want to catch. Once you determine what fish you want to attract you need to know what flies they are attracted to. There are wet fly and dry fly tying patterns

Fly tying patterns can be as simple or complex as you want to make them. We have seen flies that are made of several types of hair and hurls. Replicating a particular fly is a lot of fun. Elegance is usually in the simplicity of the pattern and the skill of the knot tying.

When you first start you might want to take a few lessons from a pro. Many fishing shops will have classes on learning how to tie flies. You can also find videos and books that teach the art of fly tying patterns. Get ready to become addicted to tying your own flies!

There are lots of fly fishing knots that you can learn for different situations, we will cover a few of them here.

The first fly fishing knot you should learn is the Arbour knot which is used to connect the backing to the fishing reel. Then there is the nail knot, so called because you use a nail in the tying process, which is used to connect the backing to the fly line and the leader to the fly line. Two of the knots that can be used to tie the tippet to the leader are the blood knot or the double surgeon knot. For tying the fly to the hook the new improved clinch knot works well.

For all fly fishing knots, retie the knots before pulling them tight. This will reduce the amount of friction as well as lubricating the surface of the line. Whether the fish you catch are large and small, always retie your knots after reeling the fish in. After all, you don't want to lose that next big one.

About the Author

Bob Boyce is a regular contributor to Fly
Fishing Resources, an online resource offering you information and terrific
prices on fly-fishing equipment, gifts, vacations and services at http://www.flyfishing-equipment-gear.com.

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Zonker, Olive

The Zonker is the classic rabbit streamer. Multiple colors, a minnow-like profile, and realistic flashy underbody make this fly an effective fish catcher in a veriety of situations and water types.

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Adams, Parachute

The Parachute Adams is perhaps the most important and versatile of all dry flies. It is a must have dry fly in a variety of sizes for fish all over the world. The white post gives the fly fisherman a focal reference point in all types of water. The pattern can be used as a mayfly or as a searching or attractor fly. Fly fishermen in all types of rivers, streams, and lakes should keep several sizes on the top row of the fly box.

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Dr. Slick ECO Spring Creek Clamp ECX5

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Callibaetis, Dun, CDC

Fly fishers on lakes and rivers with selective trout find that CDC Callibaetis Duns provide an ultra realistic slim mayfly shape. These flies are extremely effective hatch imitating dry flies when a standard hackled mayfly pattern seems to draw only refusals from gulpers and other rising trout.

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