| by
Frank Mihalik
All
fishermen have had the need to dress an old favorite plug or jig
with new hair on its battle scared hooks. Jetty pluggers who rig a teaser
ahead of their swimmer, often catch when the fish are keyed in on small
bait while other casters try to console themselves by mumbling "it
must not be my day". Salty fly guys and gals have countless
patterns in their boxes to imitate everything from the smallest Spearing
to an adult Bunker. These imitators cost good money and are torn to shreds
in time. Why not spend the cold winter months tying bucktail on your fluke
hooks, or tying a few of your favorite flies? This is not rocket
science we are talking about here; it is simply hair on a hook!
Tools for the
beginner need not be elaborate, fancy, or expensive; just be sure to stay
away from the pre made fly tying kits. These kits may have a few
things you will need, but most of the materials are not going to give you
the results you are looking for. The tools will be substandard at
best; so look to buy these needed components:
A Rotary
Vice: This tool comes with a clamp mount or a weighted pedestal mount and
will hold your hook firmly while being able to spin the hook around so you
can see your work around the entire hook. There are some wonderful
vices, which make our tying easier, but there is not a vice that
will make a fly any better than your skill level will allow. A
decent beginners vice can be had for about $20.
A Bobbin will
hold the spool of tying thread under adjustable tension while
directing the thread through a small tube from its end. Each spring arm
can be bent slightly to adjust the tension to your liking. A ceramic
bobbin is preferred because it has small ceramic rings in each end
of its tube to prevent the end from cutting the thread.
Scissors don’t
have to be top dollar, but excellent trimming scissors are a
pleasure to work with. Some manufacturers make scissors with serrated
edges making it easy to trim tough synthetic hairs. These synthetics will
simply be pushed out of the blades of regular shears. Try using a
low dollar pair when cutting your material to be tied in, as these
scissors will see many hours of use and are easily replaced.
A Bodkin is
really nothing more than a large sewing needle with a handle. This
simple tool is most handy when mixing and applying epoxy to a fly, as
well as handling tiny stick on eyes and many other jobs around the
bench.
A Rotary Whip
Finishing Tool is also known as a "Marterelli" whip
finishing tool. This tool seems complicated, but it will be mastered
in no time. It is faster to whip finish a completed fly than it would be
to tie overhand knots, and the whip finish will not come apart!
Other staples
on the tying bench will be Krazy Glue, tying threads, flash, and
hooks. The hooks will change depending on which species you will be
fishing for, as well as what size bait you are attempting to
imitate. Glue or head cement added during each step of the tying
process that would make a fly very durable. Thread comes in a variety of
sizes, types and colors. While each has its applications, clear
monofilament tying thread becomes invisible after being coated with
glue or epoxy. Flat waxed nylon thread comes in all colors and will
lay nicely on itself letting you build up a smooth head. This type of
thread will not "roll off" of itself ruining a nicely finished
fly.
Tying
materials: Bucktail is widely available, is not expensive, and has endless
possibilities. Each tail is unique in that some are kinky, while others
are straight. One may be vary long and the next very short, so be sure to
pick through materials until you find what you are looking for. Be sure
not to tighten the thread so much that it flares the hair outward.
Saddle Hackle
are the feathers from the top of a chickens back. You can purchase
the best quality on a "deceiver patch" where they will still be
attached to the skin. Strung hackle will be the extras that fall on the
floor and will be of much lesser quality. This seems like no big
deal until you try to put these feathers together "praying
hands" style and you soon realize they all curve the same way as the
bag did making your tying job very frustrating.
Synthetics
are endless and are wonderful, but basic tying skills will be missed if
you tie with them very early in your career. Because all fibers in a
bunch are of equal length, you must shape and thin out the body you are
creating with careful scissor work. Adding a bit of flash to your work
adds to the realism if done well. Colors of flash can make a fly
come alive as baitfish always have subtle hues of several colors
along their flanks.
Many other
materials have found their way onto my tying bench other than those
listed, and well should be, for as your skill develops you will demand
more of yourself. Items such as five-minute epoxy and silicone have
completely changed the way we tie in these modern days.
Where do we
begin? Ask a friend who knows his way around the vice to show you a few
tricks. Many tackle shops that sell fly tackle have a fly tier on
staff, be sure to ask if he teaches any fly tying classes during the
winter months. He may be willing to spend some time with you to show
you the basics. Fabulous books cover the subject in great detail. There
are many excellent web sites dedicated to fly fishing and tying, and many
message boards host a Fly Fishing Forum were you could ask questions and
receive advice.
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