Tools Used to Tie Flies: Basic Fly Tying Instructions

Video Transcript

" Hi, this is Robert Brown for Expert Village.com and in this clip I am going to be talking to you about tools used in fly tying. Now there are more tools than I could possibly list in single video so I am going to cover just some of the really basic simple ones that are used on a common basis. Probably the single most important tool in fly tying is the fly tying vice. Important things in a vice are to make sure that the jaws of the vice are small enough to not become an obstruction when you are tying the flies. Other tools that are very important are a bobbin. A bobbin holds your fly tying floss. Now fly tying floss is not the same as sewing thread. You actually have to go and buy this at a sporting goods store or a fly shop and it is a little more expensive than standard sewing thread but it is worth it because it is small, fine and strong enough and durable for the purpose at hand. Another important tool to have is hackle pliers. There are many types of hackle pliers and these ones are swivel head hackle pliers. You can just sit here and swivel it around and play with it all day. Other things to have are hair stackers of various sizes for large flies and small ones for smaller flies and smaller bundle of hairs. It is very important to have a really good set of scissors. I can’t stress this enough. You need scissors that are dedicated for your fly tying small. They will fit in the hand and usually I will hold mine while I am tying. This will allow me to actually manipulate a bobbin while I still got the scissors just palmed in my hand. Another important tool is a whip not finishing tool and this actually allows you to tie off the thread when you are finished with the fly. You need some dubbing wax which comes in many brands and types. This is a standard little stick of dubbing wax and you need some head cement. Now head cement when you are done tying the head of the fly, you put a drop of head cement on the fly and it will glue up the finished thread material and it makes the fly a little more durable. It is not absolutely essential but it helps a lot in the durability of your flies when you get out on the river and start fishing. "