| When avid fly fishing enthusiasts are determined | | | | controlling the bobbin. You don't want to let it flop |
| to catch bigger trout, fly tying becomes a passion. | | | | around, getting in the way but you do want it to |
| They often develop their own special methods | | | | help keep tension on the thread. A good way to |
| and patterns that work for them over time. | | | | do this is to control the bobbin with the small and |
| Some even make it a hobby of its own and try | | | | ring finger of the hand you are tying with and use |
| to tie flies that look so real that they have to be | | | | your thumb and first two fingers of your free |
| closely examined to see if they are artificial. As | | | | hand to work the material. Successful trout fly |
| with all things, though, trout fly tying is an art | | | | tying can depend on control of the thread and |
| form that must be learned starting with the basic | | | | keeping it tight as you work. |
| techniques. | | | | Wrapping the hackle is another basic technique for |
| The first consideration in learning trout fly tying is | | | | trout fly tying that should be practiced often. |
| the tools that will be needed. A good fly tying vise | | | | Though there are several ways of wrapping |
| is the first piece of equipment you will need since | | | | hackle in trout fly tying, a good basic technique |
| you won't be able to tie very well if the hook isn't | | | | for trout fly tying is to take a feather |
| held firmly. Next is a good, bright lamp to light the | | | | approximately four inches long and strip the fluff |
| work area well. Others tools needed are as | | | | off the quill until about two-thirds of the quill is |
| follows: bobbins, bobbin threaders, scissors, needle- | | | | bare. Trim the thick end of the quill off so it is |
| nosed pliers, hackle pliers, bodkin/half hitch tool, | | | | easier to tie onto the hook shaft without being |
| and round toothpicks. As proficiency is developed, | | | | bulky. With your forefinger and thumb, rub the |
| other tools that will help in trout fly tying can be | | | | feather against the 'grain' until it is spiky. Tie the |
| added to the list, such as whip finishers that aide | | | | quill end to the shaft, fold the spiked feather in |
| in tying off the fly. | | | | half length-wise and wrap it around the shaft |
| The materials needed for trout fly tying will | | | | three or four times so the quill is lined up against |
| consist of some basics and items specific to the | | | | itself on the wrap but not overlapping. |
| kind of fly being tied. No matter what type of | | | | There are many techniques in trout fly tying, |
| trout fly tying you will be doing, you will need #8 | | | | from tying the thread onto the hook to finishing |
| and #10 size hooks, size 6/0 black thread, fine | | | | off the fly, that can be modified to suit the |
| vinyl rib, copper wire and head cement. Other | | | | particular person and the type of trout fly tying |
| materials that are good to keep on hand for trout | | | | being done. Each pattern in trout fly tying will have |
| fly tying are red wool yarn, medium chenille in | | | | its own techniques. There are different types of |
| black, olive and brown, Grizzly hackle, black and | | | | flies to tie, such as dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, |
| green marabou, medium silver tinsel, strips cut | | | | streamers and bucktails. Experimenting with |
| from a plastic freezer bag, pheasant feathers of | | | | different techniques and different types of flies |
| the type used for hackles on wet flies, pheasant | | | | will help you to find the best methods for your |
| tail feathers, bead eyes and peacock herl. | | | | trout fly tying. |
| A basic technique to master in trout fly tying is | | | | |