Tying Your Own Flies Comercially manufactured fly-lures are available in an impressive array from most fly-fishing outfitters. Many fly-fishing enthusiasts, however, extend their dedication to the sport by making -- or tying -- their own flies. The objective in fly-tying is to create lures that visually mimic the actual insects and insect-larvae that the trout naturally feed upon in a particular stream. Joe Shedlock goes through the steps involved in creating one particular artificial fly that he likes to use: a sinking fly known as the hare's ear nymph. Here are the tools and materials you'll need to tie a fly like the one shown in the demonstration: Fly-tying vise
Scissors
Pliers
Thread and bobbin
Dubbing loop tool
Heavy wire hook
Hare's ear
Peacock feathers
Pheasant-tail feathers
Gold tinsel
Steps:
- Place the bare hook in the vise (figure A).
- After the hook is secured in the vise (figure B), cover the hook's shank with a layer of thread (figure C).
- The next step is to apply the tail-feathers. Measure the tail-feather material against the shank of the hook to determine the size you'll need. Pinch the feather material, hook and thread between your fingers to secure the feather to the shank (figure D) by looping it with thread.
- Add a little tinsel, and trim the excess length from the tail-feathers.
- To create the body of the nymph, some hare's ear is pre-rolled to create a wick. Take one end of the wick and trap it between two loops of the thread that's been tied to the shank.
- Once the end of the fuzzy fibers are attached, use a wire dubbing-loop tool to twist the hare's ear to form a rope (figure E).
- Once the fibers are twisted into a tight rope, wrap it around the shank of the hook to mimic the abdomen of the insect nymph. Once it's wrapped, loop the end with thread (figure F) and tie it off. Clip off the excess hare's ear.
- Next, add the peacock feathers (figure G) to emulate the developing wing pads of the insect.
- Loop and tie the peacock feathers securely with thread near the eye of the hook (figure H).
- With the thread still hanging (figure I), apply some additional tufts of fur to the shank and trap it with the loops of the thread.
- As before, with the hare's ear trapped in the thread, twist it so that the fibers flare out (figure J), creating extensions that simulate the legs of the nymph.
- Wrap the fibers around the shank near the eye of the hook to imitate the thorax of the insect, and tie it off with thread (figure K). Cut off the excess thread.
- Wrap some gold tinsel around the "abdomen." Tie off the tinsel and cut off the excess.
- Trim off the excess peacock-feather material (figure L) to complete the fly (figure M).
RESOURCES :
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fly Fishing
ISBN: 0028629531
Author: Michael D. Shook
Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine
The online version of the fly-fishing magazine, Fly Fishing & Fly Tying .
Web site: www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk
The Complete Book of Fly Fishing
Author: Tom McNally and Tom Beecham
Smithgall Woods Conservation Area
Smithgall Woods Conservation Area
Web site:
www.smithgallwoods.com
-or-
ngeorgia.com/parks/smithgall.html
GUESTS :
Joe Shedlock
Orvis Company
1711 Blue Hills Drive
Roanoke, VA 24012-8613
Tollfree Phone: 888-235-9763
Website: www.orvis.com
Joe Shedlock is an instructor with the Orvis School of Fly-Fishing.
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