An extremely quick and easy, yet effective pattern that can be mastered by tyers of all levels. This Ugly or scruffy mayfly dun includes a few interesting techniques for making dubbing and applying it. Don’t be fooled by it’s simplicity, … Continue reading Tying the Ugly May
If you are a subscriber to The Feather Bender, you may have noticed a new look to the site over the last few days. It’ been a long time coming, but its here now! As a little celebration I will be drawing one lucky subscriber to win a signed copy of my latest book and a small box of flies tied by me. If you all ready subscribe, all you have to do is like this post and share it to one of the social media tags to the left. If you are not a subscriber, scroll down the column … Continue reading The Feather Bender’s Tying Techniques giveaway
Five different but simple dubbing techniques using the same hair, to give five very different effects. All these techniques can be used with many types of hair & fur and adapted for dry, nymph, wet and streamer patterns. If these simple skills are learned and practiced they will not only improve your tying but also make your time spent at the vice, much more enjoyable, and will result in neater and quicker flies. These short tutorials will hopefully help all those who are new to our craft, fly tying clubs & workshops, to get the new beginner off to a … Continue reading Dubbing techniques with fur & hair
Another tutorial on wings. This time the realistic origami wings that when coated with UV resin look like the real thing. Although not really for fishing but a nice technique if you are going to tie up some super realistic mayfly patterns. Continue reading Origami super realistic mayfly wings
A foam extended body mayfly with a parachute hackle that will float all day long and then some. Don’t be fooled by this simple pattern that is not as challenging to tie as it looks, it just takes a little time. Continue reading Foam body mayfly technique
Sticky post
This Wally wing mayfly is a semi-realistic spinner, that is fun to tie for those of you that enjoy this type of pattern. Not only a good looking fly but also a great fishing fly! Don’t be fooled by the … Continue reading Tying a mayfly spinner-Wally wing
Heres a little tutorial showing how to use Marc Petitjean’s Magic Tool. Everything from a single CDC hackle to mixing deer hair and CDC for special techniques. If you enjoy watching the videos please subscribe to my YouTube channel . … Continue reading Marc Petitjean Magic tool tutorial
A little tutorial for choosing and prepping buck tails for best results. This short video will show you how to get the most out of your buck tail, and choose the right hair from the right place for the right … Continue reading Choosing and prepping buck tail
This simple technique shows you how to chemically strip peacock eye tops using just a few household items. One of the jobs that was essential for earlier fly tyers when stripped quills where not available. Always good to know! Continue reading Stripping peacock quills
Like a hares mask, the deer mask offers an abundance of material for the fly tyer. In this tutorial I show how to skin and prep a European roe deer mask. If you don’t hunt yourself, you may know a … Continue reading How to skin Deer mask for fly tying
A couple of simple techniques that make for perfect split mayfly tails every time. If you enjoy watching the videos please subscribe to my YouTube channel below. Your help and support in keeping the channel going is greatly appreciated. Thanks… https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYb8DCVlYijoCYgvx_v2EuQ Continue reading Mayfly tailing techniques
Another dry fly hackle tutorial this time the paraloop technique. Although I don’t use this hackle much its a great choice for emerger patterns. Please subscribe to my You Tube channel on the link below to receive the videos as they are published. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYb8DCVlYijoCYgvx_v2EuQ Continue reading Tying a paraloop hackle tutorial
Dry fly hackle tutorial # 2 parachute perfect. Not the traditional technique for tying a parachute hackle but a very precise one I have used with great success and avoids having to whip-finish at the hook eye. Continue reading Parachute perfect!
Dry fly hackle technique #1. After having many questions regarding my hackling techniques here is my way of tying a perfect 90 degree traditional style dry fly collar hackle that will produce a perfect hackle every time. Continue reading Dry Fly hackle technique # 1
This is an old but still good and quick method for tying the knots in pheasant tail fibres for crane fly and hopper legs. Its like riding a bike once learnt never forgotten! Please remember to subscribe to the feather benders You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYb8DCVlYijoCYgvx_v2EuQ Continue reading Daddy’s legs
This is a priceless little trick for improving the grip of most hackle pliers substantially! Continue reading Improving your hackle pliers!
I thought some of you would like to see this. Just the other weekend my wife was tidying her wardrobe, something that I try at all costs not to get involved with, but this time was a little different! Stacked away in a drawer of an old but not forgotten jewellery box, she came across a little piece of fly tying history. Way back in the mid 90’s Torill Kolbu visited and stayed with us a couple of days while we worked on some photography for some articles. As a thank you to my wife Torill tied her a pair … Continue reading A little piece of fly tying history, safe and sound!