Three simple dubbing techniques
This is another very important tutorial, illustrating how the same dubbing can be used in three different techniques for three very different results. All three of these techniques can be utilized on all types on many different style of fly. 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 solid start and establish a good foundation for mastering the art of fly tying. If you have any questions regarding anything “fly tying” you can post a comment and I’ll try and answer it as soon as possible. If you know anyone that is starting tying, especially youngsters, please recommend this new series for them, they are the future of our craft!
Royal Wulff
This totally new technique and material makes it possible to tie flies like the classic Royal Wulff perfect every time in under 3 minutes. This technique is still in development but its looking promising for most patterns and will change fly tying as we know it when fully mastered!
The Muskrat Nymph
A little variant of Andre Puyan’s famous Muskrat mayfly nymph. Hook: Mustad S60 nymph hook # 8-14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown Tail: Moose body hair Rib: Copper wire Abdomen: Muskrat fur Wing case: Moose body hair coated with UV resin Thorax: Muskrat fur
54 Dean Street with a 15% stay home discount!
A great selection of materials and other fly tying stuff at a stay home discounted price and great service… Do some online shopping while you have time at home…
Attaching tying thread & Thread control
Following up the video on how to set bobbin tension, this is another very important tutorial, although a skill taken for granted, this shows how to attach your tying thread to the hook shank and how to master & retain basic thread control throughout your tying. 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 solid start and establish a good foundation for mastering the art of fly tying. If you have any questions regarding anything “fly tying” you can post a comment and I’ll try and answer it as soon as possible. If you know anyone that is starting tying, especially youngsters, please recommend this new series for them, they are the future of our craft!
Unprecedented times
“During these unprecedented times of self isolation, it’s extremely important that we occupy ourselves with activities that we enjoy. Fly tying is not only a great activity for both adults and children alike, but a fabulous activity to share and do together. Tying flies for a anticipated fishing trip also gives hope for a brighter future.” You can visit the feather bender YouTube Channel for more techniques and patterns to tie with your nearest & dearest!
Setting your bobbin tension
The second short video in the series, fly tying for beginners. One of the most important elementary skills is knowing how to set the tension on your bobbin holder. This little tutorial will help stop your bobbin holder un-winding thread, under its own weight when hanging from the hook when tension is too little, and stop you breaking your thread when wrapping, because tension is too much. Remember to adjust your bobbin each time you feel the tension is not to your liking, and every time you use a different spool size. 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 solid start and establish a good foundation for mastering the art of fly tying. If you have any questions regarding anything “fly tying” you can post a comment and I’ll try and answer it as soon as possible. If you know anyone that is starting tying, especially youngsters, please recommend this new series for them, they are the future of our craft!
Foam Post March Brown
A simple but extremely effective March Brown emerger that can be tied in sizes 10-16. The foam post and parachute hackle give perfect presentation and will float all day long. Hook: Mustad C49S # 12 Thread: Sheer brown 14/0 Trailing shuck: White para post Abdomen: Light brown Twinkle Thorax: Hares era Antron blend Post: 2.3 mm Yellow foam cylinder Hackle: Whiting Grizzle saddle dyed March Brown
Fly Tying for Beginners #1
In this new series, I will be making many short videos that cover all the elementary fly tying techniques, basic materials, tools and know how. These will hopefully help all those who are new to our craft, fly tying clubs & workshops, to get the new beginner of to a solid start and establish a good foundation for mastering the art of fly tying. If you have any questions regarding anything “fly tying” you can post a comment and I’ll try and answer it as soon as possible. If you know anyone that is starting tying, especially youngsters, please recommend this new series for them, they are the future of our craft!
Quick foam hopper
You don’t need anything more complicated for fishing a grasshopper. This is a quick and extremely easy pattern that everyone can tie. Just change the colour and size you need to match the hatch. Tied in all black it also makes a excellent cricket imitation.
Antron caddis pupa
A semi realistic caddis pupa thats a real easy tie. Just learn the technique and change the colour of Antron to match your hatch.
The Grizzly Muddler
A little twist on a well known classic with a couple old but good techniques. One of my most productive streamers, especially for sea run browns.
Hook: Mustad S71 # 4 Thread: Dyneema Tail & Wing: Grizzle hackle tips Body: Silver Holo Braid Collar: Webby grizzle hackle Head: Spun natural deer hair
Deer hair hackle suspender midge
The second technique for tying a deer hair parachute hackle with an extremely buggy effect, that will float all day long and then some.
Keep calm & tie flies…
I feel that you visit this site for fun, for fly tying, and hopefully to be inspired. I also feel that for some of you right now, in these dark times, it may feel inappropriate and wrong. I completely understand that many of you will not want to visit during this time as you might find it trivial in respect to what the world is facing right now. However, I am also aware that if we are going to be spending more time at home, then we need to find things we can do, read and learn to pass at least some of the time. In addition, many of you are older and may enjoy this as a place to hang out and chat about things. And, let’s be honest, if we’re going to be at home more, then maybe now’s the time to sort out those hooks and materials and fill those fly boxes for the coming season… so for those of you that continue to visit, how about we really get into the comments? I am in quarantine myself so I’m ready to answer any fly tying questions you may have. Let’s check on each other, look after each other’s mental health and well-being while feeling calmed and inspired by our chosen art of fly tying. Some of you will live alone and some of you will know people who live alone, give them a call, show some empathy, they may need someone to do the shopping for them, or just chat? Be kind, be nice and let’s look out for each other. Stay safe, keep calm and tie flies.
Mosquito or midge?
A simple but effective pattern for mosquito and midge fishing with a couple of nifty techniques and only using Grizzle hackle and moose mane hair.
Tying a Chocolate & Vanilla Chomper
One of the first patterns I tied and fished. The original had a Raffia shell back. This quick and easy pattern is still catching fish for me today, in both fresh and salt water. Although chocolate & vanilla is my top colour combo, try different colours for your own custom chomper’s. You won’t be disappointed.
#16 Black Gnat wet fly.
This # 16 wet fly is loosely based upon Halford’s original dry that is still used by a great deal of anglers today. Constructed from traditional materials, crow, wood pigeon & starling, with this on the end of your line, cast down and swung across stream, few wild fish will let it pass.
Tying a pale morning dun nymph
This is a little Pale Morning Dun Nymph that ticks all the boxes under difficult conditions.
Diving caddis
This is a diving or egg laying caddis that is fished just under the surface with long slow pulls. The combination of partridge hackle and hen mallard breast feathers is a real fish attractor.
Hares Ear Variant
Not only one of the first flies you should learn to tie, but also tied in 2 or 3 sizes, one of the most important flies to have in your box. There are so many hares ear variants out there, this is my personal best, where experience says, the buggier the better.
CDC Para weld
This is a technique that I have been working on some time now, trying to develope the perfect CdC parachute hackle that doesn’t interfear with the underside of the thorax in anyway and I beleive that this is pretty close.
