Fly tying is the art of producing an artificial fly to be used by fly fishermen to catch fish. Or, as defined by Helen Shaw, author of the perennial favorite fly tying book, Fly-Tying, “Fly-tying is a simple process of binding various materials to a hook with thread.”.

In tying artificial flies, one has to be knowledgeable about fish and their prey as fly tying is all about imitating some form of fish prey with natural or synthetic materials bound to a hook. In other words, when tying artificial flies one is trying to make something that a fish would want to eat.

There are three things one needs when tying flies: some basic tools and equipment, appropriate materials to make the fly out of, and a pattern of the fly you want to replicate.

Having the proper tools always makes any job easier and more rewarding. The basic tools used in fly tying include a vise which is used to hold the hook of the fly; magnifying glass for close-up, delicate work; lights; hackle pliers; hackle gauges; bobbins; scissors; and hair stackers. Those are the basic tools needed. Some optional tools are toothpicks, wing burners, whip finishers, bodkin or dubbing needles, and bobbin holder/threader.

Materials used in fly tying include both natural and synthetic materials and include natural and dyed feathers, hair, and fur, thread, yarn, cork, balsa, tinsel, rubber, plastic, glass, tungsten, brass, wire, hooks, and different cements or epoxies.

The fly pattern is the “instructions” for tying a particular fly. The pattern tells you the size and type of hook to be used; the type, color, and size of the material to use; and sometimes the specific tying instructions to achieve a particular effect. Patterns may also list alternative materials which can be used for possible variations of the fly. Fly patterns allow different tyers the ability to reproduce the same fly with consistent, similar results. Fly patterns can be found in fly fishing literature, periodicals, and books.

Many fly fisherman tie their own flies as a way to save some money. Others find it a challenging and rewarding hobby and still others have turned their fly tying into a profitable commercial business. Hand-tied flies usually retail for less than a dollar a piece up to several dollars each.