Fly Tying - The Only Guide You Need

If you've been fishing for a while, then perhaps you've been tempted to to tie your own flies, or at least, learn a bit more about it.

Here's what you need to know.

1. A bad knot can mean you lose the fish as you're trying to catch it. It's much better and easier to tie your flies at home rather than when you're actually out fishing.

2. It's advisable to lubricate the knot to make it slide into place better. This will help it from working loose, and so the knot will last longer.

3. Once you've finishes, you'll need to seal the knot with a long pull. This will ensure that the knot it as tight as you can get it, and so it won't work loose. The longer the ends, the more leverage you'll have.

4. Don't forget to cut the ends off the knot. This helps to make the fly look more authentic, and so will be more attractive to the fish you're trying to catch.

5. You don't need to spend a fortune or a long time creating your perfect flies, in order to have something effective. You might find that some of the more rushed, or ragged flies actually attract the most fish.

6. Many household items that you might throw away, such as foil or anything reflective and colourful can be used for creating your own flies. What about using the foil and cellophane from sweet wrappers, for example?

7. There are even some rather unlikely materials that can be tied to create flies. You might never have thought of using dog hair, feathers, foam packaging or beads, but some anglers swear by them. Why not see what you can come up with?

8. Don't forget to save suitable things in a box, so that you'll always know where they are, and what you've got. You don't want to find the perfect fly material, only to lose it.

9. It's likely to be a matter of trial and error to find which the most effective flies are. You might speak to friends and other anglers to see what sort of things they're using, or find out more about what the fish normally eat in order to try and mimic them.

10. Don't forget to be creative, and think for yourself. You might have different ideas to your friends, or read something that shouldn't work but does. You can try very colourful or reflective materials, or different textures to see what works for you.

Now you know more about some of the things to be aware of, why not have a go at fly tying yourself?

Discover a wide range of Fly Tying and other Fly Fishing Flies and accessories, at JohnNorris.co.uk today. If you're a keen angler then you'll want to make sure that you've got all the fishing tackle you need.