Fly Tying

For many of you out there who have dipped your feet in the water (so to speak) when it comes to fishing, but don't know how to start, fly fishing may remain a mystery to you. Fly fishing is a great hobby to get into and can be very relaxing. One of the problems of fly fishing, however, is the hooks that you need to use can be a great expense, especially if you keep losing them without catching any fish in return.

This does not have to be the case however. With a little practice, you can learn the gentle art of fly tying. By doing so, you will not only be saving a little money, but you will have a greater appreciation of the sport as a whole. I you would like to learn fly tying, the buzzer is a great place to start. A buzzer is a very simple design, yet still very effective. It is designed to imitate the pupa of a midge, which is very similar to a mosquito. You can tie a buzzer on a range of hook sizes, from 8 to 14. They can also be tied on both curved and shank hooks. Most people will tell you that they generally use size 10 or size 12 for their buzzers, as these sizes most closely reflect the actual size of the actual pupa. To start learning the skill of fly tying buzzers, you will need to get a few pieces of equipment...

A fly tying vice - There are many different types of fly tying vices on the market, and they could set you back as little as $20 to as much as $150. Of course, it depends on how much you are willing (and able) to spend, but generally speaking anything in the mid range (around $50 plus) should be of a decent quality. You will also need scissors - a small sharp pair is recommended, with a fine point, a bobbin holder, and a bobbin of coloured fly tying thread. There are many different colours of thread you can choose from, and trial and error is needed here to determine which colour is best for you. I personally have had a lot of luck with the plain black thread. You will also require a reel of silver wire, some fly tying varnish, a long needle and the hook that you will be tying onto.

Fly Tying - The Buzzer

The first thing you need to do is place the hook in the fly tying and vice and tighten it. Try and keep the sharp end of the hook covered inside the vice, as this will prevent any nasty jabs while you are working, and also prevents the thread from being damaged. Hold the black thread up against the side of the hook, and spin it around the base about 6 to 10 times. It should now be secure, and you can snip the end bit off. Now you can keep wrapping the thread up the base of the hook, moving a little bit up with every turn so that the hook is nicely covered in thread. When you get down near the vice, insert the end of your silver wire and wrap the thread around the wire a few times to secure it in place. Once it is secure, you can start moving your way back up the hook with your thread, in the same manner as you came down. Continue moving moving up and down the hook a few times and then wind your wire up to the base of the hook, creating a nice ridged effect. Snip the remaining wire off, and now you can start creating the "thorax" of your fly. This is achieved by continuing to wrap your black thread around and around near the eye of the hook to create a bulging effect. Once you have the thorax looking nice and bulgy, tie off the end of your thread using a couple of half hitches so that it doesn't slip.

To finish your fly off, you will need to varnish it. Ideally, you should give it a couple of coats, but you will need to wait ten minutes between coats to allow it to dry. Use a hatpin or something similar to apply the varnish, and you are ready to go and catch those fish.