Getting the right amount of dubbing on your thread to make a fly body can be tough for some tiers, and the tendency is to use too much dubbing. The result is often a body that’s fatter than you want it to be, or you have to try to get the dubbing off your . . .
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Video: How to Measure Hackles
One of the keys to a well-proportioned fly pattern is using the correct size hackle. And it’s not just about the appearance of the fly, as most dry-fly patterns depend on a certain length of hackle to ride properly on the . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Taper the Ends of Synthetic Materials with Scissors
Last week, Tim demonstrated a cool “slip and slide” method for creating a tapered baitfish body with synthetic materials. In this week’s lesson, he shows you how to do it using scissors. The way he twists the materials . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Taper the Ends of Synthetic Materials
n this week’s lesson, Tim shows you how to create realistic, tapered bodies on baitfish patterns that use synthetic materials. Most baitfish are naturally tapered front to back, so a fly that ends in a straight line of fibers won’t . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Add Dubbing with Finesse, Part 2
In the first video about what Tim calls “finesse dubbing,” he demonstrates how to start sparse and then go even sparser to create a thin, even noodle. Here, he shows you how to deal with a couple problems that may arise . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Add Dubbing with Finesse
The phrase “Less is more” can be applied to many aspects of fly tying, but it’s especially true when you’re talking about adding dubbing to thread. Many tiers grab too big a pinch and then try to force it into a thin noodle on . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie-In Mixed Brown and Grizzly Hackles
The recipes for some popular dry-fly patterns, such as the classic Adams, call for both brown and grizzly hackle at the front. As Tim points out, it’s only natural for a tier to wonder if they really need both; it would certainly be easier . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Hold Fly-Tying Materials Out of the Way
When you’re tying a pattern that features long hackles, legs, or other materials, keeping them out of the way while you tie can be a frustrating process. As Tim notes here, some vises feature special material-holding springs or . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Debarb Hooks Before You Tie
If you like to fish barbless–the value of which is a debate for another day–you’ll find it’s much easier to do a good job mashing the hook barb before you tie the fly. That way, no materials are in the way, and you’re not trying to do . . .
Read MoreVideo: Understanding Hackle Feathers
Hackles are used widely in fly tying, but the wall of your shop features several different kind of hackels–saddles, necks, strung hackle–from both cocks and hens. How do you know which to use and when? Here, Tim offers a basic breakdown of the . . .
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