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How to Make Fly Fishing Flies

How to Make Fly Fishing Flies

Trout Lore on Flickr

One of the advantages of fly fishing is that you don't need to use animal bait. Instead, "flies" are used to trigger a fish's instincts and coax it into biting onto the lure. The key to effective flies is that they look like something that might be found in that fish's habitat. A popular type of fly is the hackle fly, which looks to a fish much like a waterlogged or drowned bug. In just a few minutes, you can make your own hackle fly at home with little expense.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:
  • Small hook Gut (from a silkworm) Silk Feather, color of your choice
  • Small hook
  • Gut (from a silkworm)
  • Silk
  • Feather, color of your choice
Step 1
Place your small hook between your left index finger and thumb. The hook point should be near the end of your finger. Place the gut along the top of the shank and bind it tightly to the hook with silk, starting halfway down the shank.
Step 2
Wrap the end of the gut, taking two turns back down the gut to create the head of the fly.
Step 3
Lay your feather along the hook, with the point still towards your finger, and wrap it three times over with silk. Clip the points of the feather and bind it around the gut until it is hidden.
Step 4
Tie the silk around the feather's root to bind the end of the fly tail.
Step 5
Knot and cut any excess material. Use a needle to trim the feather fiber's down to the length you desire.

Article Written By Jonathan Croswell

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." Croswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nebraska and is currently pursuing a Master's of Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University.

Write for Trails.com

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