Some of the Best Fly Tying Instruction Books (part 1)

In recent years the advent of YouTube, Vimeo and similar free online video libraries, has been hugely beneficial for the sharing of fly tying tips and demonstrations. In the past people would travel miles to sit and learn from a master fly tier. These days there is no need – it is all out there in front of them on the internet.

But for all these great video clips, there is still no substitute for a well produced, clear, step by step fly tying guide in book form that you can work to at your own speed. And there is still no real substitute to a comprehensive fly tying directory of patterns.

We are still selling as many fly tying books as ever, and the standard of these books has never been higher.  So which ones are likely to be the most helpful.  Below I have listed a few of the most popular for beginners which I personally rate highly for being the most useful.

BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS

 Peter Gathercole’s Fly Tying For Beginners

gathercole beginners-pg-bookThis is modestly described as an introduction to tools, materials and techniques with instructions for tying 50 fail safe flies, but the book is far more than this. It is a book which will be helpful to both novice and more experienced tiers alike.

This is a hard back but the pages are bound by rings which enable the pages to be opened wide and flat so that the very clearly illustrated steps for tying each fly are easy to follow, and there is no problem keeping the book open. Print is reasonably large, well spaced and easy to read.

The book opens with a short explanation of the layout of the book and general tools and materials, followed by illustrated demonstrations of core techniques.

The variety of patterns covers most flies for most types of fly and most situations of fly Fly Tying For Beginners Book  by P Gathercolefishng, including trout stream, stillwater, grayling, salmon, pike and saltwater flies. These are easily found using the Fly Selector pages

Peter Gathercole is a master fly tier, and he provides a superb range of techniques and tips throughout the book from the basics of securing the thread to the hook and applying varnish, to using a whip finisher, tying parachute hackles, collar hackles, spinner wings, hairwings, dubbing loops, spinning deer hair, paired wings

At the back of each book there is a helpful glossary and index

In my opinion, if you are only ever going to buy one book, this is definitely the book to choose.

Fly Tying For Beginners is distributed by Veniard, and can be purchased from Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK                             

Price: £16.00

The Flytier’s Manual by Mike Dawes

This is a large softback book with some good line drawing illustrations to compliment the colour photographs of the finished fly patterns. The selection of patterns includes many basic, standard wet flies, nymphs, dry flies, streamers and lures as well as a fairly big list of single salmon flies and a couple of shrimp doubles.

The introductory Chapter on equipment, materials and basic techniques is far too basic, and although tools and vice are mentioned there is no instruction on how to use them (which is essential for a novice with no instructor).

Skyhorse Publishing are bringing out a new edition in the near future in which there may well be some important updates and additions.

Veniard Beginners Guide to Fly-Tying – Chris Mann & Terry Griffiths

mann-griffiths beginners guideThis excellent book is written for the raw beginner to fly-tying and as such uses clear, straightforward instructions and coloured illustrations, making it easy to learn quickly how to tie effective flies. Some of the finer points of fly-tying wizardry are unveiled and will be of interest to the beginner and the more experienced alike.
Venaird have also produced a separate Fly Tying Materials Kit with the materials selected and sourced to compliment the book. They include enough of everything, including hooks, to tie any of the patterns provided, without having to buy any other materials.

Veniard Beginners Guide To  Fly-Tying Book and Materials can be purchased from Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK

Book Price: £14.60 (Including VAT at 20%)
Materials Kit Price: £14.95

Fly-Tying Hooks

If you tie your own flies, picking the right hook for the right pattern is essential. Today we have a multitude of hook patterns from different suppliers, all of good quality, unlike when I started out tying my own some thirty years ago, not only were the patterns limited and fairly crude with a tendency to straighten out on a big fish, you often had to sharpen them and keep them sharp, when was the last time you had to sharpen a trout hook?

Tiemco Hooks

Tiemco 212Y Emerger HookTiemco’s advanced methods have revolutionised the design and manufacture of fly hooks. Tiemco has become the world-wide leader by introducing new hook styles that let flies look more life-like and by pioneering new manufacturing processes, such as chemical sharpening to improve hook performance.
Each year they add new hook designs, extending the range of their hooks to meet the expanding needs of innovative fly-tyers. Each Tiemco hook style is designed specifically to Tiemco 2499SPBL Barbless Hooksatisfy the most demanding customers in the world: the fly-tyers.
Tiemco fly hooks are made with fly fishing in mind, and as a sharp, strong hook may be the single most important component in your fly fishing gear.

For more details of the full range visit Tiemco Fly Tying Hooks

Kamasan Hooks

Kamasan B175 HooksKAMASAN offer a series of Chemically Sharpened Needle Point High Carbon Hooks.
Each pattern has been specifically designed for the fly-fishing Kamasan B420 Hooksmarket. This exceptional point in combination with a small superbly proportioned barb all adds up to the next step forward in fishing technology.

For more details of the full range visit Kamasan Fly Tying Hooks .

Partridge Hooks

Partridge 5017 Kilnkhammer HookFly Fishing Tackle Co UK is delighted to add the full range of the relaunched Partridge Hooks to its online site. We try to keep in stock all of the popular hooks. These include almost all of the sizes of Salar single, double, treble and tube hooks and Flashpoint trout hooks (subject to availability). We also carry stocks of Ad Swier Pike Hooks, Waddingtons, Partridge Specialist Trout Hooks including Captain Hamilton, Partridge CS86 Predator HookSpecialist Saltwater including Aberdeen and Baitholder and Carp fishing hooks. All other varieties and sizes of Partridge hooks can be ordered but may take a little longer to be supplied.

For more details of the full range visit  Partridge Fly Tying Hooks

VARIVAS Fresh Water Hooks

Varivas IWI S2000The VARIVAS Fresh Water series are the latest innovation when it comes to tying fresh water flies. They are all made to the highest specification with points that make them the ultimate when it comes to sharpness. This range of hooks has recently been redesigned to focus on what makes VARIVAS the best when it comes to function and reliability. The fine dry fly series feature micro-barb and long-tapered points to give them superior setting properties while the wet and streamer ranges feature the famous VARIVAS V-CUT point to enable the fisherman to easily set the hook and play even the most aggressive fish. All hooks are down-eyed (except the Keel Streamer). Packed in 30’s (dry) and 25’s (wet / streamers), all hooks come in a unique stackable plastic box with a flip-open front panel to protect and organize them.

VARIVAS Saltwater Hooks

Varivas 2510WB Keel HookThe VARIVAS 2600 Salt Water series are the latest innovation when it comes to tying saltwater flies. They are all made to the highest specification and are the ultimate when it comes to sharpness. These modern looking hooks were designed by IGFA fly rod world record holding angler Eizo Maruhashi, using high-power carbon and stainless steel for extra strength enabling the fly fisher to hook, play and land large hard-fighting fish such as tarpon and sailfish.
The gape on these hooks is larger than that found on traditional hooks; the gape on a #4 hook is comparable to #2 on traditional style hooks. Packed in 12’s.

For more details of the full range visit Varivas Fly Tying Hooks .

Owner Hooks

Owner ST36 Treble HooksFly Fishing Tackle Co UK has a wide range of Owner hooks and fishing tackle and including Mutu Circle Hooks, saltwater treble hooks, salmon and bait hooks and some snelled hooks. We also sell Cultivar Lures and Owner fishing accessories. Many of these products we keep in stock (subject to availability). Non-stocked items of Owner fishing tackle can be ordered but will take a little longer to be delivered.

For more details of the full range visit Owner Fly Tying Hooks

Fulling Mill Hooks

Fulling Mill Short Shank SpecialScorpion & Hayabusa Hooks from Fulling Mill offer an excellent range of Hayabusa Fly 379 Dry Fly Hookhooks and sizes. Available in Packs of 50 or some patterns come in bulk packs of 1000 offering a huge saving if you are tying lots of the same size fly.

For more details of the full range visit Fulling Mill Fly Tying Hooks.

Turrall Hooks

Turrall 930 Barbless Wet Fly HooksThese hooks are the same hooks as used for their flies. Made from High Carbon Nickel Chrome Sheffield Steel in Redditch, the hooks feature dual-cone, centreless-ground, chemically sharpened Turrall 940 Salmon Single Hookspolished points and low-cut short micro barbs, Triple Coated for extra durability. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes as you would expect from a producer of high quality flies.

For more details of the full range visit   H Turrall Fly Tying Hooks

OR, Compare all the above brands of hooks at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK

New Tiemco Hooks

Tiemco introduced seven new fly tying hooks to their range in 2014, including barbless hooks, jig hooks and saltwater hooks.

TMC 403BLJ Jig Hooks tiemco black nickel barbless jig hook
Nymph, 60 degrees vertical eye, Wide gape, Medium wire, Super fine Barbless point, Black nickel. New Tiemco jig hook with needle sharp barbless point- the perfect hook for all your jig flies.
Sizes #8-#16   RRP 5.75

TMC 105 tmc 105 flytying hook
Egg Fly and Glo Bug, straight eye, 7X short, 2X strong, reversed bend, bronze.
Designed for Glo Bugs and Egg flies , however this short shank 2 x strong hook is also perfect for tying stillwater patterns like blobs. Pack of 20.
Sizes: #4-#10   RRP 3.95

TMC 112 TR tmc 112tr fly hook
Dry fly, down eye, 1X fine, 2.5X short, 2X wide, bronze.
Specifically designed for very selective trout. These 112TR’s have the same shape as the 112Y but with heavier wire for extra security. Pack of 20.
Sizes: #9-#19   RRP 3.95

TMC 212 TR Tiemco 212TR hook
Dry fly, down eye, 1X fine, 4X short, 5X wide, forged, bronzed.
Specifically designed for very selective trout. These 212TR’s have the same shape as the 212Y but with heavier wire for extra security. Pack of 20.
Sizes: #9-#19   RRP 3.95

TMC 2499SPB BL Hooks – Black Barblesstmc 2499spbl black nickel
Straight eye, 2X Heavy, 3X Wide, 2X Short, Forged, SPR point, Barbless, Black.
Truly versatile design, perfect for big fish on small nymphs, strong enough for steelhead, in a black finish for stealth. Pack of 20.
Sizes #8-#18   RRP 5.75

TMC 777SP Hookstiemco tmc 777sp black nickel hook
SPS Point, 2X heavy, 3.5X long, 2.5X wide, straight eye, forged black nickel.
This SP model is made of very strong carbon steel with a corrosion resistant black nickel finish. For smaller saltwater patterns, streamers, muddlers and sculpins. Pack of 10.
Sizes #6-#10   RRP 5.75

Tiemco TMC 800Stiemco tmc800s saltwater
Saltwater Fly, straight eye, heavy wire, semi dropped point, stainless.
A stainless steel saltwater hook designed for use on everything from tarpon to bonefish. Packs of 10 hooks.
Sizes #2-#8   RRP 5.75

You can check out the whole range of Tiemco Hooks at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK

Veevus Fly Tying Thread

Veevus supply six deniers of fly tying thread in 100m spools to cover most aspects of fly tying and in a range of colours.  They are one of the strongest tying threads available with the 16/0 only slightly weaker than a conventional 8/0.  This is fantastic for small flies as you can make as many turns as you like without over bulking the fly – and it is still strong enough to secure hairwings. 

veevus 16/0 thread

Veevus 16/0 Thread
Thread with a breaking strain of around 400g at least double most competitors.
Colours:
Black, White, Grey, Olive Dun, Red, Olive, Brown, Light Cahill (Primrose)

 

Veevus 14/0 Thread Veevus 14/0 thread
Another superb thread from Veevus, They can be unwound easily for use as a split thread and they have a small amount of stretch which is forgiving helps hold materials down snugly. Its very tough and nicely spooled.
Colours: – Black, White, Dark Brown, Red, Orange, Claret, Light Cahill, Olive, Pink

Veevus 12/0 Thread Veevus 12/0 fly tying thread
Approximatley half the size of 6/0.
Colours: – Black, White, Red, Dark Olive

 

 

 

Veevus 10/0 Thread veevus 10/0 flytying thead
A lot stronger than anything else about with the exception perhaps of Giorgio Benecchi 10/0 thread.
Colours: – Black, White, Hot Orange, Sunburst Yellow, Orange, Red

 

 

Veevus 8/0 Thread veevus 8/0 fly tying thread
A good high strength all round thread.
Colours: – Black, White, Red, Olive

 

 

 

Veevus 6/0 Thread veevus 6/0 tying thread
Great strong thread which can be unwound easily for use as a split thread and they have a small amount of stretch which is forgiving helps hold materials down snugly. Its very tough and nicely spooled.
Colours: – Black, White, Red

 

You can buy these superb Veevus threads while stock lasts at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK

 

Turrall Crinkleflash Micro

Turrall Micro Crinkle FlashThis Ultra Fine Crinkle Flash fly tying material from Turrall is perfect for adding a small amount of sparkle to flies without over egging the cake.
It’s perfect for using in wings and tails of dries, wets and lures.
You can also use it in lightly dressed salmon flies.
The red, orange and pearl work well with flies such as Compara Duns and Griffith’s Gnat, various wet flies such as Dabblers. The olive is perfect for Damsel patterns and the pink lends its self to grayling flies. It’s available in orange, pearl, pink, red, olive, fluoro yellow and fluoro chartreuse.

Check out Crinkleflash Micro and the full range of  Turrrall Fly Tying Materials at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK.

Morsetto Fly Tying Vices

Stonfo Morsetto Clamp Fly Tying ViceThe Morsetto Fly Lab Clamp Vice from Stonfo is a high quality rotary vise from Italy.
Infinite head angle adjustment and 360° rotary action. Adjustable rotary tension. Locking knob 0°-180°. Interchangeable hardened steel jaws (medium size).
A small and lightweight vice, perfect for those fly tyers who are moving  around, wether it’s demonstrations or fishing trips this vice covers the bases. Supplied with C Clamp ( for any table up to 50 mm thick ), spring material clip, comes with Allen Key and instruction manual.

Have a look at all the Stonfo Morsetto Fly Tying Vices and accessories at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK

Stonfo Fly Tying Tool Kit

If you are looking for a nice stocking filler for a fly tier, novice or experienced, these two kits could be what you are looking for.

Stonefly Limited Edition Fly Tying Tool KitThe Stonfo Limited Edition Tool Kit is a pocket sized tool kit. It has 5 tools: a whip finisher, a ceramic bobbin holder, a dubbing needle, hackle pliers and a pair of serrated bladed scissors.

All packed in an attractive aluminium box.

Check out our full range of Stonfo Fly Tying Products.

Using Owner Hooks

Owner ST36 TreblesOwner Hooks are amazing in their quality and strength,
available for freshwater and sea, they cover a lot of bases. Unfortunately they don’t make specific hooks for fly tying, unlike some of their rivals, the good news is you can use some of them anyway, like the ST36BC Treble Hook, in Black Chrome in sizes 18, 16 and 14 it’s perfect for Sea Trout Stingers.Owner Carp Hooks CT-1

If you are into fly fishing for Carp try the CT-1 Flyliner Teflon Carp Hook from their range of Carp Hooks, super strong, it is a great hook for tying Carp Flies on.

Owner AKI HooksIf you are into blue water fly fishing then you will love the AKI Hook for your steamers, heavy duty forged shank, Cutting Point®, straight eye and in Black Chrome finish, one for those big blue water game fish.

 Check out our full range of Owner Hooks.

Marc Petitjean Magic Tool Set

Marc Petitjean Magic Tool Set

Settle down at the back, I’ve not even mentioned his Magnum Tool Set yet!
If you have ever  tried to dub things like Krystalflash, Flashabou or Deerhair you will know how hard it can be, makes dubbing seals fur seem like a doddle.
There I was trying to dub some Deerhair onto a sedge pattern, complete nightmare, not to be defeated, I got the Marc Petitjean Magic Tool Set out, and was soon banging out Deerhair dubbing brushes. What I like about the Magic Tool is that it enables you to tie in all manner of materials into your dubbing brush at the same time without any problems at all.
Try mixing different colours and types of feathers and fur, including dubbing and/or synthetic materials, the Magic Tool will do the trick!
The Magic Tool Set comes with 3 table clips, 2 regular clips and 3 wooden dowels,
which can be used for winding and trimming synthetic materials such as Flashabou, Krystalflash or Floss into small strands of exactly the same size. It also comes with illustrated instructions.

Check out the full range of Marc Petitjean Fly TyingTools at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK.

New Fulling Mill Magni Doubles

Fulling Mill Magni Double Salmon HooksThe new Fulling Mill Magni Salmon Double Hooks. These high quality doubles are made specially for Fulling Mill by Hayabusa. The Magni Double Salmon hooks are available in Black Nickel, Silver and Gold finish. These hooks have excellent proportions, the shank is of medium length with seamless brazing, the ‘limerick style’ bend sweeps elegantly into a wide gape, the points are long straight and razor sharp, the big barb and strong wire add up to a sense of confidence and trust in these hooks. The Magni Double hooks come recommended by Trout & Salmon.

View the full range of Fulling Mill Hooks available from Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK