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

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.

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

Peak Vice

Peak Pedestal ViceThis large stable pedestal base model Peak Vice will hold where you set it, and the non-marking feet protect the surface you set it on. The steel base is powder coated in white, for a surface that will provide a backdrop you can see your materials against.
The base also includes an integrated hook/bead pocket with rounded edges for ease of removal, and our accessory post-mounting holes. The base is designed to pack flat for travel with the vice removed.
The rotation resistance adjustment screw provides infinite adjustment and is easily manipulated for right or left-handed tyers. A height and length adjustable bobbin cradle and pivot mount are supplied with the vice. Loosening a single set screw allows the vice to be removed for travel, the brass tip on the set screw prevents marring the vice shaft.
*Lifetime warranty against defects in material or workmanship* makes this a vice a very good acquisition for anyone in the market for a new vice, also available are an extensive range or accessories that you can add as and when you need them.

View the full range of Peak Fly Tying Vices and Accessories  available at Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK.

Dr Slick Titanium Bobbin 4″

Dr Slick Titanium 4" BobbinBobbins are the critical tool in tying since they must keep smooth tension on the thread spool and have super smooth inserts to apply the thread to your fly. To this end, Dr Slick have created two series of bobbins that handle these tasks with ease. Both series have delrin feet for smooth tension on the thread spool and have either dual ceramic or titanium oxide funnel inserts for smooth application of thread to fly. These funnel shaped inserts allow for a smoother application of thread as the bobbin is rotated and they cause less breakage than traditional pipe or straight edged inserts.

Titanium Oxide Inserts are a much newer generation of material that is more lubricious than ceramic. There is a raised micro pebbled or egg carton pattern on the insert that cuts down on surface tension. Ridiculously slick!

Check our full range of Dr Slick Fly Tying Products at  Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK.

Hemingways Fly Tying Materials

Hemingway’s unique selection of Fly Tying Materials includes Dubbing packs, Artificial Mayfly, Caddis and Stonefly Bodies, Wing Cases and Wings, CDC feathers, Rubber Legs, Dubbing Brushes and Nymph Body Foil.

Hemingway Mayfly Bodies small and largeMayfly Bodies
For tying perfect and hyperrealistic imitations of mayflies on hook sizes 6-18.
Available in 2 sizes and 6 colours.
Hemingway Mayfly Wings 5 Sizes

 


Mayfly wings
Realistic Mayfly wings. Pre formed, Pre Cut flexible, waterproof UV resistant. Thermostable.
Available in 5 sizes, 6 colours and 2 styles.

Caddis Wings
HMG realistic wings. Pre-formed, pre-cut, flexible, transparent, hi-durable, waterproof and UV resistant.
Available in 4 sizes and 5 colours.

Stonefly Wings
HMG Realistic Wings. Pre-formed, pre-cut, flexible, transparent, hi-durable, waterproof and UV resistant. Available in 12 size/colours.

Hemingway Dubbing

Hemingway Dubbing PacketsCzech Nymph Dubbing
Hand-made dubbing blend for the Czech Nymphs in 20 popular colours. It consists of rabbit, fine antron, camel hair, and fine pearlesent fibers.

Quick Descent Dubbing
A mixture with aluminium metal dubbing that sinks like lead, it’ll quickly become a favourite because it dubs so easily.

Deer Hair Dubbing
Excellent, hi-floating mixture with cut, dyed and curled winter deer hair. For tying nymph thoraxes. Great for dry caddis patterns.

Synthetic Dubbing
Synthetic dubbing is generally constructed of nylon materials and resembles natural dubbing quite closely. This material is an excellent substitute in any nymph pattern calling natural dubbing, but synthetic dubbing is a top choice for dry fly tyers because of it’s excellent water resistance capabilities and extremely light weight.

Hare’s Dubbing
Pre-blended 100% rabbit fur. Underfur and guard hairs are blended. This is the most widely used dubbing material. Longer hair makes it easy to dub. Perfect for both dry flies and nymphs.

UV Dubbing
Excellent dubbing with nice sparkle effect will make your pattern more attractive.

Hare’s Plus Dubbing
Hare’s Plus Dubbing is a blend of hare’s ear, guard hairs, and a small touch of fine sparkling fibres, giving your flies very spiky and transloucent appearance. Excellent fur for nymphs, emergers, wets and streamers.

Peacock Dubbing
This is a great substitution of natural peacock herl. Easy to tie buggy looking and durable “peacock” fly bodies.

Starlite Dubbing
HMG Starlite is very fine mylar type material. Can be formed into hanks and used for big streamers or cut for dubbing your small flies. Works very well with most other materials for dubbing and it doesn’t absorb water, so large flies don’t get heavier. If you like stuff that sparkles and glitters it just doesn’t get any better than this.

Dubbing Selections

Hemingway Dubbing 9 Selections Hemingway Fly Tying Materials are available from Fly Fishing Tackle Co UK