Ina Nektar Fly Fishing

Dry Fly Tying

Fly Fishing Equipment - The Basics For the Beginner

"What fly fishing equipment should I get?" I'm often asked that question by folk who are interested in learning how to fly fish. Sometimes, it seems so complicated. "Is it expensive?" is the second most often asked question.

Let's start with the second question first. While you can spend thousands of dollars on gear, you don't need to nor should you spend more than a couple of hundred dollars if you're just starting out. Depending on what conditions you will be fishing, you might even get away with less than that, too. I recommend that you speak with casting instructor who knows your area and what conditions you'll be fishing in at first. That person will be able to put you on the right track as to the specifics of what gear you should have.

To answer the question about what fly fishing equipment you'll need to get started, here are the basics. You can of course purchase much more, but why not wait before spending lots of money to find out if you'll enjoy the sport in the first place?

• A fly rod
• A reel that will hold the line
• Line (usually a floating line will do fine if you're targeting small to medium size rivers)
• 8 lb. test monofilament that you will use for leader material
• Flies
• Clippers
• Sunglasses

Optional equipment when you are starting out:

• Waders to keep you dry if fishing rivers
• A vest or bag to carry gear (and perhaps your lunch and a flask filled with something to drink if you are so inclined)
• Landing Net

And that's about it. The conditions you will fish will dictate the length of your rod as well as the weight of the line you will be casting. Most beginners can get away with selecting a rod in the 8 to 9 foot range and 5-6 line weight (wt.). Unless you will be after big fish, you can get by with a very inexpensive fly reel. All it does in most cases is hold the line for you. In many situations where the target fish are trout, you likely wont even need to use the drag on your reel. In most cases, tension is applied to the line with your hand.

Although many fly anglers have all sorts of systems for determining the correct leader thickness and taper, don't worry about that for now. Because the lure in fly fishing are very light weight, you are using the weight of the fly line and the ability of the rod to power the line forward when you cast your fly. Therefore, fly line is much thicker than the monofilament used in spinning or baitcast fishing. That's where the monofilament or leader comes in - it is tied to the end of the fly line, generally an 8 foot length is fine, and to the other end of the leader, you will tie your fly.

Although it is fun to tie your own flies, at this point it is probably best to obtain some from someone you know that ties up flies, or purchase them for a shop that sells them. If it is a local shop, they will be able to advise you as to what patterns that will be most likely to entice the fish to hit. At first, stick with nymphs or wet flies. Dry fly fishing can be a lot of fun, but I'd recommend learning to cast and catch fish with a fly rod using nymphs.

Sunglasses are a must when fly fishing! The last thing you want to do is damage your eye with a misplaced cast and a fly stuck in your eyeball. Think safety first, no matter what you are doing. If you have decided to also purchase a pair of waders, make sure you are familiar with the water you will be wading in.

There are a number of resources available to you to help you decide what fly fishing gear is best for you. Read reviews of the gear that is available to you, talk to other fly anglers, and perhaps the best advice of all: Hire a fly fishing instructor for at least a half day. This will help prevent you from forming bad habits that will be difficult to break later on.

About the Author

Ian Scott is a free lance writer who spends much of his time when not working and writing about a variety of topics, with a fly rod in hand. Follow along with Ian's regular fly fishing activities.

Fly Tying for Beginners $33.93 Any angler who takes up the art of fly tying will discover an added dimension to the wonderful sport of fly fishing. This profusely illustrated instruction book shows beginners how to craft 50 professional-looking flies for trout and salmon fishing. Each fly-tying project consists of step-by-step instructions accompanied by close-up photos of the work in progress and a large photo of the finished fly. Beginners will learn how to make dry flies, wet flies, bugs, nymphs, hairwings, and streamers. They`ll also get advice on which flies are best for catching which variety of fish. Author Peter Gathercole is the ideal fly-tying instructor, offering a thorough grounding in the core techniques required for fly tying, while assuming no previous knowledge on the reader`s part. As he instructs, he also demonstrates that with good guidance and a little practice, every angler can tie a fly that is good enough to fool a fish. More than 500 color photos.

The Fly-Tying Bible $33.89 Avid sport fishermen will treasure this book—which is nearly as beautiful as the objects it describes. Fly-tying is a highly prized fisherman’s craft, but it’s also an art form, wonderfully captured in this volume’s hundreds of color photos. Each of 100 fly patterns is presented in a two-page spread: an enlarged photo and textual description on the left-hand page, complemented with a set of step-by-step, clearly captioned photos on the facing page. In addition, fishing enthusiasts will find sections on fly-tying tools and materials plus general instructions for getting started. The author, a well-known fly-tier and sport fisherman gives instructions on making traditional trout and salmon flies—all of them fish catchers of proven effectiveness in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Examples vary in complexity, with patterns to fit every skill level from novice to expert fly-tier. Here are dry flies, nymphs and bugs, wet flies, streamers, and hairwings—a virtually complete selection of traditional and up-to-date examples of the art. The book’s hidden spiral binding keeps its pages opened flat, which makes it ideal for reference at the workbench. More than 600 color photos.

Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Tying (Paperback) $21.33 This Orvis-endorsed guidebook?part of a continuing seriesthat includes guidebooks on fly fishing basics and saltwaterfly fishing?will give you all the tools you need to begin makingyour own flies. Learn how to read a fly recipe, choose the correcttools (including vises, bobbins, threaders, dubbing needles, and hairstackers), select the right materials (everything from dry fly saddles,threads, beads, and Krystal Flash, to hooks, wires, cements, andpaints), and pick the best flies to tie first. Before you know it, you`llbe tying such flies as the Wooly Bugger, Clouser minnow, beadheadsoft hackle nymphs, Adams dry fly, and Hare`s Ear nymph. You`llalso get solid advice on how to set up a well-organized fly-tyingarea, so you can enjoy this fascinating craft in ease and comfort. Fly Tyer magazine editor David Klausmeyer shares his Five GoldenRules for tying better flies. Many books say they are for beginnersbut then quickly turn fly tying into a series of complicated fingercalisthenics. The Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Tying really is for thereader who has never made a fly. Catch fish with flies that you`vetied on your own, and you`ll get more enjoyment from the richsport of fly fishing.

Tying Trout Flies $24.99 Trout anglers of all skill levels can easily make these 100 popular and effective trout flies. All fly-tying procedures are well illustrated, providing a sound base for the projects listed. Text includes lists of all materials and step-by-step instructions. Tying Trout Flies includes patterns for dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and streamers, with exceptional photography depicting the tying process. The book is designed to lie flat on the tying bench allowing for easy access to instructions and photos throughout the tying process.

Fly Tying $29.95 Readers will discover the most effective, most original, and most historic flies published in the 30-year history of Fly Rod & Reel magazine. The book is filled with fly-tying tips and fly-pattern designs straight from Fly Rod & Reel, contributors such as Darrel Martin, A.K. Best, Ted Leeson and many others; all make this a must-have or perfect gift for a fly tier of any skill level.

Close View of Fly Tying $39.99 Nick Norman Close View of Fly Tying - Photographic Print

Wet-fly Tying and Fishing (Hardcover) $95.28 Shows how various types of flies play a complementary role in fishing. This book demonstrates how wet-flies catch trout and are effective as dry-flies and nymphs.

Anglers Book Supply Co 157188212X American Fly Tying Manual $29.63 New fullcolor edition. Describes the materials tools and basic techniques of fly tying. 290 patterns in all each with a color photo showing the pattern a materials list and basic tying instructions. Allcolor throughout; 8x11 inches 48 pgs. Clear illustrations and photos show you how to tie all 290 patterns in the book which are shown in full color and large size with tying instructions adjacent to each. Bestproducing North American flies including most popular dry nymph wet streamer and bucktail steelhead Atlantic salmon Pacific salmon cutthroat Alaskan saltwater bass and panfish patterns. Color plates of tying materials including fur hackle thread etc. Fly pattern index. Fishing tips for most patterns. Printed on heavy gloss paper stock. Bound for easy opening. Softcover

Anglers Book Supply Co 1885212194 Fly Tying Made Easy For Beginners $45.83 Constructing a perfect fly quickly is the name of the game this is what Randall shows you in explicit detail in this book simple efficient tying methods. 500 color photos; 8.5x11 inches 80 pgs. Randall Kaufmann is a leading authority on flies fly tying and fly fishing. His innovative and unique tying techniques have helped set the standard for commercial tying oprations and many of his patterns have become favorites throughout the fishing world.Randall tied over 250 000 flies commercially. Constructing a perfect fly quickly is the name of the game and this is what Randall shows you in explicit detail in this booksimple efficient tying methods. With this book anyone can tie a perfect fly the first time. Beginning or struggling tyers are guaranteed to be successful. More advanced tyers are certain to improve their techniques. 500 concise macro photos take you stepbystep through 28 demonstration flies in a logical sequence leaaving nothing to the imagination. Learn to tie the flies pictured here plus many more. This book incorporates the same process of learning step by step that Randall used so successfully in Tying Dry Flies and Tying Nymphs. His coverage of tools materials hooks and basic techniques is very thorough and easy to understand.EXCERPT from Foreword:Getting started tying flies can be overwhelming even daunting to the uninitiated. Just the basics of selecting equipment and materials can discourage all but the most tenacious. The rewards of perseverance however are many. There are several reasons to tie your own flies from saving money to making money or simply to add to the overall experience. Many of the most successful anglers tie their own flies because they cannot always buy exactly what they want.You are less likely to become frustrated or discouraged and more likely to have fun and find success if you begin with solid fundamentals. Like any endeavor the most expedient a

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Mh05 Fly Tying Trout Flies $56.63 A comprehensive set of instructions on how to create a wellbalanced fly. He diverts from the basic teaching methods of fly tying to better illustrate all the perfect trout fly. Start by learning how to tie all the different steps involved from tails to setting a wing. You will learn how to select the proper materials to get dry flies to float and nymphs to sink and how to use the hook to measure for proper proportions. 10 top favorite patterns are tied. 4 hrs. In this program Marty takes you through a comprehensive set of instructions on how to create a wellbalanced fly. He diverts from the basic teaching methods of fly tying to better illustrate all the perfect trout fly. You will start by learning how to tie all the different steps involved from tails to setting a wing. You will learn how to select the proper materials to get dry flies to float and nymphs to sink and how to use the hook to measure for proper proportions. Marty concludes the program by tying his top 10 favorite patterns for trout and explains how to adjust the material to get the perfect match for the hatch. DVD

Anglers Book Supply Co 1885212178 Tying Dry Flies Third Edition $60.68 In full color offers an immense amount of handson educational tying info. With excellent text 850+ color photos of stepbystep instruction materials techniques etc. Randall leaves no question unanswered. 30 of the worlds best dry patterns are covered in detail with the skills taught through these patterns you can tie the 100 additional patterns described in the book be prepared to tie most any dry. 8x11 inches 144 pgs. This book shows you how to ties the world s most popular dry flies with speed ease and efficiency. Tie like the pros learn the commercial techniques and triple your enjoyment. Tying instruction is presented in a fun and easy to understand manner. Over 800 concise macro color photos take you step by step through 26 demonstration patterns that are presented in a logical learning sequence. These patterns encompass all major adult food of trout including: mayflies caddisflies stoneflies damselflies midges and terrestrials. Tying Dry Flies also offers fishing tips interesting angling experiences of the author a wealth of entomologival and historical information and beautiful angling art and illustrated tying instructions by Mike Stidham.ABOUT THE AUTHORRandall Kaufmann is one of the leading experts on flies fly fishing and fly tying. His innovative and unique tying techniques have helped set the standard for commercial tying operations. Randall has authored several books including Tying Nymphs Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants Lake Fishing With a Fly and Bonefishing With a Fly. He is coowner of Kaufmann s Streamborn Inc. Softcover

Anglers Book Supply Co 1885212186 Tying Dry Flies Third Edition $75.38 REPRINT DUE DEC 05. In full color offers an immense amount of handson educational tying info. With excellent text 850+ color photos of step by step instruction materials techniques etc Randall leaves no question unanswered. 30 of the world s best dry patterns are covered in detail with the skills taught through these patterns you can tie the 100 additional patterns described in the book be prepared to tie most any dry. 8x11 inches 144 pgs. This book shows you how to ties the world s most popular dry flies with speed ease and efficiency. Tie like the pros learn the commercial techniques and triple your enjoyment. Tying instruction is presented in a fun and easy to understand manner. Over 800 concise macro color photos take you step by step through 26 demonstration patterns that are presented in a logical learning sequence. These patterns encompass all major adult food of trout including: mayflies caddisflies stoneflies damselflies midges and terrestrials. Tying Dry Flies also offers fishing tips interesting angling experiences of the author a wealth of entomologival and historical information and beautiful angling art and illustrated tying instructions by Mike Stidham.ABOUT THE AUTHORRandall Kaufmann is one of the leading experts on flies fly fishing and fly tying. His innovative and unique tying techniques have helped set the standard for commercial tying operations. Randall has authored several books including Tying Nymphs Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants Lake Fishing With a Fly and Bonefishing With a Fly. He is coowner of Kaufmann s Streamborn Inc. SpiralHardcover

Mastering The Art Of Fly Tying $27.95 A beautiful and comprehensive manualcarefully detailing for you how to tie 160 flies—listedin order from simple to complex. In Mastering the Art of Fly Tying, one of the world’smost experienced fly-tying instructors reveals thatthe real secret to fly tying is not learning to tie eachfly individually, but mastering and building upon thenecessary skills and techniques. The 160 flies in thisstunningly photographed guide are organized fromsimple to complex, rather than by type of fly as inother books. Each new fly teaches you another techniqueand builds your skill and confidence, along with an exceptionalcollection of flies.

Fly Fishing And Fly Tying (DVD) $17.43 Angling instruction designed for the Fly Fisher. Explores the various techniques needed to master the discipline. Running Time: 300 min

Kershaw Skeeter Fly Tying Scissors $12.1 Compact and durable, the Skeeter series of fly-tying scissors are designed to cut through a wide variety of materials with ease. An extra fine point provides for precise trimming. The comfortable finger loops provide precise control during use. Choose serrated, ideal for cutting very coarse fishing line, or non-serrated blades. SPECIFICATIONS: Overall Length: 4 1/4 in. (10. 7 cm) Weight: 0. 8 oz.

Uk, Antique Fly-Tying Equipment with a Traditionally Tied Salmon Fly in Vice on a Fly-Tiers Bench $24.99 John Warburton-lee Uk, Antique Fly-Tying Equipment with a Traditionally Tied Salmon Fly in Vice on a Fly-Tiers Bench - Photographic Print

Fly Tying By Healy, Joe $32.07 Author: Healy, Joe Subtitle: 30 Years of Tips, Tricks, and Patterns Publication Date: 2010/12/16 Number of Pages: 240 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.75 Width: 8.50 Height: 11.00

The Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying $55.03 9 x 12 inches, All Color, Split pages

Wet-Fly Tying and Fishing $57.2 No Synopsis Available

The Complete Guide to Fly-Tying $16.53 No Synopsis Available

Ogden on Fly Tying, Etc $28.27 No Synopsis Available

Creative Fly Tying $41.54 No Synopsis Available

My Fly Tying Journal $5.84 No Synopsis Available

Ogden On Fly Tying $35.08 No Synopsis Available

Introduction to Fly Tying $12.66 No Synopsis Available

Fly Fishing And Fly Tying - Beginners (DVD) $13.93 Angling instruction designed for the Fly Fisher. Explores the various techniques needed to master the discipline Running Time: 120 min

Tying Dry Flies (Spiral) $34.54 Description not available.

Anglers Book Supply Co 0871089319 Introduction To Saltwater Fly Tying $63.38 Stepbystep fly tying guide designed specifically for the novice the intermediate tyer. A carefully crafted presentation of everything you need to know to get started begin tying flies that are sure to bring results. BW photos; 9x11 inches 176 pgs. A stepbystep fly tying guide designed specifically for the novice and the intermediate tyer is now available. Introduction to Saltwater Fly Tying provides a carefully crafted presentation of everything you need to know to get started and begin tying flies that are sure to bring results.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Scott Sanchez began tying flies at the age of 12. When he was 14 Scott taught his first fly tying class. This early ambition and ability to teach his craft was just the beginning of his 22 successful years of working in the fly fishing industry. Hardcover