Flytying is all about taking available materials and turning them into creations that look like something a trout will take as food. In it’s crudest form a fly will simply irritate a trout into taking it. Many lures for example, look like nothing that swims but are still keenly taken by trout simply because they have evoked their aggression. In the early years of flyfishing and flytying flies were tied only with various furs and feathers. Of course these days we have a whole area of man-made materials to call upon. In fact, so much energy has gone into discovering new and wonderful materials that the selection sold by specialists is simply mind-boggling.

Choosing the right hook is very important. The best tied fly, if executed on a hook that’s too big (or small) will not perform as it should. Hook, materials and patterns should complement each other. Hook manufacturers now produce hooks that are shaped, forged, and even coloured to suit a specific type of insect. And of course they come in a range of sizes, with a 16 perfect for small dry fly and a 10 long shank great for a lure.

Partridge, Pheasant tail, Starling, Marabou (turkey), Goose, Cul-de-carnard, Peacock…the list of available feathers is almost endless. Those I’ve just mentioned are the tip of the iceburg. There is almost no limit to the type of role a feather can play in flytying-whether it’s to create legs, add eyes, or make wings. Feathers come in a range of natural colurs, but they too are subject to dying and are sold in many different shades. You should aim to collect as many feather varieties as possible and learn what characteristics each displays. For example you need a ‘soft’ hen feather for creating movement on a wet fly, whereas a stiffer feather may be more suitable to holding a dry fly on the surface.

Fur can be used in various ways and comes both ‘on the skin’ and off it. Fur from animals like the squirrel, beaver, derr, rabbit, hare and mink provide a whole variety of fur types and colours. Actually these days colour is less of a problem since most fur types are available in almost every shade and colour in the spectrum. You will use to make tails, wings, and bodies for lures, nymphs and even dry flies. Some hair, such as deer and elk, is also buoyant and is used to make flies float.

The number of synthetic materials avialable for us to use in flytying is quite astonishing. What’s more, new ones are being invented all the time so there’s no end to the possibilities man-made materials offer us.