Start Fly Tying
Touching Turns
The first step in the vast majority of flies you will ever tie is to tie on the thread, then wrap that thread down the hook-shank to the hook bend in touching turns. The purpose of this is either to form the basis of the fly's body, or to provide a secure base on which to tie other materials. Aim to leave no gaps in your turns causing the bare hook-shank to be exposed, and not overlap the turns so the body appears lumpy.
Just touching turns.
1: Pick up the bobbin holder and pull out about 10 cm of thread.
2: Hold the thread between first finger and thumb so there is about 7 cm of thread hanging loose.
3: Hold the thread to the hook shank and make three turns, about a millimetre or so from the eye of the hook, and winding towards the hook-bend.
4: Now it is time to get into the rhythm of your touching turns. Remember that 7 cm or so of loose thread? Well lift a few centimetres of that up now and hold it taut, so that it makes an angle of about 45 degrees with the hook-shank. We use this now to make each turn just touch the last. As you wind, let each turn just slide down the last bit of the angled thread you are holding. As you progress down the hook-shank, you will see that each turn lies butt up against the last. Don't try to go too quickly, it is not a race. Wind at a pace that suits you. You may get quicker the more you tie, you may not. Who cares?
5: Don't forget to stop! The matter of where can be the cause of much controversy amongst fly-tyers! A good place is mid-way between the hook point and the beginning of the bend of the hook. This is often just opposite the barb, if you are using a barbed hook. You are now ready for the next stage of the fly's construction.
Now try tying on a tail
Just touching turns.
1: Pick up the bobbin holder and pull out about 10 cm of thread.
2: Hold the thread between first finger and thumb so there is about 7 cm of thread hanging loose.
3: Hold the thread to the hook shank and make three turns, about a millimetre or so from the eye of the hook, and winding towards the hook-bend.
4: Now it is time to get into the rhythm of your touching turns. Remember that 7 cm or so of loose thread? Well lift a few centimetres of that up now and hold it taut, so that it makes an angle of about 45 degrees with the hook-shank. We use this now to make each turn just touch the last. As you wind, let each turn just slide down the last bit of the angled thread you are holding. As you progress down the hook-shank, you will see that each turn lies butt up against the last. Don't try to go too quickly, it is not a race. Wind at a pace that suits you. You may get quicker the more you tie, you may not. Who cares?
5: Don't forget to stop! The matter of where can be the cause of much controversy amongst fly-tyers! A good place is mid-way between the hook point and the beginning of the bend of the hook. This is often just opposite the barb, if you are using a barbed hook. You are now ready for the next stage of the fly's construction.
Now try tying on a tail
