Fly Tying, Five tools to make you a better fly tier!

In this video I will be going through some of the fly tying tools that I find essential.

Tools are a very personal item and it may well be that your favourite tool is not on the list. Please feel free to let me know which tools you couldn't live without in the comments section below.

I have added some of the tools shown and links to where you can get them. It maybe that they are available elsewhere at a cheaper price. I am not affiliated with any of the companies I have provided links to.

[jimflynn]

Hi Lindsay, I agree, you can’t have enough fly tying tools to make life easier, but the most important one for me is the bobbin threader. You can get them on eBay for about a £1 and they save me pulling my hair out trying to get silks through the bobbin. Thanks again for another great video Jimf

[robgreen]

While it’s not tools specific, I found hackles for dries can be a real game changer when you tie for the love of creating the fly. Having quality hackle feathers makes a huge difference. It’s not necessarily required to buy an expensive whole cape, opt for better quality and fewer feathers. Prepare your materials in advance and have your tools ready to hand. Use a pen to mark your hook and tying thread to get proportions right. Untwist your thread to lay flat when needed to reduce bulk. Use wax for grip of materials and also untwist (Counter clockwise) wind your thread to make it easier to pinch and loop. Thanks Lindsay for the content you out out. You and a few others have really helped me improve after a number of years of not tying any flies. When I started I only had books to learn from, these videos are great to see how things are done.

[FlyTyer]

You are quite right about fly tying & fishing being separate hobbies. For much of my adult life, I thought my tying was just to service my fishing. About 9 years ago, my back got so bad, I could no longer stand up long enough to fish & gave up tying thinking I had no use for my flies. I really missed both. Recently, I found out there are charitable organizations that really want flies to use in therapeutic fishing programs. Now that my flies have a purpose, I have happily resumed tying & feel much better for it. My wife is happier too. Although she can’t shoo me out of the house to go fishing, she’s glad to have me occupied tying at my corner desk & out of her hair. She even bought me a new vise.

[mikelundrigan]

I still have my original small dowel with needle in it after 55 years…still works! Like you, I didn’t like the whip finisher you showed but I recently bought an Italian one (begins with an S) of a much different style! I found it is much more intuitive to use and for me, that made all the difference! As for scissors, I learned how to sharpen them but also have quite a few for various purposes! Use an old tooth brush for my dubbing!! Have about a dozen bobbins of various types, loaded with treads of various weights and colours!

[chstiger]

Well said Lindsey. Your comments are spot on.

[epsieblaine]

I enjoyed the video, brough back old memories. Got my first kit back in 1970, cost $8.50, .I have been tying ever since, have learned all of this.The video brought back good mermies.THAKS

[MrJimmuck]

I started tying when I was 10 years old, thats 56 years ago! No I really would not want to guess how much I have spent on gear and materials over the years ... it might make me cry!!! I do tie many flies each year and hey long may it continue!! Atb Jim

[rogerjones]

Hi Lindsay and all, 1 tool I have found a dream to use is the Stonfo Half Hitch Tool 441 just over a fiver. I use it for flies with chain bead eyes and Boobys. Works a treat, give it a look comes with three slip in/out different sized heads. Three to five wraps round the fly when finished seats threads a dream. Good if anyone struggles with a Whip Finish Tool. Regards Roger

[kentw.]

Good Video Lindsay. I enjoyed watching it.
I just bought a few Tiemco Ceramic Bobbins myself. So far I really like the way they feel in my hands, they're very comfortable and they perform well . I'm glad I switched.
Thanks for sharing this video with us, You Take Care.🌴🏄‍♂️🎣Aloha🤙🏼

[GeorgeSemel]

That Stonfo velcro bush is the best little tool I bought in a very long time. Didn't cost much either. As for fly tying, in many ways, it's worst than drinking as a hobby. There was a time when I was really on a Single Malt Scotch kick the really good stuff. I don't drink anymore and it's march I am just about finished tying what I call junk flies that I fish in winter. My junk fly boxes are full, so it's on to Blue Wing Olives, March Browns and Hendricksons, Sulfurs, etc for the next three months. Ending with Christmas in May, The Mothers Day Hatch- Caddis Flies. The one thing that the kids have that I didn't start with was the easy access to very very good instruction. I was pretty much on my own. You forgot hackle pliers. And maybe a good hackle gauge is a must-have in my opinion. 2021 is going to be a great season.

[derekcunningham]

Good stuff, again, Ta. I have an excellent pair of material scissors, by Dr Slick, that I use for deer hair etc. I also use a cheepo pair of nail scissors for wire

[dazzyd]

Scissors - many scissors and so little time! After working through over 40 different models I came across some great ophthalmology “squizzers” with blades only 10mm long and perfect for getting in really close to get those pesky stray fibres! 100% with you on materelli whip finish tools - i’ve used the C&F version for over 20 years and is in my opinion, the best on the market. Roll on BFFI 2022!

[leemowers]

Great reasoning behind your tool selection, thanks Lindsay

[chriscahill]

Enjoyed the video. Might want to cover hackle pliers in another. Thanks

[Rossco-oc]

Hi lyndsay, ive just got a vice and tying tools I haven’t tied a fly yet, i really dont know where to start, there is a couple of tools that i dont have a clue what they are, or what they do, lol 😂 great video, your tying skills are amazing, i will be watching a lot more of your tutorials from now on 👍🏼

[robgreen]

I like the Renomed scissors and can highly recommend them. I would however avoid buying a dedicated thread splitter tool, looks good yet not as simple as a needle as per the recommendation in the video. Good stuff here in this video.

[fliesbychris]

I use the exact same whip finisher, but I sharpened the butt end with a dremel to get a wood chisel like blade and use that to cut my thread after whip finishing(doesn't work too well with nano silk or veevus GSP).
Cracking vid Lindsay!!
ATB Chris.

[blackfur]

Number 5 lol feel proud😆been watching you since day one pretty much and your now a dab hand with using a whip finisher 🥲👏🏻👏🏻

[markm]

Gotta agree Lindsay, buy lots of bobbin holders rather than one expensive one, it speeds up tying no end.

[kerrypitt]

Good Morning Lindsay! Having a hypoglycemic moment and crap my back hurts, so I am in the Jacuzzi watching this and remembering last year when you were fighting with the Whip finisher! The reason I went to one was because I worked in the oil patch and my hands were always calloused, chapped and bleeding. My thread would break when I tried finishing by hand. My first whip finisher was the old Thompson, which I really liked, but the Materelli style you show is what I use now and it makes placing my wraps easier.
The two things I would add here if you don't mind and I am not criticizing, I hope you know me well enough now to know I will not do that. Is a hackle pliars, for people with huge fingers they are helpful, annoying as hell but sometimes you just need them.
The other has to do with bobbins. There is one exception to the rule and that is the "Spinner" style vise and bobbin. I am not really adding this for the Newbie, please bear with me.
Because the Spinner vise is more than a rotating vise, a standard bobbin will not give you the full use of a Spinner vises ability.
I am speaking of the Nor-Vise on which I have tied for the last 15 years.
I only bring this up, because there are people out there who use it without an Autobobbin. Maybe some of your viewers.
Sadly, by skimping on this piece of kit, they will never see the full potential of the Spinner style vise. So thanks for allowing me to say that.
I never even heard of bobbins until 1978, about 21 years after I started. I learned from a great book by Helen Shaw and she never used a bobbin. I was on our Honeymoon and stopped to see an old friend and he was using one!!! Changed my life!
You are right, Fly Tying is seperate from Fly Fishing and it is more than a hobby to many of us, it is a lifestyle.
I hope someone is working on your back sir, I really enjoyed this video!!!