In this post I gave a brief introduction to the tools of fly-tying. And I mentioned that flies are made of thread, fur, synthetic fibers and feathers, all tied to a hook. Today, let’s look a little closer at those materials.
There are literally thousands of different patterns of flies you could tie. And the range of possible materials to use in those flies is almost as wide. I have seen a fly patterns calling for anything from the fibers of a floor mop to the hair from the scrotum of a ram. But today we’re just going to cover more mainstream products: the feathers and fur from common animals, and a few synthetic materials.
Danger! Carnivorous Behavior Ahead! Please note that we’ll be talking about the feathers, hair, and skins of dead animals. These animals probably didn’t die of old age – somebody ate them. If that bothers you, consider that we’re using those critter bits to catch fish. Which we’re also going to eat. If you feel queasy, stop reading now.
Feathers
We use a lot of chicken feathers in fly tying. Mostly, we use either hackle feathers, which come from the back of the chicken’s neck, or saddle feathers, which come off the back of the bird. Hackle feathers are long and narrow. The quill of the feather is very flexible, so you can wind it around the shank of a tiny hook. When you wind it around, the individual “hairs” of the feather, called barbules, spread out into a fan shape. Saddle feathers are larger than hackle feathers. Most tiers use them to make bigger flies.
The other distinction we make about chicken feather is the gender of the bird they came from. Rooster feathers tend to be stiffer, so they’re great when the fly needs to keep its shape. They work very well on dry flies (flies that float on top of the water). Conversely, hen feathers are softer. We use them for wet flies (flies that are supposed to be submerged).
Chicken feathers are sold still attached to some skin. On the left you see a hen hackle, and on the right you see the back of the same hackle.
More Than Just Chickens
Fly tiers use all sorts of other feathers too: pheasant, duck, turkey and peacock are pretty common. Just as with chickens, feathers from different parts of the bird get used for different things.
Retailers package some feathers individually (or in bags of loose feathers). But some, like the pheasant on the left, stay attached to the skin, just like chickens.
Our Furry Friends
Furs of various sorts form another important category. The bodies of most flies are made from some sort of fur. Fur can mimic the color and texture of an insect’s body. And if you can’t find the right color in nature, you can dye some fur to suit.
Synthetic Materials
Nowadays we use a lot of synthetic fibers in place of fur. Synthetic fibers don’t absorb water like most animal furs, so they’re great for dry flies. They also require less preparation. Natural furs are a mix of different types of hair: stiff guard hairs, softer, colored outer coat, and fuzzy under fur. Usually, you only want one of those types of hair (typically the outer coat), so you have to separate out the hair you want before you can use it. You don’t have to do that with synthetic fibers.
Synthetic materials are especially welcome because they take the place of the fur of threatened or endangered species. For example, harp seal fur was once commonly used in a lot of fly patterns. Now, synthetic fur is used instead.
We’ve Just Scratched the Surface
This is just the start. I’ve used tinsel from the Christmas tree, embroidery floss from Michelle’s sewing box, brass beads, burlap, and many other materials. If you can find a way to tie it to a fishhook, someone has probably made a fly with it.
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