Each fly in the Beginners Fly Patterns section has been selected to demonstrate a specific tying principle. When you have mastered each pattern, you can advance to the next fly and learn additional skills. By the time you finish all of the flies, you should be able to tie many different fly patterns. These fly patterns were not chosen just to demonstrate a fly tying technique, they also catch fish.
This fly is easy to tie. The pattern teaches three essential techniques used in all fly tying. First, you learn how to attach the thread to the hook. Second, you learn how to attach the material to the top of the hook using the Soft Loop technique. Finally, you learn how to finish your fly using two half hitches.
This fly is similar to the Simple Caddis Larva. The main difference besides size, between this fly and the Simple Caddis Larva, is that dubbing is used for a thorax. This fly could be tied with peacock herl also. Our objective in this lesson is to teach the dubbing process.
This fly can be modified using different colors of dubbing and varying sizes of hook to imitate almost any mayfly nymph.
This fly teaches the use of biots for a tail and the use of a dubbing ball to get the tails to flair. This technique can also be to separate other fibers used for tails.
The fifth fly in the beginners fly section is the Caddisfly Pupa. This fly is relatively simple to tie and it works catching fish. This pattern teaches the winding of hackle.
Learn how to add wings. This is a simple wet fly pattern that is very effective.