Tying Flying
Are special hooks necessary for Fly Tying?
I want to tie my own flies but the Dry Fly hooks are really expensive. Do i really need to buy those hooks or can i use standard hooks?
You can get away with ordinary hooks, but I'd only do it in a pinch and only for certain flies. You don't want to tie flies with regular Fishing Hooks all the time. Fly Fishing hooks are sort of expensive, but if you consider the cost of buying flies, you're coming out ahead.
Fly fishing hooks are different from ordinary hooks in several ways. First, their shape is different. Most of them, especially dry Fly Hooks, have straight, flat shanks. This enables you to easily place them in your vise and tie on your materials. It's not as easy as it may seem to substitute an ordinary hook. The vise has trouble hanging onto regular hooks and the tying is hard to get started. Any sort of baitholder barbs also get in the way. Fly Fishing Hook eyes are also bent or not bent, depending on the intended application.
Second, there is weight. Fly fishing hooks are made with extra heavy and extra light wire, according to what you want to use them for. Dry fly hooks, for example, can be very light, which will help you present and fish the flies the way their supposed to work. However, they are still as strong as an ordinary hook in the same size, and that's one reason they're more spendy -- superior materials. Ordinary hooks for a dry fly will likely swamp, tip over, etc.
Finally, there is length. Most Fly Patterns are tied onto hooks with shanks that are longer than ordinary hooks. A 2X long #12 hook, for example, has a shank that is as long as a #10 hook. These extra long and extra short hook shanks allow accurate reproduction of fly patterns. Again, you could try tying with ordinary hooks, but just try using a regular hook for a pattern that calls for a 3X long or a 2X short hook -- your flies will look and act funky.
So, you can try tying flies on ordinary fish hooks and for certain patterns it might work. However, if I were you I'd splurge on the fly fishing hooks, especially for Dry Flies. You will experience much less frustration. Also, it's hard to get ordinary hooks in sizes much smaller than 14, so if you want to tie gnats and small midges, you're limited to fly fishing hooks anyhow. Once you have a good inventory of hooks you won't be spending too much. I'm always surprised how long a pack of 50 hooks lasts. Plus, don't forget they ARE reusable. As you get better at casting and knot tying, you'll find that you can use the same hook over and over. When your fly gets chewed up by fish, just take it home, remove the materials, sharpen the barb, and tie it again.
 PORTABLE FLY TYING TABLE bench desk trout fly fishing  US $109.95
|
 Fly Tying Lesson with Mary Dette US $9.95
|
 UNIBOBBER fly tying strike indicators GLO 6pk US $2.79
|
 CO 1 35 Compartment Fly Box Fly Tying Fishing US $13.95
|
 CB A 10 Swingleaf Fly Box Fly Tying Fishing US $14.95
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
 |
Carson Optical Magni Fly Tying Magnifier
List Price:  |
DescriptionThe Carson(r) MagniFly(tm) is a lighted, fully adjustable, flexible arm "hands-free" magnifier that attaches to your table-top or can be clamped to most fly-tying vises for convenient hands-free use. Its large 2x power lens gives you a sharp, distortion-free view, and 4x power spot lens allows you to see even the finest details with ease... Features
|
 |
Hummingbirds and Bow - Birthday Card
|
Description5 x 7 inch premium quality folded paper greeting card. Birthday cards for the whole family are available at Greeting Card Universe. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why not send a photo birthday card this year? Allow Greeting Card Universe to handle all your birthday card needs this year... |
 |
Jane's Combat Simulations: Fleet Command
|
DescriptionThe world's mightiest arsenals are under your complete control in Jane's Fleet Command, the most realistic naval strategy simulation ever created. You give the orders and the entire battle group--fast frigates, Aegis guided missile cruisers, nuclear submarines, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and each plane on them--follows your command... |
 |
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide, Completely Revised and Updated with Over 400 New Color Photos and Illustrations
List Price: |
DescriptionA fully updated, completely revised edition of a classic that's helped more than 200,000 anglers learn or improve upon the basics of fly fishing. More than 400+ new full color images will make it even easier for thousands more anglers to enjoy learning this great pastime... |
 |
The Fly-Tying Bible: 100 Deadly Trout and Salmon Flies in Step-by-Step Photographs
List Price: |
DescriptionAvid sport fishermen will treasure this book—which is nearly as beautiful as the objects it describes. Fly-tying is a highly prized fisherman’s craft, but it’s also an art form, wonderfully captured in this volume’s hundreds of color photos... |
 |
The Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying
List Price: |
DescriptionRenowned writing team Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer have set another milestone in the world of fly tying with this unique new addition to their Benchside Reference series. Following the incredible success of The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference, Jim & Ted now offer the first beginner's book of fly typing to allow readers simultaneous access to fly recipes, tying steps, and techniques... |
 |
Fly Tying Deluxe Kit 14 Tools Wood Case
|
DescriptionTeak Wood Tool Kit designed for traveling and neat storage. Tie thousands of fly patterns with this with this high quality tools. CONTAINS 14 HIGH QUALITY TOOLS: 1. BASE WITH SOCKET Features
|
 |
Wapsi Deluxe Fly Tying Starter Kit
|
DescriptionWapsis Deluxe Fly Tying Starter Kit delivers everything needed to start into the world of fly tying. Quality tools hooks and materials its all here and all while keeping with the Wapsi tradition of quality... Features
|
Mayfly Dries
Bass Fly
Partridge Fly
Tied Flies
Bugger Fly
Dozen Black
Super Strong
Beads Premium
Nymphs Trout
Launch Series