6) Wrapping Materials and Tying off.

To help review the skills you have learned plus learn a couple more, you can now try tying a fly. Below the “Wooly Worm” is demonstrated.

First of all, when you see a fly in a book, there is usually a “recipe” that goes with it. The recipe tells you what materials you need and in what order you deal with them.

The Wooly Worm

Hook: Mustad 9672 (or equivalent) size 8
Thread: 6/0 black
Tail: Red yarn (wool or synthetic)
Hackle: Grizzly
Body: Black chenille (a variety of colours can be used) medium diameter

In the previous sections you learned how to

• put the hook in the vice
• start the thread
• tie in the yarn using the pinch

Please do the above. Make sure the thread is at the bend of the hook.

Choose a hackle feather that is at least 10 cm long. It should not be webby for most of its length. (For details see “hackle” in the Materials area of this website)

The feather needs some preparation. First of all strip the fuzzy webby material from the base of the feather.

Next, using your right hand, hold the feather by its tip. Then place your thumb and forefinger from your left hand on the feather. Make sure your two thumbs and fingers are against each other. Pull back some fibers with your left hand as shown.

Place the feather on the hook. The place at which the fibers go in opposite directions should be over the bend of the hook. Use the pinch and tie in the feather. Secure it with several wraps.

Next cut off a piece of chenille about 10 cm long. Place it along the shank of the hook. Again use the pinch method to secure this material.

Make wraps along the length of the material.

Then go back and make sure that all materials are cinched in at the bend.

After all the materials have been cinched one last time at the bend, another very important step is necessary. This step is often forgotten by beginners and problems result. You must wrap the thread to the eye of the hook before you wrap the materials. Quick, wide wraps are fine.

Now pick up the first material to be wrapped. The materials are wrapped on in reverse order to them being tied on. The chenille was tied on last so it is wrapped first. Like the thread, wrap it in the direction described previously (away from you as it goes over the top, towards you as it goes underneath). Do not overwrap. Each turn should be nicely tucked against the previous turn.

When it reaches the front, you can tie it off. Because the thread had previously been wrapped to the front, it is now in place ready to be used. If you forgot to bring the thread to the front, unwrap the chenille before you move the thread to its proper position.

NB: A common beginner mistake is wrapping the material too close to the eye or “crowding the eye”. This will cause problems later when you need to finish your fly. For most flies leave at least 2 mm of bare hook behind the eye.

To tie off, you need to continue holding the material up at an angle as shown with your right hand. With your left hand lift the bobbin and move it over to where the material leaves the hook. (left handed people will reverse the above)

Drop the bobbin over.

Pick it up again with your left hand and repeat the procedure. Do this at least three times.

Now trim off the excess material.

Give a couple of extra wraps to make sure all is secure before you begin wrapping the next material.

The next exercise is wrapping the hackle or palmering it. As you wrap it forward, the fibers will project outwards. Do not make the hackle wraps too close together. You should only make about 6 or 7 turns. As you palmer the hackle, it will be necessary to use both hands. Pass the stem from hand to hand as you move it around the hook.

When you have finished palmering the hackle, tie it off just like you did the chenille.