Fly Tying Materials

Before we learn to tie, let us look at the parts, materials and the definitions of a fly itself.

Down Wing 
A piece of or feathers tied flat along the body of the fly; mainly used in wet fly and streamers construction.

Cocked Wing
A piece of feather tied in an upright or forward position; used in dry fly construction.

Hair wing - A wing made of hair instead of feathers.

Dubbed Body - A body made of hair, fur, wool or similar substance that is spun on to the tying silk and then wound upon the hook to form the body, a popular choice for nymphs

Herl Body - A body made by winding a single strand, or multiple strands, of her on to the hook to form the body.

Quill Body - A body made by using herl feather with the entire flue removed.

Tinsel Body - A body made entirely of gold or silver tinsel or Lurex material. A dubbed or herl body with a short-fibers hackle wound over it from tail to head. This was the first type of flies to be designed and some of the Palmer fly-dressings are more than 100 years old.

Palmered Body - Usually a few turns of tinsel or other showy material wound upon the hook at the bend before the tail is tied in.

Tip or Tag - Usually a few turns of tinsel or other flashy material wound upon the hook at the bend before the tail is tied in.

Ribbing - Tinsel or similar materials wound around the body to give glitter and to create segments on the body. In smaller nymphs and dry flies this represents the insect's abdomen.

Throat hackle - A hackle clipped to the top of the fly leaving only a bushy under section. When it is not clipped at the top it is known as a shoulder hackle.

Whip finish - The method of tying in the head and completing the process.