Fly Tying Tools: Little things make a difference

As fly fishing beginners, you have most probably read about or even studied the basics of the activity. Yes – there are different types of knots for the fly fishing tackle: the surgeons' knot, the nail knot, and the arbor knot. Yes – there are five commonly known artificial flies: the streamer, the emerger, the nymph, the wet fly and the dry fly. But have you ever thought about the fly tying tools needed to make these knots and artificial flies?

Why worry about the small stuff? Well because without the right and the highest quality fly tying tools, you might end up with inferior knots and artificial flies. Nothing can be more satisfying than using top notch tools to result in an overall top-notch fly fishing experience. So here is a sampling of the small but not insignificant tools that starting fly fishers should have.

Knot tying tool from Umpqua Merchants – This tool is only four inches long and weighs less than one ounce, which is quite surprising considering that it is made from brass and stainless steel. This simple device will surely last for years and years – enough for a novice angler to become a highly-seasoned fisher.

Locking scissor forceps from FindingKing – Versatility is this product's main feature. This device can be used not only as one of the must-have fly tying tools in an angler's collection, it can also be used for model building, sewing, and arts-and-crafts. It is accurate enough to use for threading a shaft through the tiniest opening yet strong enough for general cutting because of its serrated blades.

Fly fishing nippers – These nippers have the distinction of being tiny yet mighty. It does not matter which particular brand it carries because these nippers are indispensable for threading tippets through ultra-small fly eyes.

CFT 100 Dubbing Twister Plus from C and F Design – Weighing just 14 grams, this tool is particularly valuable for anglers to create twisted dubbing bodies for that added rib material.

Clouser pattern fly tying kit – This complete collection of fly tying tools and materials from Artsnflies is a small packet of convenience for any angler. The kit comes with a tying instruction manual, a bottle of fly head cement, a spool of Danville brand tying thread, forty glue-on eyes, twenty lead-free eye weights, twenty Mustad brand hooks, and a pair of bucktails (one white and one colored). There are five color options to choose from for the bucktails which are hot pink, red, chartreuse, olive and yellow.

E-Z Shape Sparkle Body – This product is specially formulated not to contain any toxic adhesives or epoxy. What makes this product a good addition to any one's arsenal of fly tying tools is that it is a gel-like substance that adds color to flies as well as a touch of iridescence. This added sparkle enables flies to be seen at greater distances by game fish.

More products are available online for the keen angler who wants to have an edge in collecting the right fly tying tool to include in his fishing kit.