Fly Tying Materials
From a fine dry-fly body to a full streamer wing, find fly tying materials for the pattern on your bench. Choose threads, feathers, dubbing, beads and finishing materials from our specialist UK shop, with ranges from Turrall and Semperfli.
Pick a material below, then compare the sizes, colours and pack details on each product page.
Shop Fly Tying Materials
Explore Turrall materials and Semperfli materials, or browse furs and synthetics and tinsel for your next dressing.
Choose materials for your next pattern
Choose materials for dry flies, nymphs, wet flies and streamers
Dry flies
Keep the dressing light and avoid unnecessary bulk. Fine thread and a small amount of dubbing help shape a slim body. Stiff cock hackle can support traditional hackled patterns; choose feather size to suit your hook and pattern.
Nymphs and buzzers
Use fine wire for a defined rib and dubbing for a textured thorax. A bead adds weight, but match its diameter and hole shape to the hook. Tungsten is denser than brass, so a comparable tungsten bead adds more weight. Choose weight to suit the depth and flow you intend to fish.
Wet flies
Softer hen hackle gives movement in the water. Keep the number of turns appropriate to the pattern and use thread tension carefully to avoid trapping fibres. Fur dubbing and tinsel offer different body textures and finishes.
Streamers and predator flies
Marabou, natural hair and synthetic fibres offer different profiles and movement. Build wings in small sections to control bulk; a little flash can provide a highlight. Use chenille for wrapped bodies and check that eyes and heads suit the hook and intended swimming action.
New to fly tying? Start with one pattern
Choose a pattern and hook size first. Make a short list of its thread, body, tail or wing, hackle and any bead or rib. Buying the materials for one or two patterns makes it easier to learn proportions and avoid a bench full of mismatched supplies.
For repeat tying, note the brand, product name, size and colour that worked. Thread sizing varies between manufacturers, so compare specifications rather than assuming every spool marked 8/0 behaves identically.
Material buying questions
Which bead should I choose?
Check the hook size, wire thickness and bead opening. A slotted bead may help with a jig hook, but compatibility depends on the individual hook and bead. Use the product dimensions and any sizing guidance before ordering.
Can I substitute a material?
Often, but compare fibre length, stiffness, absorbency and bulk. A substitute may change how a dry fly floats or how a streamer moves. Keep the pattern’s proportions and intended behaviour in mind.
What should I check before buying resin?
Check whether the product needs a curing light, the compatible wavelength and the manufacturer’s curing instructions. Follow its handling guidance; UV resin, varnish and glue are not interchangeable finishes.