Synthetic Quills and Ribbing Materials for Fly Tying

What are quills and ribbing materials used for?

They give a fly body clear segments, like the body of a natural larva or nymph. You can wrap the whole body with them or use them as a rib – a material wound in open turns over a thread or dubbing body. This makes them a good choice for mayfly nymphs, larva patterns and buzzers that imitate chironomid pupae. On dry flies, wet flies and nymphs, a thin quill body looks slim and naturally segmented.

Which material gives which effect?

Choose the material by the look you want on the finished fly: natural, pearly or translucent.

• Natural segments – Hemingway's Synthetic Tapered Peacock Quill and Semperfli Perfect Quills. Each turn of the flat strip forms one segment, similar to a stripped peacock quill body.
• Pearl and UV shine – Sybai Pearl Quill, Hends Pearl Quill Medium, Sybai Strong Quill and TroutLine UV Micro Ribbing Quill. Use them for a full body, the rear part of the body or a rib with a subtle shine.
• Soft UV effect – TroutLine UV Ribbing Fibers are half-round fibres for ribs and bodies on nymphs and wet flies. They reflect UV light without strong flash.
• Translucent bodies – Hends Body Glass (Round, Half Round, Extrafine), Sybai Glass Rib Plus 0.8mm and Trout Line Micro Stretch Rib. These stretchy materials create translucent bodies, similar to chironomid larvae.

How to choose the right size for your hook

Small nymphs, buzzers and dry flies need the thinnest materials: Body Glass Extrafine 0.5 mm, Micro Stretch Rib 0.5 mm or UV Micro Ribbing Quill for hooks #14–#20. For larger nymphs and lake flies, use Body Glass Round (approx. 0.8 mm), Sybai Glass Rib Plus 0.8mm or the 1.2 mm wide Body Glass Half Round.

Semperfli Perfect Quills come in three sizes: Small for hooks #16–#22, Medium for #12–#16 and Large for #8–#12. The Hemingway's quill tapers from 2.2 to 0.2 mm, so the body gets naturally wider towards the hook eye. For foam, legs and shellback materials for the same patterns, see our synthetic fly tying materials.

Tips for even segments

The key step: before you wrap the quill, build a smooth, tapered underbody with tying thread. Then tie the material in at the rear of the hook shank and wrap it forward in touching turns towards the hook eye.

Stretchy materials such as Body Glass, Glass Rib Plus and Micro Stretch Rib get thinner when you stretch them. Use more tension near the tail and less towards the hook eye to get a body that tapers towards the tail.

FAQ

Synthetic or natural peacock quill – which lasts longer?

Synthetic quill does not break as easily as natural peacock quill. According to the manufacturer, the Hemingway's quill is much stronger and longer than a natural one, so it is also long enough for large nymphs.

Can I use a quill instead of wire for ribbing?

Yes. Thin quills such as Sybai Strong Quill can replace coloured wire as ribbing. They are lighter than wire, so they also suit dry flies that should not be weighted.

Do I need to coat a quill body with UV resin?

No, it is optional. A thin layer of UV resin adds shine and extra strength, but it also adds weight, so it is usually left off on dry flies.