Fly tying threads

Fly tying thread - the most important fly tying material

Fly tying threads are tying material that we need to have to tie a fly fishing flies properly. The right thread must be characterized by the right breaking strength, thickness adjusted to the fly pattern being made, and also color.

The quality of the thread is very important, in particular, we intend to tie and attach the material to the hook shank more tightly. Such a strong thread is useful when tying larger flies, when we make a head from deer or deer hair, we make a wing from hair and many other situations.

Another feature of threads is their profile, i.e. whether they are flat or round. Contrary to appearances, this is important when making selected patterns or using specific fly tying materials. Of course can be waxed thread or not.

Threads are wound on spools of different sizes, the vast majority of manufacturers use standard spools that best fit 99% of bobbins available on the fly tying tool market. However, there are brands that supply threads on narrower spool and smaller capacity.

Tying thread you can use as a main thread, but also you can use it as ribbing when you tie a nymph, dry or wet fly body.

Thickness markings of tying threads

The sizes of fly threads are different and, in addition, manufacturers describe them in two ways.

Firstly, the thickness of the thread for tying flies can be described, for example, 8/0 or 16/0, what does ro mean? To make it simpler, I will write 3/0 is a thick thread, 6/0 thicker, 8/0 thinner, and 16/0 is super thin for tiny flies. Such markings are used, for example, by the well-known Canadian brand UNI, which has high-quality threads.

The second method used by manufacturers is Denier, and here the marking is a number, the smaller the number, the thinner the thread. For example, 70 Denier is a thin thread, 140 is already a thicker thread, and 210 or 280 are already thick threads.

Which tying thread should I choose?

Feeling the strength of the thread and therefore what we can afford with it comes with time and experience, but at the beginning a few points below can help here.

• dry and wet flies, nymphs - here it is worth buying a thin thread 8/0 or about 70-80 Denier.
• trout streamers - here you need a stronger, i.e. thicker thread 6/0 or 140 Denier (of course you can also use thinner ones, but you have to be careful not to break it)
• pike flies and other large saltwater streamers - 3/0 or 210 or 280, the strength and durability of such a thread is the most important thing. But do not forget about GSP thread, this is extra strong fly tying thread - in my opinion amazing product.