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Jaayson Neiuwkirk

Step-by-Step Guide to Tying a Mayfly

Tying a mayfly pattern can be a rewarding process, enhancing your fly fishing experience by allowing you to create lifelike imitations of one of the most important insects in a fish’s diet. Below is a detailed step-by-step guide to help you tie your own mayfly.


Materials Needed

  • Hook: Dry fly hook, size 12-18

  • Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 in a color that matches your fly (e.g., tan, brown, or olive)

  • Tail: Microfibetts or hackle fibers

  • Body: Dry fly dubbing in an appropriate color

  • Wings: Poly yarn, CDC, or hackle tips

  • Hackle: Dry fly hackle in an appropriate color

  • Head cement


Tools Needed

  • Fly tying vise

  • Bobbin holder

  • Scissors

  • Hackle pliers

  • Whip finisher or half-hitch tool

  • Bodkin


Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Secure the Hook in the Vise

  • Place the dry fly hook in your fly tying vise and secure it tightly.


2. Start the Thread

  • Attach your tying thread just behind the hook eye and wrap it in tight, touching turns down the shank to the bend of the hook.


3. Tie in the Tail

  • Select a few microfibetts or hackle fibers and measure them to be about the length of the hook shank. Tie them in at the hook bend, securing them with a few tight wraps of thread. Trim any excess fibers.


4. Create the Body

  • Apply a small amount of dry fly dubbing to the thread and wrap it around the hook shank to form a tapered body, ending about one-third of the way behind the hook eye.


5. Tie in the Wings

  • If using poly yarn or CDC, cut a small piece and tie it in at the one-third mark, making a V shape that points forward. If using hackle tips, select two matching feathers and tie them in with the tips pointing forward, creating a V shape.


6. Wrap the Hackle

  • Select a dry fly hackle feather and tie it in at the same point where you tied in the wings. Make several turns of the hackle around the hook shank, working your way towards the hook eye. Secure the hackle with a few wraps of thread and trim any excess feather.


7. Form the Head

  • Build up a small, neat head with your tying thread just behind the hook eye, making sure all the hackle fibers are swept back and not trapped.


8. Whip Finish

  • Use a whip finisher or perform a few half-hitch knots to secure the thread. Trim the thread close to the hook.


9. Apply Head Cement

  • Apply a small drop of head cement to the thread wraps to ensure durability.



Tips for Tying Mayflies

  • Proportions: Aim for correct proportions in your mayfly to ensure it looks natural. The tail should be about the length of the hook shank, and the body should taper towards the head.

  • Hackle Selection: Choose dry fly hackle feathers with stiff, fine fibers to help your fly float well.

  • Practice: Tying mayflies takes practice, especially to get the wings and hackle just right. Don’t be discouraged by initial mistakes.


By following these steps, you can tie your own effective and attractive mayfly patterns. These flies are essential for any fly fisher's arsenal and can be highly effective during mayfly hatches. Happy tying and tight lines!

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