Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to tie your own fishing flies
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Fly tying is done at a bench, with a vice (US vise) to hold the hook, a bobbin holder for the thread and fine-pointed scissors, which the Fly Dressers' Guild calls the most important tool. Guild branches in the UK run tying evenings, and in the US Trout Unlimited chapters and fly shops run beginners' classes, some of them free.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
How you learn
The Fly Dressers' Guild says it is for tyers at all levels, from beginners up, and that no qualifications or experience are needed to join. It has just over 30 branches across the UK, each running its own programme of talks, tying evenings and outings. The branch at Greyfriars in Ringwood, Hampshire, meets on Tuesday evenings from September to April and teaches in three groups, from Beginners to Improvers 2.
The basic kit, according to the Guild, is a vice, sharp fine-pointed scissors, a bobbin holder, hackle pliers to grip small feathers, a dubbing needle and a whip finish tool, though it says learning the whip finish by hand is better. It suggests branch auctions as a source of bargains.
In the US, Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited's beginners' course covers basic techniques and trout patterns, with a booklet of pattern sheets. Fly Fishers International publishes a beginners' manual for its clubs and members.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | What you get | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Fly Dressers' Guild (UK) | National membership, the quarterly Flydresser magazine, access to branches and the voluntary awards scheme | £25 a year individual, £35 family |
| North West Fly Dressers' Guild branch, Timperley | Branch membership; national Guild membership also required | £30 a year, or £5 a night as a guest |
| Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, Fitchburg | Beginning Fly Tying, eight Wednesday evenings from 13 January 2027; class materials provided, bring your own tools and thread | Free |
| Thorne Bros, Blaine, Minnesota | Beginner class of about two hours, three patterns; tools, vises and materials provided | $40 |
The Guild notes that some branches charge their own fee on top of national membership. The Southern Wisconsin course needs advance registration through Fitchburg's recreation department.
How to start
- Find a local branch on the Fly Dressers' Guild branches page, or in the US look for a Trout Unlimited chapter or a Fly Fishers International club near you.
- Start with a class where vices, tools and materials are provided, before you buy anything.
- When you do buy, follow the Guild's advice and spend a little on a basic vice until you know you will keep going, checking that its jaws hold the hook sizes you need.
Where to go
- Fly Dressers' Guild, branches (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) UK
- Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited: free fly tying classes US
- Fly Fishers International: Fly Tying Education US
We opened these links on 14 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
Show the links
Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What tools do I need to start fly tying?
A vice, fine-pointed scissors, a bobbin holder, hackle pliers, a dubbing needle and a whip finish or half-hitch tool. The Fly Dressers' Guild suggests a basic vice until you know you will stick with it.
Do I need experience to join the Fly Dressers' Guild?
No. The Guild says no qualifications or previous experience are needed and that its members range from beginners to experienced tyers.
Are fly tying classes free?
Some are. Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited's eight-week course is free, while a two-hour beginner class at Thorne Bros in Minnesota was listed at $40.
Is there a qualification in fly tying?
There are voluntary award schemes. The Fly Dressers' Guild runs the Guild Fly-Tying Awards Scheme, and Fly Fishers International has a Fly Tying Skills Award Program.
Where this comes from: Fly Dresser's Guild, home page; Fly Dresser's Guild, Join The Fly Dressers' Guild; Fly Dresser's Guild, Branches; Fly Dresser's Guild, Just starting? Tools of the trade; North West Fly Dressers' Guild, Branch Membership; Greyfriars Community Centre, Fly Dressers' Guild; Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, Fly Tying Classes; Fly Fishers International, Fly Tying Education; Fly Fishers International, Fundamental Flies for the Beginner Fly Tier; Thorne Bros, Fly Tying Class - Beginner. Opened 14 November 2026.
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