Spinning and Trimming Elk Hair
Why Elk Hair Works Well In this demonstration – taken from Al Beatty’s Fly Tying Friday, 24 April 2026 – Al Beatty explains that elk hair is often easier to handle than deer hair. It is stiffer, which can make…
Hastings Fly Fishers
A family-oriented fly-fishing club covering the Port Macquarie Hastings region, NSW.
Hastings Fly Fishers
A family-oriented fly-fishing club covering the Port Macquarie Hastings region, NSW.
Tag fly tying techniques
Read MoreSpinning and Trimming Elk Hair
Al Beatty’s Hackle Wrapping Tip
In the November 7 BTS Fly Tying Friday, Al Beatty shared a valuable tip for keeping the humpy’s body clean and the hackle properly seated. He explained that many tiers accidentally let the hump crowd the belly by keeping too…
Using Large Feathers on Small Soft Hackles
Detailed instructions on how to use large feathers on small soft hackles. A clever technique for utilising oversized feathers on small soft tackle flies involves isolating the feather’s tip to create a triangular tie-in anchor. By extending the feather’s fibres…
Marking Rubber Legs
Here’s an excellent tip, demonstrated by Gary Begley, from Al Beatty’s Friday Fly Tying Zoom session on how to mark rubber legs. BT’s Fly Tying Friday is a weekly BTS zoom session run by Al Beatty. Contact Al by email…
Gary Begley’s Bodgin Half Hitch
Learn the Bodgin Half Hitch and whip-finishing techniques as Gary Begley demonstrates these useful fly-tying skills in BT’s Fly Tying Friday, hosted by Al Beatty.
Whip Finishing Instructions
Hold the Whip Finish Tool in your hand trapping the ball located just above the handle between thumb and index finger. (This prevents the tool from turning.) While holding the tool in this manner, position the head of the tool…
Tying with Deer Hair
A quick primer on the tools, techniques and materials used when spinning deer hair.
An Introduction to Fly Tying
This guide offers new members a helpful overview of fly tying—the art of creating artificial flies to catch fish. It isn’t a complete manual but a starting point that explains the essential tools, materials, and techniques you’ll encounter as you…
Muddlers Made Easy
Most tying problems stem from two things: Failure to properly plan the fly, and not knowing how to work with deer hair. Both of these are easy to remedy.