How modern threads and genetic hackles have made tying flies easier

Modern 18/0 thread, so handy for smaller flies.

By Magnus Angus

This week, I got a few spools of Semperfli 18/0 thread, for my latest project tying small-ish dry flies. The next stage is to sort out materials; Superfine dubbing, hackles, poly-yarn, Gallo de Leon. Then hooks, I want to tie on a few hook sizes, #16 to #20.

I’ll probably photograph the dressing on a #16… maybe a #14. Shooting close-up fly-photos is easier if the hook is a little larger. The fly takes up more of the frame, the details are easier to see, slightly more depth of field.

Gathering the materials, I unearthed my oldest ‘genetic’ capes, Metz and DJ Hackles, I think… possibly 30 years old? Good capes in their day, a revelation when I bought them. Now they seem rustic compared to modern capes, even the lower grade, modern genetic capes. Fly tying materials have developed so much over time.

When I started tying flies I used black 6/0 Uni thread: good strong stuff, but not a subtle thread. Uni 8/0 seemed exotic when it appeared! For the first few years I tied all flies with black 6/0 Uni – mainly lures, a few wets, even one or two dries. Hackles came from Indian cock and hen capes. Tying a small dry fly was almost impossible.

Modern threads are fantastic, finer and stronger. I use mostly conventional polyester and nylon thread, lightly waxed. This 18/0 stuff is very fine, strong, doesn’t seem to flatten much, but takes dubbing well and there’s no need to flatten thread under a dubbed body.