Best Fly Tying Materials Starter Kit 2024: Thread, Dubbing, and Feathers for Beginners
Fly tying materials are confusing when starting out — the catalogs contain thousands of items. The truth is, you need about 15 materials to tie 80% of productive CT trout patterns. Start focused, master the basics, and expand from there. Here's what actually matters.
Some links in our gear reviews may be affiliate links — we always disclose when they are. We never accept payment for favorable coverage. If something isn't worth your money, we'll say so.
Whiting American Rooster Cape
The highest-quality dry fly hackle available. One cape provides hundreds of hackle feathers in a single size range — enough for years of tying. American Rooster hackle is grown specifically for fly tying, producing thin, stiff fibers that float dry flies beautifully.Start with a medium (size 14-18) cape — covers most CT trout dry fly patterns. Add a larger cape (size 8-12) for terrestrials and attractors.
UTC 70 Denier Thread
The standard fly tying thread for trout-size flies. 70 denier is thin enough for size 20 hooks but strong enough to tie off without breaking on size 10. Low-twist construction lays flat, reducing bulk at the head. Pre-waxed for easy dubbing loop work.Buy UTC 70 in black, olive, tan, cream, and rusty brown — these five colors cover the majority of CT trout patterns. Expands to 8-10 colors as you advance.
Wapsi Superfine Dubbing
Fine, dry dubbing that spins onto thread easily and creates a lightly textured body. Produces the slim, translucent body profile needed for Comparaduns, PMD patterns, and BWO. The standard dubbing for CT trout patterns. Available in 40+ colors.Superfine dubbing in olive, tan, gray, and rusty orange covers the BWO, PMD, caddis, and attractor bases. The versatile starting dubbing for all CT trout tiers.
Buying Guide
Fly Tying Materials Starter Guide
Essential materials for a CT trout fly tier: - Thread: UTC 70 in 5 colors - Hackle: Whiting rooster cape (medium), hen soft hackle - Dubbing: Wapsi Superfine, Hare's Ear dubbing, and a coarser natural dubbing - Tail materials: Moose mane, deer hair, pheasant tail fibers - Wing materials: Elk hair, deer hair, CDC feathers - Flash: Pearl flashabou and copper/gold wire (for ribbing) - Hooks: Tiemco TMC100 and TMC2312 in sizes 10-20
Quality vs. quantity: Five quality materials produce better flies than thirty cheap materials. Cheap hackle creates a poor hackle — the most important element of a dry fly.
Starting patterns (master these first): 1. Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-16): teaches wing-post construction and body dubbing 2. Hare's Ear Nymph (size 12-16): teaches dubbing, ribbing, and bead head use 3. Wooly Bugger (size 8-12): teaches marabou, palmered hackle, and streamers 4. Adams Dry Fly (size 14-18): teaches mixed dubbing, tail, wing, and hackle 5. San Juan Worm (size 12-14): the simplest productive fly — great first tie
Material storage: Use zip-lock bags for loose materials, cedar blocks in larger storage for moth prevention on feathers and hair. Direct sunlight fades hackle colors. Store all feathers in sealed containers.
Hook quality: Tiemco (TMC) hooks are the standard against which others are measured. Sharp, consistent, and strong. Don't use cheap hooks — a beautiful fly on a poor hook is a wasted effort.
Materials, tools, vises, and patterns — complete fly tying reviews for CT fly fishers. Subscribe to Hooked Fisherman.
Sign Up — Free