You can buy flies for fly fishing, but youll want to tie your own at some point. Undoubtedly, your first fly will be the Frankenstein Fly.

Of Flies

There is a particular fly for every fish, location and situation. There are basic flies like the Woolly Bugger and millions of exotic ones. You can buy thousands of them, but it will set you back a pretty penny. So, its time to tie your own.

The first step in the fly process is getting some educated advice at the bookstore. Youll need to browse the fishing section for the hundreds of books on the subject. Youll see books like Flies for Idiots, Be One With The Fly, I Fly, You Fly, We All Fly and other mythical titles. Pick the one that seems tailored to your needs, buy your tools and supplies and head home.

One of the first flies most people try to tie is the Woolly Bugger. It can be used for most situations and seems fairly simple to tie. Since this is your first time, youll actually be tying the Frankenstein Fly whether you realize it or not. This is true regardless of the specific fly you try to tie.

With the Woolly Bugger, youll use a jam knot, a fluffy piece of marabou, lead wire and so on. Youll follow the directions in detail. Youll wind. Youll strip fuzz. Youll wrap like youve never wrapped before. In the end, you will have followed every step in agonizing detail. As you finish the last step, whip finishing your fly, youll step back to admire the best Woolly Bugger.

At this point, youll look at the book and your masterpiece. Then youll jump on the Internet and pull up pictures of Woolly Bugger flies. Then the neighborhood will shake with a piercing scream. Yes, youve created something that faintly looks like a Woolly Bugger, but strikingly like Frankenstein.

Congratulations, youve tied a Frankenstein Fly. Welcome to the league of mad tie scientists.

Have Faith

Tying flies is definitely an art. You will almost never get it right the first time. Dont be discouraged. Keep at it. Who knows, maybe the fish will find your Frankenstein Fly to be a tasty treat.