Thread, tinsel, and wire form the foundation of nearly every fly—controlling structure, durability, segmentation, and overall realism. Whether you're tying delicate dry flies, heavily weighted nymphs, or vibrant attractor patterns, choosing the right core materials ensures cleaner bodies, stronger flies, and more effective presentations on the water.
Our collection includes premium threads, ribbing wires, and tinsels designed to give tiers maximum control over shape, strength, and visual appeal.
Fly Tying Thread
Thread is the core of every pattern, used for building bodies, securing materials, and shaping profiles. We offer a range of deniers, strengths, and finishes so you can match thread to your fly style:
- Fine thread (12/0–16/0) – perfect for small dries, sparse nymphs, midges, and realistic patterns requiring minimal bulk.
- General-purpose thread (6/0–10/0) – excellent for most trout flies, nymphs, emergers, and small streamers.
- Strong, flat thread – great for spinning dubbing loops, applying tension, or tying larger streamers and foam flies.
Quality thread lets you create smooth bodies, precise heads, and secure wraps without adding unnecessary bulk.
Tinsel
Tinsel adds flash, segmentation, and subtle realism to fly bodies. It reflects light in the water—mimicking air bubbles, insect sheen, or the glint of baitfish scales.
Use tinsel for:
- Ribbing nymphs and wet flies
- Building flashback wing cases
- Creating slender, reflective bodies
- Adding subtle attraction to streamers and emergers
Available in metallic, pearl, holographic, and micro-width options, tinsel helps you tailor your fly’s appearance to water clarity, hatch conditions, and fish behavior.
Wire
Wire provides durability, segmentation, and weight control. It adds structure to bodies and reinforces delicate materials like peacock herl and dubbing.
Use wire for:
- Ribbing nymphs and wet flies
- Adding subtle weight
- Creating clean segmentation
- Strengthening fragile body materials
- Building hot spots with colored wires
Choose fine wire for small nymphs and midges, medium wire for classic trout nymphs, and heavy wire for streamers or flies needing more weight and durability.
Buying Tips
- Choose fine thread for small or realistic patterns; stronger thread for bigger flies.
- Use tinsel when you want flash or subtle reflectivity—great for nymph ribbing and flashbacks.
- Pick wire when you need segmentation, strength, or slight weight.
- Match tinsel and wire size to hook size for proportionate, clean-looking flies.
- Keep several colors of wire and tinsel on hand—gold, silver, copper, and pearl cover almost all tying situations.
Whether you’re tying simple trout flies or advanced realistic patterns, high-quality thread, tinsel, and wire help your flies look better, last longer, and fish more effectively.
