{{start}}

Only some of the things that trout eat have tails on often the tail is very small.

Despite that many of the dry and wet flies that we tie have a tail.

In most cases tails are tied into dry flies as an extension of the body and are generally incorporated in the fly design to give the fly some additional movement. If a tail is incorporated in a wet fly it is generally of much softer material than would have been used for a dry fly and generally equal in length to between 1/3 of the length of the hook shank and the 1.5 times the length of the hook shank.

Avoid making tails too long because sometimes the fish will hit the movement of the tail and miss the hook completely. This is often referred to as a "short take" or "taking short".

The most common types of materials for fly tails include. marabou, synthetics, squirrel, possum and calf tail and of course hackle fibres.

The technique for tying in hackle, hair and synthetic fibre tails on both dry and wet flies for a right handed fly tier are set out below. If you are left handed please remember to switch the instructions around.

If the butts of the tail material are to become part of the body of the fly then the body material may be tied in toward the front of the hook and then be tied to the top of the shank of the hook all the way to the bend of the hook. Otherwise they may be tied in at the bend of the hook.

Process

A	Move the thread to exactly the position where the tail is to be tied in. Select the tail material to be tied in as the tail and hold then against the hook with your right hand to check the length.

B	Once you are satisfied with the position of the tail material without moving the tail material take hold of them, with the thumb and for finger of your left hand, firmly against the top of the shank at the tie in position.

C	Without releasing your left hand grip on the tail material and the hook shank take the bobbin up with your right hand and use the fly tiers pinch to secure the tail material into position.

D	DIf the tail material has been tied in up the hook shank hold the tail above but along the top of the hook as you wind the thread toward the tail. This will keep the tail material sitting right on top of the hook shank.

E	Trim the butt ends of the tail material in front of the tie in position by holding the butt end of the tail material vertical and trim it off horizontal with scissors. By trimming the excess off horizontally you are left with a gradient rather than a ridge.

{{end}}