Tails – tying in a tag tail

 

AKA: Tag tails

The procedures for tying in tag tails for both dry and wet flies  for a right handed fly tier are detailed below. If you are left handed please remember to switch the instructions around.

Tag tails are used on both dry flies and wet flies very successfully.

Whilst they may look similar there are subtle differences in the materials they should be tied from and how they should be tied.

A

Dry fly tags

Generally for dry flies I like tag tails to be about as long as the gape of the hook is wide and to flare out to between 1/2 and 2/3 the gape of the hook.

B

Wet fly tags

For wet flies I like the tag to between the width of the gape of the hook and two gape widths long and between 1/4 and 2/3 of the gape of the hook wide.