How to Tie Micro Dry Flies: Choosing the Right Materials for Strength & Durability
With: quinnsflybox
If you’ve ever tried tying micro dries, you know the struggle—keeping them lightweight without falling apart after a few casts. So, we caught up with Quinn, a master of the craft, to get the lowdown on the secret sauce for durability. Turns out, it’s all about the thread. Not just any thread, but the new wave of “super threads” that let you crank down materials without the bulk. Whether you're trying to whip up an invincible dry fly or just want your ties to last more than a fish or two, Quinn’s got the goods.
Quinn, when it comes to tying micro dries, what are the key materials you rely on to ensure your flies stay lightweight yet durable?
The single most important thing to consider when tying micro dries is thread choice. The introduction of what I like to call “super threads” in recent years has revolutionized micro dry fly tying. These are essentially ultra-low diameter gel spun threads, which are incredibly strong despite their extremely low diameter. Additionally, they are much more abrasion-resistant than regular tying threads. Rake a wire brush across a strand of regular tying thread, and then across a strand 30 denier G.S.P., and you will see just what I mean!
The incredible strength of these threads allows the tyer to pin down both natural and synthetic materials to the hook shank with much greater force than is possible with regular tying threads, virtually eliminating materials from shifting on the hook after repeated use and increasing the overall durability of the fly. Thanks to their low diameter, it is also possible to put an astonishing 15-20 turns into a whip finish without accumulating bulk – an invincible whip finish that will never come undone, even without the use of head cement.
Synthetic “superfine” or “micro-fine” dry fly dubbings are another great tool in the arsenal for tying micro dries. These dubbings are very easy to work with and apply to your thread in minuscule amounts - an important quality when tying micro dries. It also “cords up” very well, which not only gives a nice, segmented appearance but improves fly durability. Turkey biots are also useful in creating segmentation on micro dries. The stripped ones sold in fly shops, however, are only useful for larger flies. What you want to look for is the whole primary flight feather, which contains biots on both sides. On one side, the biots are short and fat, on the other side, they are long & skinny. The long, skinny biots are perfect for micro dries.
How do you manage the challenge of creating visibility in small dry flies, especially when they’re so delicate and tiny?
One of the best ways to create visibility in micro dries is to tie them with an upright wing, using a lightly colored natural or synthetic material. I’m a big fan of light dun or tan CDC myself. Unlike flies tied with the wing laying over the back of the body, an upright wing protrudes up out of the water a bit more, increasing the fly’s visibility on the water’s surface.
What’s your secret for maintaining precision when tying such small patterns? Any specific techniques you use to avoid frustration with those tiny hooks?
Besides choosing the appropriate thread and materials, the type of vice you are tying on can either help or hurt your ability to tie micro dries. It is not recommended to try to tie a size 20 fly on a vice that was designed to tie large saltwater flies. For small flies, you want small jaws that hold the hook firmly in place without obstructing the tyer from doing his or her job. I tie on a Renzetti presentation 3000, which is specifically designed for tying small dries.
Can you share five tips for tying micro dry flies, especially when it comes to materials, technique, and keeping them light yet effective?
Choose the right vice! You won’t get very far trying to tie micro dries if your jaws are too big for the hooks, or if you do it will be a very frustrating & unpleasant experience.
Choose the right thread! When tying micro dries, it is recommended you use micro thread. Two of my favorite threads for micro dry fly tying are 30D Veevus G.S.P. and Semperfli nano-silk. They both very strong with an ultra-low diameter.
Choose the right dubbing! Pick a dubbing that is easy to work with & and apply to your thread in minuscule amounts. Two of my favorite dubbings are Wapsi Super Fine and Spirit River Fine & dry. Another honorable mention: Hareline micro-fine dry fly dub.
Choose the right-wing material! The more complicated a fly’s floatation device / wing style, the more difficult it is to execute on a “micro” scale. I like to keep wings on micro dries as simple as possible – often avoiding hackle and opting for a small tuft of CDC or synthetic material instead.
Take your time! Fly tying is not a race. (Unless you’re tying commercially and that’s a whole different story). It is much better to do things slowly and correctly than speedily & sloppily. I know it’s a cliché, but patience really is a virtue when it comes to micro dry fly tying.
What’s next for Quinn’s Fly Box? Do you have any exciting new patterns or projects in the works?
I’m excited to announce that after years of working alone, trying to do all the tying and selling myself, I will soon be partnering with some other shops that have agreed to carry my flies. They will soon be available at Fish Whistle Trading Post in Hancock, NY – and another location in Livingston Manor, to be announced soon. Follow me on Instagram for updates!
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