Fly Tying Board and Fly Heads for Trolling Fly - Fishing Lure

This is a printable board (tool) that makes tying Mylar trolling flies faster and easier.  Download also includes needed fly components like heads and stems.

This tying method is fast, easy, and repeatable. The board produces consistent flies so when you find a pattern that works you can quickly and easily make more with the same pattern. Stems and heads are included in the download.

Item needed for completing board:  

Small binder clip, 15.1 mm wide x 9mm deep.  

Items needed for making flies:

• Double-sided tape, ½ inch (12mm) wide or smaller
• Banded Mylar tinsel
• Scissors
• Finger nail polish
• Thread
• Small Zip-Ties (can be used instead of thread and polish)

Printing: 

Board - 3 perimeters, 15% infill Gyroid, PLA.  

Stem, Cap, Lofted Fly Head, and Richard's Favorite Fly Head - 3+ perimeters, 0% infill on cap and stem, minimal to zero infill on heads, TPU.  

I have found that NOVAmaker TPU in green and yellow are UV reactive.  I also use both SainSmart Glow and CCTree Glow TPU. 

Note on tinsel: 

After the tape is in place on the board, the tinsel used on the start end of the tape will be on the outer part of the finished fly. The tinsel closest to the binder clip will be in the center of the finished fly.  

If you are using tinsel with two different sides (colors), place the side of the tinsel you want to see on the outside surface of the finished fly, facing upwards (towards you).

Using Purchased Bullet Heads: 

Most tinsel sellers also sell Bullet Heads; they can be used with good results as long as they are stepped, shown left-source Purple Taco.  Grooved heads, unfortunately must have a groove width of 12mm or more like BugBodz, to fit on the board.  

Some of the narrow grooved heads are best used with silicone skirt material which is dense and stretches.  Mylar tinsel is often added to silicone skirts as a necessity to improve their effectiveness at catching fish. 

The 6mm stem in the download, with either of the heads or the cap would work well for tying silicone skirt flies without the board. Just use a couple of good quality zip-ties to hold it all together.  Yes, it's much faster.

For fly recipes and other 3D printable components to make your own trolling flies, take a look at the  Trolling Fly 3D Printing Starter Kit,  also on this site.

Have a good day and good luck fishing.

Tinsel:

Salmon Elixir: https://salmonelixir.com/
Purple Taco Fly Supply: https://www.purpletacoflysupply.com/
Superior Outfitters: https://superior-outfitters.mybigcommerce.com/