In fly tying, a bodkin is one of the most basic (and most used) tools on your bench. It’s essentially a fine needle mounted in a handle, but it does a lot more than it looks like.

What it’s used for:

• Applying head cement or UV resin
  Precise placement on thread wraps or whip finishes
• Picking out dubbing
  Tease fibers to create a buggy, natural look
• Clearing hook eyes
  Keeps glue, resin, or thread from clogging the eye
• Separating materials
  Useful for splitting fibers, hackle, or synthetics
• General precision work
  Anything that needs a fine point

Why it matters:

A bodkin is one of those tools you grab constantly—especially when tying salmon flies, streamers, or anything where finish matters. It’s cheap, simple, and irreplaceable.

Pro tip:

A lot of experienced tyers keep two bodkins on the bench:

• One clean (for picking, clearing eyes)
• One dedicated to glue/resin so you don’t gum up your main tool