Here is a tutorial on how to make a gut loop eye for a fishing fly. I have used a substitute made of nylon for this article, but the same technique should be applied when using the real deal; other steps required for using real gut will be noted throughout the process. This method is based on what is described in The Salmon Fly, by G.M. Kelson from 1895; a book celebrated as the bible among many for traditional salmon fly tiers.
Soak real gut
If using real gut, make sure to soak it sufficiently in water. I would encourage to cut off a piece of gut reaching the length needed for that hook, and only soak this piece. The soaking process takes about 10 minutes in tempered water. The reason we soak the gut is to make it easier to work with, but also so that the thread will bite into it, and making it more secure.
I apologize for the low image quality, but it should be sufficient to illustrate the steps.
Step 1: Tie in the thread
Tie on the thread. If you tie in hand, and/or for fishing, wax the thread beforehand. In The Salmon Fly by G.M. Kelson from 1895, he states that there should be left an eight of an inch of bare hook shank left bare in the front.
Note: Make sure to use force on every turn of waxed thread used in this process, especially if one is tying a fishing fly.
Step 2: Line up the gut
Lay the gut parallel to the hook shank on your far side. The waste end should reach the length of the body if you are tying a fishing fly. For a display fly, it can be shorter, only about the half on an inch.
Step 3: Tie in gut on far side
Tie in the gut, it should be placed slightly on the low side of the far side from the tier.
Step 4: Make the loop
After securing in the gut on the far side; double the gut to make the loop, and line it up, slightly low of your near side. Kelson suggest that this part can be done holding the hook upside-down.
Step 5: Secure the loop
When you have made a desired loop, secure it with about half-a-dozen turns of waxed thread.
Step 6: Secure the thread
Secure with a half-hitch before the next step.
Note: This step is only necessary if you are tying in hand with a loose thread. (no spool or bobbin).
Step 7: Split the ends
Whatever twisted material you use; untwist the ends so they can be trimmed.
Step 8: Trim and taper the ends
Trim the loose ends of the gut in a tapered fashion; this will help on the body shape.
Step 9: Secure the ends
Tie down and secure the ends to the hook shank with heavily waxed thread.
Step 10a: Continue back upward with the thread
With close turns of waxed thread, advance back up toward the eye.
Step 10b: Secure; if necessary
If you run out of thread, you can always secure with an half-hitch.
Step 12: Prepare for the nipping of the loop
No supreme classic salmon fly is complete without a well-shaped gut loop. To create this; take your scissors in your right hand (not viable in the image), and with the nails of the thumb and index finger of the left hand one is first to pinch over the tie-in point of the gut eye loop.
Step 13: To nip the loop/to shape the eye
Then poke the point of your scissors through the loop, and force them outward. If one is using real gut; note that the gut is much easier to shape, and Kelson writes in his book that one should use a stiletto*, and to keep it there until the gut has dried to the desired round shape. If one is to use the scissors on real gut, make sure to only apply enough force to shape it round, then hold it there until it dries. For a nylon substitute one should apply more force in order to shape it properly.
*Not a common tool today, and a knitting needle or a modified flat screwdriver can be used for this process if )
Note: If using real gut , do not let go with the nails of the left thumb and index finger while doing this process.
Step 14: The final shape
This picture displays the underside of the hook. So should the final shape of the gut loop match. Now one can start to tie the fly.
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All photos are taken by me and shall not be used without permission.