Fly Tying Kits?
- This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Oct 6, 2006 at 1:47 pm by
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After reading a couple of past topics kind of touching on the subject, I get the feeling that most folks here would be against buying a fly tying kit.
See your message box.
I would go the route of purchasing a decent vise and a few tools and then pick a few flies that you use a lot of on the rivers that you fish in N.C.
The downside to kits is that they are filled up with a lot of materials that you may never have a reason to use and sometimes the quality of the materials in the kit is lacking.
Hey Barry –
Those kits aren’t really well configured for our Eastern needs; they tend to include the materials to tie a bunch of dry flies for out west.
What you need to do is start out by buying some stuff under the guidance of a shop guy you trust.
Don’t discount shopping at craft stores and bargain bins at your local grocer. Clear nail polish makes great head cement and can be bought for $.60 – 1.00. False eyelashes are cheap and make great mayfly tails. You can buy a lifetime supply of glass beads for a couple of bucks at Michaels. And it doesn’t hurt to know hunters–they can be a fantastic source of furs and feathers (just make sure to microwave whatever they give you for a few seconds).
When picking a vise look for one that, not only holds a wide variety of hook sizes well, but one you can work both of your hands around at the same time. Also, I’ve been using a rotary vise for ten years, but the only thing I use the rotary feature for is to examine flies.
I agree with just about everything that’s been said. And I really like your approach of learning to tie one pattern at a time. I think that’s sensible. Going along with that you might think about buying the basic tools and then buying a “tie a fly” kit. They cost about $20 each and include everything you need to tie one pattern – hooks, material everything. Here is the link:
If I was doing it over again that’s how I would do it.
Just some more thoughts about tools: I would sink most of my money into the vise. It’s the most important. Slipping hooks are really frustrating. I think Zach made a good recommendation with the anvil. Another to consider is the peak vise. With the other tools I’ve found the cheap stuff works pretty well. I’ve got $5 scissors from bass pro that work almost as well as the $15 Dr. Slicks. Bobbins – just make sure the thread tube is flared or it has a ceramic insert. Otherwise breaking, fraying thread is a real hassle. I’ve found these cheaper bobbins very good as well.
Good luck,
Greg
It seems the answers are the same all over. I have been a tying instructor for 10 years and have yet to find a kit I like. As I see it the manfacturers try to make a one size fits all, and it doesn’t work. Zak said most of the kits he has seen have allot of stuff to tie
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