Fly tying equipment

[Bolcheck]

Hello all

Well I've been out of commission since Dec with knee surgery and I have another one in March, so needless to say I need something to keep me busy!!

I'm interested in to start tying my own flies, but have no idea where to start, so what I'm looking for is some advice on kits, equipment, brand names, price to get started (I don't want to break the bank but I do want good quality) etc. I would like to tie everything from chrominds for trout to big streamers for trophy pike/muskie.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

 

[RedSkullz]

I'd first get a couple of books and a kit to bulk up materials, a couple of good books will not only have some great patterns, but will also have some great step-by-step pics to show technique...try to get a half decent vice, dont skimp and buy the cheapest vice or you will regret it later. When i started flytying i bought the cheapest kit available and the vise was a nightmare...after i bought a cheaper(but still better) vise, it was much more enjoyable. For muskie/pike flies make sure you pick up some kevlar thread as regular thread will fray after a fish or two.

I found a few material kits that would be a great start for materials at a great price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Free-Shipping-Best-Value-Fly-Tying-Kit-Materials-/150543576004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item230d18abc4

http://cgi.ebay.com/LRG-MATERIAL-FLY-TYING-KIT-DVD-FREE-SHIPPING-CAN-USA-/260718054250?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3cb401cb6a

Buying either of those kits will give you lots of material to get you started but you will for sure need other materials to do specific patterns., and you will need tools thread and head cement.

Here is a tool kit that "may" be decent...i cant say for sure, as i havent used this one personally, but the vice looks decent enough to get you started at a good price. It has all the tools you will need for pretty much all patterns and techniques.

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-Piece-Fly-Tying-Tool-Kit-Vise-Great-Jigs-Too-/320621510770?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa6880072

Thread....you will need a good variety of different threads depending on what size flies you are tying. It seems like you will mostly be doing trout flies so i would go with a kit of different colours, then some sperate spools of kevlar thread for pike flies, maybe some heavier regular thread for bigger trout flies.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Danville-6-0-Thread-200-yd-spools-12W-Fly-tying-/350160919956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5187379d94


So for around $100 worth of materials and tools, you can get started! Please note that i am not a fly tying expert, but i have tied over 300 patterns from tiny trout midges to tandem deer hair mouse patterns for pike and bass.(called the "family of mice"...lol) There is nothing more rewarding than tying your own fly and then catching a 5 pound largemouth on it while your buddy is catching little on terminal spinning tackle.

Hope that helps!

 

[RedSkullz]

A pair of decent books you can get is the "Fly-tying" bible gather cole...it is based on salmon and trout flies, and has step-by-step pics for many patterns...256 pages, great beginner book. 100 flies with techniques.

One of my favorite more advanced books is "Fly patterns an international guide" by Taff Price...the book only has hand drawn/coloured pics of the flies with no step by step pics, but the patterns in the book are great. It does have all the materials used in each fly but does not have anything about technique. Probably over 400 different flies total in the books from small trout flies to large saltwater flies that work awesome for pike and muskie.

 

[RedSkullz]

Oh yeah...a good local ontario place to mail order certain materials is realprosportfishing located in Hepworth ontario. Decent materials at a good price. They mostly gear toward spinning tackle makers, but they do have a pretty good supply of materials for flytying.


http://www.luremaking.com/

 

[Bolcheck]

Thanks for the info RedSkullz, I'll put it to good use.

It's always the start-up part that's the hardest hurdle I find, but I think it should be good with a site like this that I can pick people's brains for info and tips.

Cheers

 

[blair]

'

 

[TorontoMikey86]

Hello all

Well I've been out of commission since Dec with knee surgery and I have another one in March, so needless to say I need something to keep me busy!!

I'm interested in to start tying my own flies, but have no idea where to start, so what I'm looking for is some advice on kits, equipment, brand names, price to get started (I don't want to break the bank but I do want good quality) etc. I would like to tie everything from chrominds for trout to big streamers for trophy pike/muskie.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Hey Bolcheck, I'm also new to fly tying and getting started with your material selection is one of the hardest parts i hear, haha besides the tying . Redskullz has definitely already given you some solid advice and starting points. But if you wanna save some money on shipping, and see it in person, i actually got a pretty solid kit for christmas from lebaron. It came with all the tools (i.e. solid vice, bobbin, scissor's etc.) and a good selection of material's and hooks for $79.99. Definitely worth checking it out. One thing you will definitely need though is a good thread kit, redskullz ebay post is spot on. Hope the info helps and remember, your first dozen flies will blow monkey ass, everyone's does. Take care!..

 

[RedSkullz]

Hey Bolcheck, I'm also new to fly tying and getting started with your material selection is one of the hardest parts i hear, haha besides the tying . Redskullz has definitely already given you some solid advice and starting points. But if you wanna save some money on shipping, and see it in person, i actually got a pretty solid kit for christmas from lebaron. It came with all the tools (i.e. solid vice, bobbin, scissor's etc.) and a good selection of material's and hooks for $79.99. Definitely worth checking it out. One thing you will definitely need though is a good thread kit, redskullz ebay post is spot on. Hope the info helps and remember, your first dozen flies will blow monkey ass, everyone's does. Take care!..

Got a name brand of the kit?...i am interested to see what is included for materials and how value compares to the links i posted. Also take note that the 2 material kits i posted earlier are free shipping to canada. A few more things...get good hooks. They are mighty expensive but landing multiple fish with no hook bending or dulling will make the extra expense well worth it.
Mikey is right about the first few flies sucking....fly tying is an art big time. It'll take some time to refine your skills. Start off with easier patterns like egg sucking leeches, midges, easy wet flies before trying to tackle hard one like stacked deer hair flies, parachute hackles ect. Be persistant and you'll be tying like a champ in no time. Patience is a virtue!!

I am not sure where you are located, but if you are in the barrie/midland area i'd be happy to show you some techniques first hand. I could even give you small amounts of extra material that i have.

 

[TorontoMikey86]

Ummmm it's actually just called "basic fly tying kit" :S. But I'm pretty pleased with it, the free shipping on the posts is awesome, but remember taxes, and customs Either way it's a wicked lil hobby to pick up, and like riding a bike, or catching steelhead, once you know how to do it, you never forget .

 

[Bolcheck]

Thanks for the info guys, I think with this and a few people at work that I've talked too I think I have it figured out...I think..lol. What I was told is that I should get a ceramic bobbin because it won't tear the thread like the steel does.

Good or bad the first fly I tie will be on the end of my line

Cheers everyone

 

[TorontoMikey86]

What I was told is that I should get a ceramic bobbin because it won't tear the thread like the steel does.

definitely, especially when running thinner thread.

 

[RedSkullz]

Yeah ceramic ones are better for sure...the metal ones i have used have caused me little problems with that though. A metal one will still be usefull for tying bigger pike flies especially with the kevlar thread.

 

[Bolcheck]

Well I hit up Bass Pro and picked up a kit with all the gear, I also picked up a ceramic bobbin. And I'm not half as bad as I thought I would be, but I still have a long way to go. Definitley a good winter hobby to pass the time, now I can't wait to see what I catch with these "flies" I've created. I think I'll try the wolly bugger when I go ice fishing....never know.

Here's a few pics
View attachment 8278

View attachment 8279

View attachment 8277

 

[RedSkullz]

Right on!! Those look pretty sweet!!

 

[staffman]

You may be interested in seeing the website www.sportfishingonthefly they show you how to tie many great flies and you can connect to facebook through them for more patterns.If you want to tie any particular fly I would just google the name of the fly or the type of fly you want to produce and you will be amazed at the number of instructional videos that will appear.

 

[Bolcheck]

Thanks for the tips, I've already stumbled across quite a few sites that are great for step by steptying. And every fly keeps getting better than the last.

Cheers

 

[Jefflechefski]

Get a good vise, a few books, a good kit made by a local shop, then slowly start building up materials. One other thing-If there is a fly tying club in your area join it! I did when I was 17 and I learned from a host of old masters. Cheers.