fly tying kit

[slipry]

Can anyone recommend a good Saltwater tying kit? I saw basspro has one for $59.99 and orvis has one for $160.00. I don't mind spending up to $200.00 if I get good tools and won't feel I have to upgrade right away. I am a beginner but I don't want to buy junk. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Kurt_Loup]

I'm not impressed with the quality of kits. Plus you get stuff you don't need. All you need to get started is a couple ceramic bobbins and scissors. If you are willing to spend up to $200, that will leave you over $150 for a quality vise. Lots of good ones in that price range. I prefer a vise with a rotary feature. Last week the Orvis store had fly tying materials 50% off.

[AdrianL]

slipery - I am by no means an expert, having just started tying myself but the advice I got and almost all of the advice I read was to not buy a kit. Rather, buy a decent vice - this will be by far the most expensive part - then get the basic tools - whip finisher, ceramic bobbin, scissors - straight and curved - etc

I actually bought this kit from Cabelas - http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Tying/Tools-Vises|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104340780/i/103884480/Dr-Slick-Tyer-Pack-Tool-Set/744508.uts?destination=/

It has all the basics. Once I added up the basic tools this kit came in right about the same price and Dr Slick are good tools, I am told. I added a set of curved scissors too.

I stumbled around for awhile trying to figure out which was a decent vice until finally a friend of mine recommended the HMH vice. This is the one I ended up getting and I like it - http://www.hmhvises.com/sx.htm

I found one on the bay for $115.

Just about everyone recommended not to get one of the $20 to $30 vises.

The next thing is to decide what flies you want to tie and get the materials you will need for those flies.

Add in a bottle of head cement. Then if you are like me, changing thread on a bobbin is a PIA so I picked up a couple additional bobbins - they are cheap. Thread(s) - mostly 6/0 in black, white, chartreuse is a good start - it will mostly depend on the flies you want to tye.

Good luck and have lots of fun.

[slipry]

Thanks guys ! It looks like I will be taking a trip to the orvis store in batonrouge tomorrow to start getting set up. I have never been there so I hope they have a good selection in stock.

[valvguy1]

I'd agree with Kurt. The kits leave a lot to be desired and usually have questionable vises included. Good scissors are a must have....... ceramic bobbins especially for newbies.

Apex Vise ~90.00 great vise also Anvil Lot of people like the Spyder

Rotary vise....... not for rotary tying so much as the ability to rotate the hook to make tying easier.

Good Luck...... my son and I started tying last year..... then we graduated to Fly Fishing and then to Kayaks

It's been a wonderful year.

Learn to tie Woolly Buggers...... you will learn a lot of the needed skills with just that one fly. Clousers are good too.

[papawd]

I bought a kit at Bass Pro and after tying a few flies sold the vice that came with the kit and bought a nice vice for about $100 or a little over as mentioned earlier THE VICE IS KEY the rest of the stuff Ya can collect here and there

[valvguy1]

I was heading out the door when I read this. Kurt and I had talked a while back about when you first start.... you don't know what materials to buy.

First I'd get on Orvis' mailing list. They will send you an endless supply of buy 50.... get 25.00 off. So..... you can buy your supplies at 50% off assuming you buy 50.00 worth at a time.

Second..... This kit is onsale for 19.99 at Cabelas: http://www.cabelas.com/ensemble/Bargain-Cave/Fly-Fishing/Tackle-Craft-Fly-Tying%7C/pc/105591780/c/105763680/sc/105748380/Soft-Grip-Fly-Tying-Tools-and-Tool-Kit/6838.uts?destination=/catalog/product.jsp%3FparentCategoryId%3D105591780%26categoryId%3D105763680%26subCategoryId%3D105748380%26productId%3D712095%26type%3Dproduct


I believe these are ceramic bobbins..... If not..... who cares..... for this price you can use them as wire and lead bobbins.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bargain-Cave/Fly-Fishing/Tackle-Craft-Fly-Tying%7C/pc/105591780/c/105763680/sc/105748380/Soft-Grip-Bobbins/712095.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/bargain-cave-fly-fishing-tackle-craft-fly-tying/_/N-1102798/No-48/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105748380%3FWTz_stype%3DGNP

Now depending on vises. I bought a DynaKing Barracuda on Ebay....... it was expensive but will last me a life time and I can tie up Stupid Big Flys with it. Actually need smaller jaws for the smaller stuff.... under 14.

You could stay within your budget with any of these:

Apex....... nice vise with stand and clamp:http://www.basspro.com/Apex-Adjustable-Fly-Tying-Vise/product/38407/-880616

Atlas...... same manufacturer as Apex: http://www.anvilusa.com/The_Atlas_Vise.htm

Peak Vise: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_60894_175004006_175000000_175004000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

Griffin Spyder: http://www.basspro.com/Griffin-Spider-Vise/product/38445/-910571

Just to blow your mind, lol..... here's an article that has some good vise reviews:

http://www.flyfishohio.com/Vise%20Review%201/Fly_Tying_Vise_Shoot-Out.htm


Thread........... Thread comes in sizes X/0 ie 3/0 6/0 8/0 the smaller the X the larger and stronger the thread. I'd start with 3/0 especially since your just starting. Also comes in Denier - 100, 140, 201 etc. In Denier the higher the number the larger the thread. Theres another option that I use A Lot for saltwater........ Mono Thread which is avail in clear and smoke.

Bobbin: I'd say ceramic as a minimum standard for a beginner:

Starter Bobbin: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=0588&dir_id=1273&group_id=1279&cat_id=5206&subcat_id=6154 make it part of a 25.00 off Orivs purchase they are 8.00 each

High End Beloved Bobbin with Tension Control: http://www.cabelas.com/tools-vises-rite-bobbins-2.shtml

The Bobbin I'm currently lusting after: http://www.offthehookflyshop.com/mapempththbo.html


Scissors: I have quite a few different kinds Walmart sells some Titanium Scissors that do pretty good. Both straight and curved. What they dont sell is MicroTip.

Dr Slicks makes a good line. The carbide are great but if you ever drop them..... they're shot....... carbide is very brittle.


If I were you.... I'd catch up with Glen "Catch" Cormier on this site. The area in which you live has an abundance of fly tying enthusiasts. I'm sure Catch could point you towards a club or two AND toward a Conclave or two that is upcoming in your area.

For materials...... Orvis has some really high quality materials. They're pretty much the same price everywhere so.... might as well use that 25.00 off coupon. Also for salwater stuff...... Google Fly Tiers Dungeon. The have synthetics at about 1/4 the price of everyone else. I've heard good things about them.

For starters..... I'd buy.. Woolly Bugger Stuff. .025 lead wire....... Medium Ultra Chenille........... Copper Wire if you want for reinforcement..... Barred Woolly Bugger Hackle....... and some Marabou. You can learn these on youtube

For Clousers........... you'll need...... Dumbell or Bead Eyes........... A color or two of Deer Tails.... agian, IMHO, Orvis as FAR FAR superior to Cabelas or Bass Pro. This time of year I'd probably go with......... white........ Black and Purple. Maybe some Chartreuse as well. A pack of Crystal Flash and you're set......... Again....... a youtube learnable fly.

When you can tie those two flies....... you'll be a long way towards tying anything that you want to tie.

Both in large sizes work well for Saltwater. Downsize for Freshwater........ and you're all set.

[Catch]

Those Lefty Kreh tying kits they sell at Bass Pro are good deals for the money. Granted, the vice is cheap. But each one (coldwater, saltwater, warmwater) has just the right materials for tying flies that DO catch fish. Most owners use the vice for awhile, then do as Papawd did, and replace it.

[yak-aholic]

I started out with a cheap vise in a kit and if you're wanting to try it out to see if it's for you, maybe a cheap vise is the way to go. Rotary vises are definitely "The Cat's Meow" for tying flies. A lot easier to work with positioning the hook where you want it with a rotary vise. You may be adding material to the bottom of the hook for the first step of the tie, then putting material on the top of the hook for the next step. With a rotary, you can just flip it over in the vise. If you're using one of the cheaper vises, you'll have to remove the hook from the vise, flip it over, and re-clamp the hook in the vise. Kind of a pain in the neck.

[Catch]

The area in which you live has an abundance of fly tying enthusiasts. I'm sure Catch could point you towards a club or two AND toward a Conclave or two that is upcoming in your area.

Slipry, the Acadiana Fly Rodders hold their meetings the 1st Tuesday of each month in Lafayette. They will hold their annual "conclave" - aka, fly fishing festival - on Saturday, February 26. It's open to the public and runs from 8:30am to 4:00pm. There are typically 15-20 featured tiers from LA, TX, AR demonstrating various patterns. There are also programs, kayak demos, casting clinics, yada, yada. A week later on March 6, the Red Stick Fly Fishers hold their conclave, aka, "Red Stick Day" in Baton Rouge. Pretty much the same format, but with several different tiers, some from MS, AL and FL.

If you're willing to travel a few hours, the Houston club holds their festival on February 5. It's called the Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival, but previously went by the name "Texas Fly TYing Festival". Although it has programs, manufacturer exhibits and demos, etc.,, it's claim to fame is that of once being the biggest fly tying event in the country! There aren't nearly as many tiers as there used to be, but it's still one of the largest, with about 60 to 75 tiers. In recent years, they've added a special featured tier. Last year it was Bob Clouser; this year it's Tim Borski.

At any of these Conclaves, you'll have the opportunity to watch and learn from several tiers who tie the types of flies you want to tie. You can see the equipment they use, how they use their materials, and pick their brains. Every one of them started from scratch and built up their expertise over many years and thousands of flies. And their aim is to help you get to their level in half the time and half the effort!

You can check dates and times for all these events at http://www.laflyfish.com/calendar/calendar.php