Hi there!! A friend this past summer got me into Fly fishing for the first time and I was immediately addicted. I just can't wait for the rivers to thaw so I can get back out there with my newly upgraded rod and reel.
I talked to him about tying our own flies which he said he used to do but he always got too pissed off when he would lose any he made himself that he finally just stopped making them.
I would love any tips on getting started, any books I could pick up, or any gear like fly tying vices and the like to get this new hobby to flourish. I have tried tying a few gimps other similar patterns but don't know anyone personally who could teach me and I don't have a schedule that would let me take a course at the community college here.
Cheers!!!
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The kits, you will want to spend more money on as they have the better supply of material. I am talking $200.+
The vise will need to be upgraded eventually and for the price I say Griffith.
You will need good scissors, a couple of bobbins with teflon or ceramic center (won't cut the thread), and a whip finishing tool. Of course you could learn the knots by hand also.
The Orvis KIT comes with as fair vise and they use to offer for $15. more an upgrade. The book that comes with the kit can be purchased separately.
It is one of the best because it tells you about the hooks and materials and why you use certain material for certain flies.
It then gives you step-by-step instructions on the standard flies. You will find there are only a few designs out there, but changing the color, the material, or the size can create a whole new fly, so learning the basic flies is a must!
Then just start buying the material needed for a particular fly, look for sale on material, and ROAD KILL has a whole new meaning[laugh]
Good luck and stay in touch
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Hi there CEMcGee and welcome to the world of buggy people. A few years ago I didn't know jack about tying so I went to my favorite FF store and looked at all they had to offer. The Goddess is correct about buying a kit. I purchased the Dyna-King Fly Tying Kit. It had everything I needed to get started. A DK Kingfisher vice, DVD, Illustrated fly tying book, tying materials, full set of tools from Dr Slick etc. I have really enjoyed this new hobby.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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I will have to third what has been said so far.. I bought a "cost effective" kit and even though it is "adequate" I found myself buying extra bobbins.. and a better set of scissors (several in fact).. and a better whip finishing tool.. etc etc etc.... and a better vise.. so basically if I would of save some money if I had investigated a little more and bought a good mid range kit to start with..
as for books to start with.. there are numerous out there.. but the one that I picked up and use is the [url "http://orvis.com/store/productchoice.aspx?pf_id=01EH&dir_id=1273&group_id=12544&cat_id=5126&subcat_id=6699"]Orvis Fly Tying[/url] book.. it is informative.. gives a lot of information and gives good step by step directions on basic flies.. well worth the investment for me.. Id say a good starter book for the money..
as I said before, there are a lot of good books.. and dvds out on the market and I am sure our more experienced tyers can give you the names of those..
..another thing to look at after you get a good tying kit is "fly kits".. basically these are kits that contain all the material needed.. with decent directions on tying basic flies... I bought a couple and found them to be very helpful..
.. I dont know what your situation is but if you have time you can go to your local ff'ing shop and see if they offer tying classes.. Id also look into ff'ing clubs in your area .. I know the ones in my area give free classes on tying.. and casting etc.. could be a great source of information for you ...plus
since they are local to you it would be easier to get any one on one help if you need it... Scruffy_fly took me under his wing and we spent a day tying a couple of different flies.. and that one on one with an experienced tyer is invaluable as you learn this...
.. also.. look on line.. you will find a lot of videos that will take you step by step not only on tying the flies but the tools needed etc..
lastly.. if you have any questions on something you see etc.. dont hesitate to ask.. the people on this forum are great at giving straight forward answers.. I know.. I ask a lot of questions and have never not had my question answered fully...
good luck.. and keep us up to date..[
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MacFly [cool]
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THAT'S the BOOK MAC!!!!!!!
by the way, off the subject, but Nick got more Rivendells LOL OUCH!
Yours WILL be better and has a warranty...WAHOO!
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lol. that figures.. but the Rivendells arent custom...LOL..
btw.. check your pm's.. .you're not gonna believe this.. ;-)
MacFly [cool]
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I just started tying last year myself. Found that the local library had books on fly tying. One isn't very good at how to tie but has what almost every fly I've heard of is made of. Didn't understand what they were talking about at first but the more I learn the more it makes sense.
Also if there is a outdoors expo in your area there are always people like flygoddess at differnt booths that can help you a little if they aren't too busy at the time.
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Thanks TL and you are right, that is what I am there for
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There is a great library right at one's finger tips. Like uTube for one. Every day there seems to be more fly tying instructions being added. For me it works out just fine as my tying desk also is my PC station. Tie along with the pros and when then move too fast just hit the pause button.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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I have my Mac Book, but out in the field, the book goes with me. Never know when someone has a fly I am not familiar with LOL
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Can't believe I forgot uTube. I even have a favorite folder for some of the ones I like best and for people who post a lot of different flies.
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I second the Dyna king kit. It is the only kit out there that comes with all the wuality products that don't need to be upgraded.
As far as a book goes, there is none better that the Flytiers Benchside Reference. Expensive, but worth every penny. Look around and you might be able to find some deals at Amazon or Ebay.
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My bet would be on Charlie Craven's book on fly tying becoming one of the go to books for fly tying procedures.
Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying
[url "http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Cravens-Basic-Fly-Tying/dp/0979346029"]http://www.amazon.com/...-Tying/dp/0979346029[/url]
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Back in the dim days of the 1960s, thousands of us learned to tie flies using Helen Shaw's great book Fly
Tying.
It's long out of date. But one of it's many firsts: Helen didn't teach us to tie flies. She taught us to tie fly parts.
That is, learn first how to tie bodies. Tinsel bodies. And dubbing bodies. And wool bodies. Etc. Learn how to tie wings. Dry fly wings, and wet fly wings, and streamer wings. Learn how to attach tails. And form heads.
I would recommend the same approach. If you know how to tie the various components, and have at least a passing familiarity with materials, then you can tie any pattern. It's just a matter of assembling the parts in a logical sequence.
Brook
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I dont know about ya'll but I am enjoying this posting.. especially the books .. I have the orvis book and although it is a good book..it doesnt have everything.. Id forgotten about the bench reference.. and I had no idea Charlie had come out with a book.. LOL..
great info ya'll.. keep it coming..
Scruffy.. I know you use or have a danvise.. would you say that is a good starter vise??
.. one other thing I noticed the other day while scanning thru the orvis site.. they have material grab bags.. lol.. I think its like 15 items in the small bag.. and 25 in the large bag.. dont remember the costs.. I think that is a cool idea..
MacFly
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Great info everyone and thank you very much!! I have put in an order at the local bookstore and am eagerly awaiting its arrival.... summer can't come fast enough[:p]
I will do some studying while I save up for a nice kit and supplies, once again thank you very much for all the replies!
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The Danvise is an excellent starter vise. It is the one I still use. If you go to fly tying shows you see a number of people use them.
I do not tie in a rotary style very much but I really like the rotary feature for turning the fly to see it or make tying off or cutting or trimming easier on different flies.
I generally don't like thinks made out of plastic because they just are not rugged. The plastic on this is rugged and the parts that really take the wear are metal.
It is a good all round vise that is quite adequate for size 26 (have not tied much that is smaller so I don't know) through big streamers. It certainly is not the prettiest or the sexiest. (Fly Goddess has one of the sexiest looking vices.) For the cost you would be hard pressed to beat the Danvise.
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