Posted: 8/27/2008 9:37:02 AM EDT
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I am currently enrolled in an aquatic entomolgy class this semester, and instead of collecting or disecting bugs, we are required to tie flies for fishing purposes. Each fly will be graded on a 10 pt scale, and we are required to make six a week. Needless to say, I am a beginner. I was told that if buying a kit, you need to make sure you have a good quality vice for tying. Can anyone recommend a good vice to go along w/ a beginners kit? Any specific outfitters you would recommend purchasing a kit from (Orvis, Cabelas, Bass Pro, etc)? The kit will be used for outside practice, as all flies must be made in lab under supervision of the professor. Also, any beginners tips yall can offer? I am hoping this may become a hobby after the semester is over. Thanks. |
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Welcome to fly tying. Don't buy a kit as this starts you down the path of buying stuff you don't need and becoming a collector of tying material you don't use. Buy an inexpensive vise that will securely hold the size of hooks that you will be using. After some tying experience you can then proceed to spend the big bucks on a vise with the features that you need and like and want in a vice. Your original vise can be your travel vise that you keep in your truck or take on fishing trips. --- Minimum Tools ---- Get a pair of very sharp quality scissors and a pair of dollar store hair cutting scissors. Get a bodkin that has a half-hitch tool as the brass handle. Get a decent pair of hackle pliers... you will discover what style you prefer Get a bobbin to hold your tying thread... again, you will discover the style that you prefer and should have all of your most used thread color/sizes on a bobbin. Get a bobbin threader. Single edged razor blade to cut everything off of the hook and start over tying the fly. --- Optional Tools --- Hair stackers Wing burners Parachute tools Whip finish tools --- Consumable Supplies --- Tying wax Head Cement Cement Thinner Hydrostop Add a container to hold all of this stuff and you will have a tying kit with just about everything required to tie fly except for the size hook, beadhead, weight, winging material, tailing material, ribbing, etc Your instructor will no doubt inform you of the fly type by name or style that you will be required to tie. This will help determine the size of hook, amount of weight if necessary, size/color of thread, and other materials required to tie that pattern. In this way you only purchase the hooks, thread, and material that you need to tie the flys that you are required to tie or want to fish with. I hope that this helps you along. Take Care! Dave  |
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If you plan to keep tyeing after class cough up for a GOOD vice. 75 as a minimum. mine was about that and it will do everything the 400$ ones will do And don’t by a kit Second rate material and not what you need. Talk to those in your class too Have one buy a neck one buy something else and share I have necks I will never finish Learn to tye all the flies you can but once class is over tye the ones you fish with and only buy material for those. Swap flies with someone who ties something else. Pick up free flies and build up a base of flies to use when you try new patterns. Here is one flies you need to learn to tye Shoe Fly (and I use this one 90% of the time it is my trademark) By Barry Evans of Granbury Materials Anything for a tail. I use synthetic so it last longer Old sandal Thread Rubber legs and super glue ( I like gel) Cut body from sandal. Easiest is with drill press and gasket cutter (I don’t have drill press and do it by hand) Dress hook and tail Use bodkin to poke hole to slide body over hook Add glue to hook (mostly right behind eye. It does not take a lot) and slide body over hook Let dry a few seconds Use bodkin to poke hole for legs Use knitting needle to pull legs through body Add a small drop of glue to legs and pull tight then pull legs and center in body Done These have caught everything that swims except bill fish. And are almost indestructable. I use them for Bass and Sunfish in Texas. |
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Sorry about the delay; I haven't checked the fly fishing forum in a while.
My trip was to Yellowstone NP, tying all soft hackles. The best producer for the trip was a size 8 pheasant tail SH. The second best was a fly I started to develop last year, and refined a bit for this year, and it worked well. My Grandfather had pretty good luck with a red rump, size 6 and 4. Fishing in the park was a bit slow this year, but I don't just go for the fish; I go to enjoy the whole experience with the folks I've met along the way. NN |