Hey guys, I’m relatively knew on this site but was looking for some advice on how to get into the art of tying flies. I am sixteen years old and have a fair amount of extra time and love the outdoors and hunting/fishing. I live inland and spend a lot of time fishing there but do get down to the SC coast quite a bit during the summer and fall for some fishing. I would love to start tying flies but do not have the first clue how to get started. I am not looking to spend a ton of money at first because I am not sure if I will love it or just get too frustrated and quit. I am looking for a list of the basic tools and material needed mainly to get started tying freshwater flies for brim and bass but I hope to eventually make progress and learn to tie saltwater flies. Also, any advice on where to begin learning, whether I can learn from videos online or need to find a class somewhere. I have also looked into buying a starter kit which seems awesome for a novice like me but have since been warned away from such cheap materials. I’d love any thoughts and advice.
i began tying not too long ago and one thing i would recommend is to go talk to people who have been doing it for 1 to 20 plus years. i would stop by the angler or the fly shop and see what they would recommend for what kind of fishing you are doing. also when people have been tying for that long they would also have different brands/ tools that they would recommend. And lastly when i learned to tie i personally figured it all out through watching youtube videos
Fly Tying Forum (flytyingforum.com) is a great place to learn a wide variety of flies to work with.
Haddrell’s Point Tackle in West Ashley has a newly expanded Fly Tying section also.
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
-
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
“Haddrell’s Point Tackle in West Ashley has a newly expanded Fly Tying section also.”
That’s cute 
Sorry dude I had to hahahahahahahaha
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
Haha. Figured someone would get me on that one haha. Call me Nikon, lets fish one day this week.
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
-
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
'Don’t know if the schedules would sync, but Chalreston Angler offers a Fly Tying 101 class. Gives a great start on the basics. You might give 'em a call and see when they might be doing that class, again.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
quote:
Originally posted by shoalcheater…I would love to start tying flies but do not have the first clue how to get started. I am not looking to spend a ton of money at first because I am not sure if I will love it or just get too frustrated and quit. I am looking for a list of the basic tools and material needed mainly to get started tying freshwater flies for brim and bass…
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Yep, it’s hard to know if you will love it or not. The answer will come when/if you throw a fly out onto the water that you tied and a fish jumps on it like you just threw out his favorite fish treat. If your target fish (for now) are largemouth bass and bream, it would be hard to beat the Woolly Bugger fly for simplicity of tying. Many fish will eat that fly. If I had all the materials in my current supplies, I would be happy to drop a small handful of the necessary materials in an envelope and mail it to you. Pretty sure I don’t. Maybe one of the other guys does and would help?That would just leave you in need of a vise and a fly tying bobbin. You need to buy a bobbin; no way around that. As for a vise… if you are humble enough to just use a pair of vise grips, that is all you really need.
If any of this helps, let me know. If not… best of luck anyway.