I think I’d like to get into tying my own flies. How about some advce on what equipment/supplies I need to get started?
Originally posted by livinandfishin
Trust me, while your pinned down taking enemy fire and you call in for air support and you hear a jets afterburner crackin the air overhead would be the most liberating sound you could ever ask for. I haven’t experienced that first hand in actual combat, but I have trained in a similar scenario where it still makes the hair stand up on your body.
Some people say not to do this, but I bought a “starter kit,” just to see if I would even want to continue doing it. The Charleston Angler has a Metts Saltwater Starter kit for around $100 and it will give you enough supplies to get your feet wet and tie some flies that you can actually use.
After that, you will have to start building your supplies - what I usually do is pick out some new flies that look good, figure out how they’re tied, and buy everything needed to make it in several color combinations. After awhile, you’ll have a good bit of stuff so you can really turn out some flies without running to the store every time.
There’s a fly-tying class on August 19(?) at the Charleston Angler. It’s $10 and they provide everything needed for you to tie some flies. Josh teaches the class and will really help you out. I’d recommend trying that out to see if you like it before you take the plunge.
It really is a lot of fun and extremely rewarding when you catch a fish on something you’ve tied up.
Its extremely addictive. I think a starter kit would be fine to start learning on. If you decide you like it, step it up and get some quality gear. I bought a Renzeti about 2 years ago to replace my broken vice my dad gave me as a kid and I love it. A good pair of scissors is very important. After that, just ask for gift cards to the angler for birthdays and special occasions (Chistmas, Hanukka, Kwanzza) because you’ll quickly spend a paycheck buying materials. Good luck, and let me know if you want to borrow a vice and some materials one weekend to give it a try.
My advice would be not to spend too much money. I tie on a $35 vise. Just make sure the vise has jaws large enough to hold saltwater flies. My first one didn’t and it was constant frustration. You’ll also want a decent pair of scissors. Crappy scissors can make fly tying nearly impossible. Last thing you need is a decent bobbin. I still have the bobbin I started tying with a while back and its a Cabela’s cheap-o model. It works ok, but the rough edges have a tendency to break my tying thread which is also very frustrating.
In short, dont spend a whole lot. Pick a few flies like deceivers and clousers and buy materials specific to those patterns. Get those down first, then move on to the other stuff. Good Luck!
Dont skimp on scissors or the bobbin as already said but one way you can save money is try to buy sinking eyes for clousers and diffrent colors of deer hair in bulk. Its all you really need for the clousers.
Buy you stuff seperately or at a store that will cut you some slack for all of your stuff. You can pick up a good Regal or a lower end Zetti for under $100.00, if you like it you can always sell the one you bought and upgrade to a higher end rotery by Renztti or one of the other manufactures, it really depends on what and how you plan to tie. I’d make sure that I had plenty of good quality bodkins for several colors of basic Danville Flat Wax Nylon 210 WT along with some good blades.
If your tying for SW, I’d pick up some 800 & 811 style hooks in a variety of #4#2#1 range along with a few large 1/0s, 2/0s @ 3/0’s for the bigger stuff.
Pick you up some inexpensive foam sheets & poppers along with some lower grade Hackle, Bucktail & Mara bou. Round this out with some synthic crystal flash and flash a bou as well as some some Super Hair and your good to go.
Just don’t forget to pick up some weighted lead eyes, spooled lead and some cone heads or beads. With this basic set up you should be able to tie just about anything you would need for warm water fresh water or saltwater use.
I would go with a good rotary vise. It makes tying so much easier, not to mention better results. I have a Renzetti Traveler and am very pleased with it.
A lot depends on your income bracket. You can tie awesome flies on a $9 vice, but a rotary model is really nice.
I agree that a starter kit is a good way to get going. Bass Pro has a saltwater starter kit that included a vice materials and a video showing Lefty Kreh tying tying clousers, decievers, crazy charlies, shrimp pattern and bend backs. Pretty much the saltwater starting lineup. I got one and I think I spent $40-$60 not sure.
Then you find yourself mysteriously drawn to craft stores and fly shops and next thing you know you are overrun with flies and materials. It’s amazing how it builds up.
Tying is addictive, every bit as much as fishing I was surprised to learn. Catching fish on your own creation? very cool.
I have been tying for about 6 years now on my Cabelas starter kit vise but I have upgraded my other tools… I agree on the scissors… sadly I have had to buy abouit 8 pairs since my daughters think my scissors are for clipping off tags when they come home from shopping or to cut up anything… I have my new pair stashed and under lock and key The jaws on my vise are starting to wear down and I do have a small groove starting since I started tying bigger salt flies so when I get home from my deployment I have been promised a new vise and fly reel Tying equipment is like rods and reels… I know guys who drop $600 ona St Croix/Shimano combo and then again I fish with Dolphin Dave and he lands 30+inch reds on a spongebob rig… take care of your gear and it’ll do just fine
I started out with a Regal but for a rotary, I tried a Danvise cheapy. It actually works very well and has a cam type clamp. Eventually, I want to get a Dynaking Barracuda or a Renzetti but the Danvise has been working well enough to keep me from upgrading.
Keep your eyes on trash piles and grab the next microwave oven you see discarded. If you scavenge the little motor that makes the dishes rotate, it makes a good epoxy fly turner, and a rod turner too if you ever try building a rod.
EBAY
its your best friend.
i got a renzetti traveller for 80 dollars almost new. Go to some fly tying seminars at chas angler and theyll usually give you a discount. It gets expensive but threes nothing like catching a fish on something you made. You get what you pay for in fly fishing, i started with a starter kit that was a gift from a guide i fished with in montana. ive since upgraded my tools and vise and its extremely addicting. good luck
The jaws on my vise are starting to wear down and I do have a small groove starting since I started tying bigger salt flies so when I get home from my deployment I have been promised a new vise and fly reel 
Tying equipment is like rods and reels… I know guys who drop $600 ona St Croix/Shimano combo and then again I fish with Dolphin Dave and he lands 30+inch reds on a spongebob rig… take care of your gear and it’ll do just fine