Best fly tying starter kit?

[flyfinder]

What are the best starter fly tying kits out there?

All opinions welcome, and I'd prefer something with a bit of quality and durability to it. That way I could keep the bits from the kit and add to them if I got competent and wanted to upgrade, rather than having to throw the starter kit away to buy all-new decent quality gear. Thanks in anticipation....

[ruby pennel595664]

Similar questions have been asked on this forum before, the general consensus about fly tying kits is that they are not worth bothering with.

It is better to buy a reasonable vice some quality tools, consider the patterns you wish to tie and list the materials required and just buy those materials. You can add more stuff as you progress with your tying skills.

If you buy a kit you are likely to end up with a lot of stuff you don't need and will never use.

You will probably need, bobbin holder, hackle pliers, bodkin and whip finishing tool for starters. For the whip finisher I would recommend the matterelli.

Whatever you buy avoid The Stonefly tool set, very fragile and poor quality.

[oddgitt]

Originally Posted by flyfinder

What are the best starter fly tying kits out there?

All opinions welcome, and I'd prefer something with a bit of quality and durability to it. That way I could keep the bits from the kit and add to them if I got competent and wanted to upgrade, rather than having to throw the starter kit away to buy all-new decent quality gear. Thanks in anticipation....

Doing what ruby pennell suggests will also help you achieve this.

[FunkyFlyTying]

The best bet would to to contact a retailer and ask their advice.
If you have a budget in mine tell them and the type of fishing or flies you want to tie.
Then they can offer the best advice to you and recommend suitable materials and equipment to buy.
This is the best bet imho.

T

[Steve Walker]

Still seems stupid to me - given how often this question comes up - that someone hasn't put together a basic but decent set of tools and a vice and put them in a nice case. There's obviously a demand for it.

Kits with materials are another matter, with the variety of materials for different kinds of fly. Even so, I wouldn't have thought a range of materials packs to be sold separately from the tools and including things like an "Essential River Nymphs" pack or "Lures For Rainbows" pack or whatever would be so difficult to put together.