New tyers 8-12 months on...

[christy27]

I read plenty on the forum from new tyers asking for info. The help available is absolutely fantastic. There are some of the best tyers in the UK on here and yet they share and help. Without you guys I'd still be buying them and so would many others.

Thing I noticed though is once we (newbies) get over the initial stage it all goes a bit quiet. We stop asking questions. So this post is for all improvers to share a little of our experiences and perhaps ask/probe a little further.

For example, I personally have travelled a rocky road to find tools that suit me. Discoveries that spring to mind are Matarelli whip finishing tool, Marc Petitjean TT bobbin holder, Tiemco rotary hackle pliers, Orvis scissors and a tame cauteriser. Those tools significantly changed tying for me. Hey, no way am I suggesting the myraid of tools available are more or less suitable for the task, those simply suited me. Everyone to their own I believe.

What tool discovery helped you? A vice? A light or some dubbing system perhaps. One of those deer hair snipping things, or a rake for hare masks. I have plenty to discover. Interested in your thoughts.

My latest discovery is quality materials in the shape of Whiting farm capes. Oh I've struggled through with a mish mash of materials aquired from who knows where. My task this week is to produce 10 Griffith's Gnats for a swap I am involved in. I decided to bite the bullet and buy the above mentioned (arrived today-hence slight delay chaps) 1/2 cape. Wow, what a breath of fresh air. I've done 5 so far and the rest will take 30 mins max once I stop typing.

So, improvers-you know who you are, how's it been? What are your plans toolwise and materials? Where have you set your sights for the coming season? What are you going to try next? I intend to try Klinks-not a clue .

The floor is yours...

Chris

[shpeil]

Well, I'm about 14 months in, coming back to it after a break of 15 years. Does that count? Anyway, my revelation was a hair stacker. Not any particular brand, just having and using one at all. I can't believe how I ever managed without. Well, to be honest, I didn't manage! I just didn't know they existed till recently.

Neil

[christy27]

Yeah that definately counts. Hair stackers is one of the things I don't know much about. Sure I see that it's a method of cutting the stuff. Guess if you try and cut it with scissors it dodges them and comes out uneven? That is just something else when I tackle that type of fly waiting to help me. Another learning process, hope I can find the right one quickly. I'll just ask.

Neil, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks.

[yellow owl]

never had a bad one yet always buy from lakeland and nver been let down yet

[elucius]

Was relieved to hear you say about taking some time, and cost!, to find the tools,etc that best suited you. I thought it was just me, and my desire to spend money on fishing things!
I thought they would all be similar so, when I started tying, I bought reasonably priced tools, vice etc which looked fine.
Now have virtually replaced all that stuff!

[humungus]

ny magnifying lamp best tool i ever bought and griffin hackle pliers and dr slick scissors a godsend paying a wee bit extra makes the diffrence only my opinion guys

[shpeil]

Originally Posted by christy27

Sure I see that it's a method of cutting the stuff. Guess if you try and cut it with scissors it dodges them and comes out uneven?

Not so much that, but that on your deer hair/elk hair the tips are uneven to begin with. It didn't bother me when I was tying muddlers but then I tried doing an elk hair caddis pattern and couldn't understand why the wee wing was looking so unlike the photos I'd seen. The answer is to cut the hair off the skin, remove any fluff from the stubby ends, put the hair point first into the stacker and tap on your desk. When you take the outer sleeve off the stacker (holding it horizontally) the hair gets left in the inner tube, with the tips projecting from the end, all lined up nicely. Fantastic!

I tried to fashion my own stacker but I'm a bit cack-handed that way and it didn't really work.

As ever, Davie McPhail has a few videos of this on youtube.

[dwillis]

Whiting 100's. You can get 3 different colours in a pack at spidersplus. The time I spent trying to make hackles / palmered flies with cheap indian capes!

Also dying stuff using acid dyes (recent thread on here) is massively satisfying and a whole new way of using up your time.

I didn't start with a kit because everyone said I would get stuff that I would never use. I now have 3 boxes bursting with stuff, including some things I can't even remember why I bought. If I started again I might be stricter about what flies I actually use and only buy the stuff to tie them. But tying the fly is sometimes an end in itself.

[sage5]

Well,thats me back tying a year,after 20 year break.my biggest help has been the flytying foroum here and Davie mc Phail.I wasted a lot of money on loose hackles to start with,and iam now collecting some saddles and could do with some help regarding them.(i only tie wet flies mainly 10s and 12s.) i now need to get my self a new vice as soon as possible. i must say i love tying and iam fairly happy with my flies they are improveing all the time.regards Duncan

[christy27]

Thanks Duncan for your reply and all above. That's exactly what I wanted to hear, find out about-where next. CDC for example, I heard there are some good and some not so. I belive they are graded and the bing seems to be lots of waste with cheaper packs? So what's your experience with these...anyone?