beginner set up

[kcon1]

are there any starter kits for fly tying? that include all the stuff you need like the vice, threads and vanishes? can anyone recommend me one?
thanks

Post withdrawn

[Nick Newman]

I only started tying a couple of months ago and the only things i regret so far are buying kits to start out.

I did buy a seperate vice (Danvise) to start out as i reasoned i didn't want to blame a cheap vice for anything that went wrong + i was fairly confident i would stick to it so didn't mind the extra cost. However i have already replaced the Danvise with a Renzetti Presentation 3000 which i really like.

I bought a Lureflash Fly Tying Material Kit which i thought would be a good way to start but soon realised half the stuff i would never use and the rest is poor quality anyway. It is hard enough when you dont no what you are doing and even worse working with poor quality materials

Also bought the Stonfly Tool Kit Set, i use some of it but have replaced other bits already and not used some of it yet.

I would advise anyone starting out to purchase all tools and materials seperately and build up your collection as you go.

At the end of the day postage is relatively cheap for fly tying materials. There are some great websites and if you ring and talk to people at the likes of Wharfedale, Lakeland, Flytek and Cookshill they are extremely help

[darkuser80]

the fly tying guild do a very good starter pack

look on here
http://www.the-fdg.org and contact them to see if they still have one.

[Duncan]

The main recomendation I'd give is to purchase a good quality ceramic bobbin holder, that way the thread wont keep breaking, they're not expensive and will last a lifetime. The only other thing is to invest in is a good pair of fine pointed scissors, again with carefull use they'll last for ever...well almost.

Think about the flies you fish with and are likely to use, work out the materials involved and buy them separately, that way you'll not waste money on some wierd and wonderfully coloured stuff that'll only be any use for an xmas tree decoration.

[Dry Fly Jay]

You can either figure out what you are going to tie and buy the materials which is good until you want to start tying more or you can buy a starter kit. First of all you have to ask yourself..

River Trout, Stillwater Trout or Salmon?

River trout - 8/0 threads, fine ribbing wires, capes, dubbing, pheasant tails,
hares mask, small GP tippets, antron wool, a selection of size
12-18 hooks in different weights and styles. i would reccomend
buying these separtatly because you can buy the shades of
dubbing, colours of capes you need.

Stillwater Trout - 6/0 threads, ( all the same materials as river if you are
using dries and wets a lot ) if using a lot of lures then...
Fritz, goldbeads, marabou (varous colours), chenille,
krystal flash, strong size 8-12 longshank hooks. Buying
these materials as a starter kit may be better as i allows
you to experiment with different materials and gives you a
large selection of modern materials. Veniard Premium kit
would be a good choice.

Salmon - 6/0 threads, large dyed cock hackles, GP tippets and toppings,
antron wool, gold and silver medium ribbing, bucktails, squirrel tail,
artic fox and a selection of doubles, singles and trebles depending
on your preference (singles are the easiest for beginners) and
tubes.

However there is no real right or wrong way to do it however this is how i would reccomend.

Hope this helps, Jay

[kcon1]

Thanks for the advise everyone, and thanks for the list of materials Jay, I might get a vice from the USA over ebay unless my local tackle shop has any good ones