Hi Graham, to begin with, you will need a vice, as a first vice I would go with the snowbee fly mate, they have great reviews and have the features of a vice £150 more expensive (rotary function e.t.c) they only cost £35 - £50 (I think) I am borrowing a vice for now, but if I can I will try to buy one of these myself.
I have only been Fly Tying for about 4 or 5 weeks, and haven't got hundreds of different tools or materials, the basics with do for a few hundred flies for sure
The only tools that I have are, scissors (Dr slick, one of the best makes of tools), Ceramic bobbin holder, dubbing needle, half hitch tool you could use a whip finisher if preferred), hackle pliers, dubbing brush (lolly pop stick with velcro stuck on), wax, and a dubbing twister if you prefer dubbing loops, but it doesn't really matter.
For materials, Veniards seems to be the biggest supplier, but I may be wrong, the only places I have been to look at materials are online. But the best thing to do is go to a shop and speak to people who have been fly tying for years, that is the best way of getting information.
Here are a few websites that are very good for fly tying tools/materials
Fly-tying materials and fly tying tools and accessories - Lakeland Fly-Tying
Fly Tying Materials, Fly Tying Equipment, Fly Fishing, Fly Tying – Fly Tying Boutique
Fly Fishing Tackle, Fly Tying Tools & Materials for Trout & Salmon
Sportfish - Fly Fishing Tackle and Fly Fishing Equipment
Fly Fishing Tackle, Fishing Equipment, Fishing Waders, Fly Reels, Mail Order Fishing Tackle | Fishtec
Fly Tying Materials from Funky Fly Tying
Hope this helps, if I think of or find any other websites I will post them on this thread
Of course NEVER say no to anything that people may want to send you (I'm afraid I haven't got anything to offer as I have just started fly tying myself
) And the classifieds section of this forum is brilliant too, always something to found there for a very good price
Newbie to tying flys: Advice needed.
Just try to keep things simple to start with and I wouldn't advise going and buying every willnilly material available. Start off with a list of say 5 good begihner flies that you would like to learn to tie, then just get whatever materials would be needed to tie these 5 flies. Threadwise you could get away with useing just brown to start with, say a UTC thread 8/0 which will keep you going for a while. Once youv'e got some decent tying practice in with these 5 flies,pick another 5, maybe slightly more challenging than the last 5 and get the materials needed for these 5 flies, you might be able to use materials that you already have for these. Like I say keep it simple and within your capabilities, nothing too adventurous to start with. I would also say practice some techniques first, for instance try and master the use of thewhip finishing tool by just practicing on a large hook until you can do it fairly easily, but at first it will seem really difficult but it will come with practice and don't forget there is loads of instructional clps on youtube and masses of valuable info on this forum if you put in a search and ask for advice on here ....happy tying.
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