Have Vice, now what?

[chopsmcgee]

So I picked up a Vice, need to get a few tools etc tomorrow but wondering what I should try for my first flys?

I realise most of what I tie at first will not be worth much, but practice makes perfect!

I was thinking of starting with Buzzers, but not sure where to begin with regards to materials etc.

Can anyone recomend and good online resources to get me going?

Thanks!

[stevekale]

Check out Davie McPhail's YouTube channel and Charlie Craven's website for detailed SBSs.

[bill1]

If you want to do a buzzer, here's a link

Step by Step Black Buzzer

Instead of goose biots, you can cut tiny slips from a crisp packet (hence the name, crisp packet buzzer)

Lot's of steps by steps on the fly tying forum for buzzers. However, I'd keep it simple to start with. A black buzzer as above in different sizes works most places most of the time.

[denzil3009]

For patterns to tie probably best starting with the basics

Pheasant tail nymph
Gold ribbed hairs ear
Diawl Bach

Personally i would avoid any hackles till you get the basics down.






I always find ebay is top class for buying small items like threads,wires,hooks and other small stuff.
Most of the time you get free delivery

If you buy your hooks in small numbers id go for ebay, you can get 25 kamasan hooks for £2 posted.

But if its in bulk you can get them cheaper elsewhere.


But for capes i would avoid ebay as much as you can.
Fly Tying Materials from Funky Fly Tying have some top stuff

[wobbly face]

Black buzzer.
take one hook and place in vice.
Thread, body and head, black tying thread.
Rib with silver, gold, copper or whatever wire or thin flat tinel or lurex you want. It will catch fish.

[martash]

Tied my very first fly yesterday!! I had a fantastic evening sat at the dining table for hours trying to perfect the black buzzer. I watched a few online tutorials and found the guide posted above by Bill. I didnt have any goose biots thought so i left it, great idea about the crisp packet though. i can see i'm really going to have to open my mind when it comes to looking for substitute materials.

The kit i have started with is:
Veniard No.12 Vice
Veniard material kit
Veniard tool kit.

Now i know kits are not recommended but Lockwood had a clearance sale so the vice was £6, materials were £9, tool kit was £5 and the beginners book was about £6. At these prices i thought it was worth a shot. Very happy so far albeit tying very basic flys. I just needed some clear varnish and i was away.

One issue i'm having is tying off using the whip finish tool, it seems very hit and miss. Any tips?

[lubagh]

More or less in the same boat as you...

Start with Diawl Bachs, simple yet very effective, it will do your confidence good to catch trout on your own flies, plus you'll never buy shop flies again...

Word of Warning

It's additive and you'll never have enough materials...

Make a list of what kind of fishing you plan to do over the coming months, lake/loughs, rivers, stocked fisheries etc and work from there..

The internet is full of resources, but don't get too bogged down on the web...

If possible get a few lessons on the basic tasks, tying heads, hackles, dubbings etc..

Enjoy...

[wobbly face]

One issue i'm having is tying off using the whip finish tool, it seems very hit and miss. Any tips?

Lots of practice. Do a search on Youtube. There's some vids on there.
Again, it depends on whip finish tool. Some I can't get on with.

[denzil3009]

Originally Posted by martash

Tied my very first fly yesterday!! I had a fantastic evening sat at the dining table for hours trying to perfect the black buzzer. I watched a few online tutorials and found the guide posted above by Bill. I didnt have any goose biots thought so i left it, great idea about the crisp packet though. i can see i'm really going to have to open my mind when it comes to looking for substitute materials.

The kit i have started with is:
Veniard No.12 Vice
Veniard material kit
Veniard tool kit.

Now i know kits are not recommended but Lockwood had a clearance sale so the vice was £6, materials were £9, tool kit was £5 and the beginners book was about £6. At these prices i thought it was worth a shot. Very happy so far albeit tying very basic flys. I just needed some clear varnish and i was away.

One issue i'm having is tying off using the whip finish tool, it seems very hit and miss. Any tips?

Keep at it, it took me a couple of hours to get used to it.

But once you get the hang of it, it will be like second nature

[flytyingguy]

If your wanting cheap hooks try Royd fly tying, just type in Royd fly tying on google, click on it then scroll down to hooks - Mind blowingly cheap!