Fly Tying Kits

[buzzerlightyear]

Thinking of starting to tie my own flies (TROUT) again but as i have no kit i was wondering which one to go for,i tied my own years ago and gave al my gear away so i basically need the whole kit including vice etc.Im not wanting to go to rediculous expense.

Thanks in advance for any advice and links to good deals on at the moment etc

[Scratch]

Have a read here.

[Whitegoatie]

This is one of those questions that often pops up. Im thinking of having a go at tying and have read the threads but still find it daunting. You can buy a vice for £5.00 or £500.00 and all points in between, same with tools.

How about the more experienced tyers creating a definitive list of equipment and materials to get you started on a basic pattern such as a Diawl Bach or a PTN? Low budget but decent enough vice and tools to get a complete beginer started?

Dont know if you can get to Stoke this weekend But the fly tying fair is great for seeing what Pro tyers use and lots of stalls to buy the stuff.
Many postings recently about Kits, general consensus is against. Too much mixed bag>
below is a vice on Ebay thats perfectly good to get you going for less than £20

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rotatable-Leve...item2a01fa6915

You mostly river or still water? do you have some favorite patterns? Try posting a list and see what suggestions you get.

[steve101]

I've just started tying two months ago and asked the same question on this thread where I got lots of very useful and specific information on tools and materials.

http://flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50480

[kyflytyer]

I started tying about 15 years ago with the purchase of a kit. The vise and tools were of marginal quality and the materials weren't any better. Within weeks, I found myself updating the vise and tools. I also had to purchase many additional materials to tie the flies that I wanted.

I suggest that you buy a quality (not necessarily expensive) vise and some quality tools, especially scissors. Then, pick out several flies you would like to tie, get a materials list on the internet, and purchase the materials you need to tie the flies you selected. Deal with reputable shops to ensure your materials will be of good quality. As your skills improve, you can add materials and tools to tie additional patterns.

As I said, I had to upgrade the stuff that came with my kit not long after I bought it. Also, many of the materials that came with it are not used in the flies that I tie and I still have many of them 15 years later. If you buy quality stuff from the outset and decide that tying is not for you, it will be much easier to sell on eBay or elsewhere.

[buzzerlightyear]

Thanks for the advice,i feel i need to do something like flytying again to get me away from this ruddy computer in the winter nights.

My mate suggested to buy a vice and tools then materials that i need and build up as i go along,looking at the kits i feel some of the materials i would never use.I think this would be a good idea,i hope iv still got the patience and eyesight for tying flies after all these years.

Cheers

[rick_huggins]

I started tying flies at 13 on a vice from my Dads garage, a bobbin holder made from a kirby grib & some cotton buds, wool and threads from my Grans knitting basket and my Mums nail varnish..

This with a few supplements (hackles, tinsels, hooks) from my local fishing shop got me going on the path.

Over time with more cash becoming available I started buying proper kit, nothing too expensive but a lot better than what I had been using.

The initial stages were cheap and crude but it set me on my way

[paulfish_1]

I just bought a vice and some tools to get me started. Im glad i didnt get a kit because i can decide which pattern i want to tie then find the materials. I am tying patterns i will use and i am buying materials as i need them. (too many and adictive)

I actually bought the vice in the link above from ebay and i am very happy with it.