Vice advice!!

[cheesiefly]

Hi everyone

Im newish to fly fishing in general (2 years) and i have reached the point that i asume almost all fly anglers reach ,and that is they want to catch a fish with a fly that they have tied themselves.

My question is what vice/kit/tools/materials would you recommend to someone totally new to this passtime? I would like something that is of fairly good quality but nothing that is going to break the bank either.

I have looked online at the various kits available but i would like the input of you experianced dressers. All comments will be gladly taken on board.


Thanks

[Lewis McIntosh]

Most people recomend the Regent/Regal style vice it is a spiring loaded lever action vice.

The materials depend on what sort of fishing you do and what sort of flies you like using.

[steve collyer]

Don't buy a kit.
Find out the ingredients to a dozen or so flies you want to tie & buy them seperately. Many of the items will be duplicated anyway, unless you pick a particularly broad spectrum of flies!
Buy an AA vice (about £10-12), cheap rough scissors, fine point scissors, bobbin holder, hackle pliers & a dubbing needle.
This will do as far as tools are concerned, at least to begin with.
I'd learn a hand whip finish if I were you.

[Alanc]

First off welcome to the forum. IMHO I would not go spending a fortune on fly tying gear as there is the chance that you may not take to it like me. I do tie a few flies now and again but not many. I am too much fingers and thumbs. If you take to it of course you can always buy decent gear. I know for sure tha I have not tied enough flies to justify the money I spent on gear and that was not a lot.

Alan

[Lewis McIntosh]

Will take the opportunity now to save you a lot of frustration.

Whatever the make or model make sure your bobbin holder is ceramic lined otherwise your thread will get chewed and snap.

I bought one for a couple of quid and its perfect for the job the other one I paid much the same price for but it was not lined and it snaps thread all the time.

[Jackwow]

Cheesyfly, budget 200 quid for a vice and you won't go wrong.

[mart_s]

i just recieved an order from tackle bargains today whilst i was on there i look in the fly tying section and they have some bankrupt stock of royal vices along with a couple more, the postage wasn't cheap but as i had ordered a rod etc i thought i might as well get one for the whole £15 they want for it in pedestal base, i've seen very similar for £65

i've not put a hook in it yet but for starting out you can't go wrong at that price. i've also got an AA vice that will now just be used for very large hooks on pike flies

i also got a load of stonefly tools last week from my local shop all half price, bargain

[cheesiefly]

Thanx for all the input so far. I think 200 quid is a little out my range to start with. Deffinatly go the ceramic bobbin route.

[seanie]

I would suggest contacting Steve Parton here on the forum. He would probably sort out anything you need.


http://www.spartonfly.co.uk/Flies_an.../hardware.html

[sonnaghan]

Ignore that guy from the Emirates. The oil/gas must have a/effected his brain. The rest of the advice is spot on. Actually do a good range of fine sharp scissors though frankly the steel is soft. I got a real good pair (advice on this forum) from a ladies dressmakers. If on good terms with your GP/Nurse they will give you a no18 needle excellent for varnish. Get your fur from Artifly or Frankie mc phillips in Fermanagh. Cookshill do a great cheap range of feathers. Artifly and Saracen provide a good range of well priced capes. (am still waiting on mine from Sparton after 6 weeks though his hooks are all available and are excellent I feel) That advice about the hand tied whip finish is on the button and you will see a good demo of this on youtube.
Good tips on tying can be seen on youtube by Davie mcPhail.
There you go. Make it fun. Wish I had started many years before I did.