Literature & Equipment Advice for a Beginner

[oddgitt]

Hello All,

I'm looking into learning how to tie flies, and would like a little advice on where to get started.

I have bought Fly Tying For Beginners, by Peter Gathercole which I like the format of and is clear. I was contemplating the Fly Tying Bible by Gathercole as well, but am wondering if this is wise as, if it contains much the same advice in terms of technique etc, then maybe it's needless cost (apart from the additional patterns it contains of course).

What do you think? Can anyone recommend an alternative book that might be more appropriate?

Secondly, I've been looking at vices and tools and materials. Particularly the Veniard kits on the back of the GAC catalogues. These seem to a newbie like me, like a good starting point as they have lots of materials which I would otherwise not know to buy, but the vices and equipment seem like that are of the lower end in quality. Am I being a tackle snob or are these good value for money?

Thanks in advance, and apologies for the long thread. Very much looking forward to trying my hand at this!

Best,

Rich

[wye_wizard]

hi, if you do a search on this subject then you will get a wealth of knowledge on tying for beginners. all thoughts are no to kits and join the fly dressers guild. my local FDG is fantastic and the lads there are very eager to help a beginner like me. jon.

[stevekale]

You'll never regret buying this book and working through each of the lessons in order:

Amazon.com: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying (9780979346026): Charlie Craven: Books

Amazon.com: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying (9780979346026): Charlie Craven: Books

[Whitegoatie]

You might find this website useful:

The Step by Step Fly Tying Resource

You-tube also has some great stuff, videos of patterns and techniques.

[thedeadskunk]

Originally Posted by oddgitt

Hello All,

I'm looking into learning how to tie flies, and would like a little advice on where to get started.

I have bought Fly Tying For Beginners, by Peter Gathercole which I like the format of and is clear. I was contemplating the Fly Tying Bible by Gathercole as well, but am wondering if this is wise as, if it contains much the same advice in terms of technique etc, then maybe it's needless cost (apart from the additional patterns it contains of course).

What do you think? Can anyone recommend an alternative book that might be more appropriate?

Secondly, I've been looking at vices and tools and materials. Particularly the Veniard kits on the back of the GAC catalogues. These seem to a newbie like me, like a good starting point as they have lots of materials which I would otherwise not know to buy, but the vices and equipment seem like that are of the lower end in quality. Am I being a tackle snob or are these good value for money?

Thanks in advance, and apologies for the long thread. Very much looking forward to trying my hand at this!

Best,

Rich

Vise or Vice: Rotatable Regent Vice
All ceramic tying tools.
One pair of top of the range scissors and a half decent pair, plus a heavy duty cheap pair for cutting wires etc.
A good quality hook hone, day light lamp and magnifier too.
Threads 8/0 and Sheer 14/0 in various colour, but stock up on Black!
There are great many books on Dressing flies available, again this forum will be just as good if not better than anywhere else.
You can always enter David McPhail into your youtube search for good dressing details.
Materials selection is on of the most important aspects of fly dressing, so ask the lads on here before forking out money.
If you're stuck for anything, be it materials or advice, than send me a P.M. and or open a new thread. You'll be surprised by the good positive response you'll receive from all.

[Former member 2]

Originally Posted by thedeadskunk

Vise or Vice: Rotatable Regent Vice
All ceramic tying tools.
One pair of top of the range scissors and a half decent pair, plus a heavy duty cheap pair for cutting wires etc.
A good quality hook hone, day light lamp and magnifier too.
Threads 8/0 and Sheer 14/0 in various colour, but stock up on Black!
There are great many books on Dressing flies available, again this forum will be just as good if not better than anywhere else.
You can always enter David McPhail into your youtube search for good dressing details.
Materials selection is on of the most important aspects of fly dressing, so ask the lads on here before forking out money.
If you're stuck for anything, be it materials or advice, than send me a P.M. and or open a new thread. You'll be surprised by the good positive response you'll receive from all.

have to agree with the vice... if i was starting anew thats what i would get with a pedastal base.

Tools best ask whats good and mix and match... avoid stonefly like the pox. C&f are ridiculously priced but fantastic for bobin holders (your main tool after scissors) and hair stackers. Hackle pliers are ten a penny so you can try out different types and sizes till something suits.

Dont get Kits of materials , sub standard hackles make fly tying awfull and even good tyers have problems with them. You will think your awfull and its actualy the feathers at fault. Buy stuff as you need it.
Lets face it for nymphs if you buy a hares mask some peacock herl and some cock pheasant tails( about £7-8 in total) you have a lot of bases covered.
A decent bag of cdc will cost you £4 and makes loads of good F flies etc, the CdC in my (veniards)kit when i started was just awful and would be all thrown away now.

Worth getting some decent hackles if your doing dry's, you dont need a whole cape, contact Flies by Wendy and ask for a £5 pack of what type you need to get you started.( she may even mix a pack of various types and sizes if you ask her).

Finaly look at fly recipes as suggestions, you can usually substitute a colur or a material without detracting to much

[christy27]

Originally Posted by stevekale

You'll never regret buying this book and working through each of the lessons in order:

Amazon.com: Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying (9780979346026): Charlie Craven: Books

I agree with the above. Only recently i.e. in the last month, I have bought The Fly-Tying Bible and the above book. Having had a good look at both and were to only buy one-I would defo choose Charlie Craven. Having said that I take nothing away from the Bible, good for beginers too. But the other one is better, bigger and loads of pics to help you along. Oh and a bit of humour as well, CC has an easy writing style. Got mine brand new on the Bay for 22.00.

As for kits, well I probably would. You get all the basics and can chop and change later, gets you started immediately. No kit is comprehensive, part of the fun is building your own, but it gets you off the ground. HTH.

[shrek]

lots of good advice here, but as for the kits, NEVER, bought two when I first started tying and gave both away, horrible, I recon its the company's way of offloading duff material, and stuff you will never use/they will never sell. as mentioned above, find out what you will be tying most and buy just what you need.

[oddgitt]

Some brilliant replies guys, much appreciated! I'll let you all know how I get on.

Will also be joining my local FT Guild asap.

Thanks again,

Rich

P.s Managed to find a copy of CC's book doe £18, a bargain by all accounts!

[JJ O Malley]

Originally Posted by oddgitt

Some brilliant replies guys, much appreciated! I'll let you all know how I get on.

Will also be joining my local FT Guild asap.

Thanks again,

Rich

P.s Managed to find a copy of CC's book doe £18, a bargain by all accounts!

Hi,
Do you mind me asking where you sourced this book for 18 pounds? I had a look, but didn't find it for as cheap as that.
Cheers
JJ