where do I start?

[fazzer]

Hi All,

As the season is end of the season is fast approaching I thought i would start learning to tie my own flies.

Do I buy a kit or the equipment seperately?

What are the reputable names I should look at?

I'm not looking to spend a fortune, I can always upgrade if I want to at a later date.

Also, does anyone know of a tying club in the Essex area?

Cheers

Fazzer

[bigdon01]

I would advise instead of buying a kit make a list of flies you want to tie and then buy the materials for those flies and slowly you can build up your collection as you start tying different flies.

[Offshore]

Fazzer

For what its worth when I came back to tying I bought a relatively cheap vise that did me for 12 months and then chose materials that would tie my first couple of flies... I decided that most kits would have materials in that I a pike fly fisherman would never use. I suppose it is all down to your target species.

It is interesting tho' how a box of materials soon accumulates

Browse through craft shops, florists (those posh ones yield great tat for tying) and websites like funkyflytying.co.uk - pick up a few materials a decent pair of scissors and a bobbin and you are off!

I'm sure someone will assist with an FDG perhaps in Essex.

Look forward to seeing your posts next week then

[BRUCE1]

buy seperately ....

2 pairs of scissors ,a cheap pair for cutting wire etc ,and a decent pair for trimming feathers thread etc

a decent bobbin holder preferably a ceramic one will last for a long long time

hackle pliers,preferably with rubber tips to aid grip but you can fit some to them yourself

vice is entirely the tiers choice i personally have a snowbee fly mate not the ball joint model as they are prone to breaking at the joint, not expensive by some makes and has never let me down yet

decent thread, uni or other decent make again a tiers choice as every one prefers there own type

and your choice of materials ,as said above go for materials for the flies you want to tie first and then build your collection up steadily

varnish for finishing heads etc , i use fly tite varnish which is thinner than a lot of makes and soaks in well into the threads etc its a naturaly produced product and has a thinners available for it as well for when or if it thickens

LAST BUT NOT LEAST A WHIP FINISHER NOT NECESSARY IF YOU WISH TO LEARN TO FINISH BY HAND , but if you buy one get a matterelli type rotary finisher

that should get you off to a good start then build as and when you require

BUY AS DECENT AS YOU WANT/CAN AFFORD , AVOID STONEFLY

PS ....... The FDG

[flytire]

read these articles

Fly Fishing Information - Fly Tying Tools

and

Advice – New fly tyers | Killroys Fly Tying

[arkle]

If you're able to go to the British Fly Fair International that'll be a good start, check out the The FDG & see if there's a branch near you, best way of learning without any doubt. There are several good sites for videos, try www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk

[fazzer]

Thanks guys.

I've decided to go down the route of buying seperately as opossed to a kit.

Shortlisted the following vices:

- Veniard No1 Rotary Vice
- Snowbee Fishing Fly Mate (without ball joint)

Anyone have a strong opnion on either model?

Thanks

Fazzer

[Chris Reeves]

Fazzer,

If you come to the British Fly fair, look me up, I'll be doing the "any questions" and problem solving row opposite the featured tiers, I'll be happy to help in any way I can.

Cheers

[fazzer]

Originally Posted by Chris Reeves

Fazzer,

If you come to the British Fly fair, look me up, I'll be doing the "any questions" and problem solving row opposite the featured tiers, I'll be happy to help in any way I can.

Cheers

Chris thanks for the kind offer.

Unfortunately Stoke is too far for me down in Essex.

If you had to choose between the veniard or snowbee what would you go for?

Fazzer

[BRUCE1]

Originally Posted by fazzer

Chris thanks for the kind offer.

Unfortunately Stoke is too far for me down in Essex.

If you had to choose between the veniard or snowbee what would you go for?

Fazzer

me i would have the snowbee pedastal ,but thats biased as i have one .. dont like the look of that linkage on the veniard arm ,looks as though it would wear loose ???????