Gene L

I got a couple of very high grade capes for Christmas. The problem for me is there are MANY feathers in 16 and smaller, but you have to search for 12s and 14s; they're there, but are hard to find. Also, there aren't many tailing feathers. The ones on the sides of the cape are too narrow so I have to go to alternate means of tails. So, my advice is to stick with Bronze grade unless you're really into tying small flies. The feathers are uniform and narrow and long; you can usually get at least two flies off one feather.

Try Old Florida Fly Shop. They are located in the keys and should be able to fix you up. Or Cpt Bob Lame on this site knows the Atlantic as it's his home waters. It all depends on what you mean by "large hackle."

This was on the Classic Fly Rod forum. The majority opinion was glasses which is a good choice. I chose scissors because they're irreplaceable. Glasses, sure and there's no substitute for them. I wear reading glasses of 2.0 or thereabout, but don't use them exclusively for tying flies. So what do you think.

The reason I posted this is because when I bought the Patriot vise there were materials and tools included. They weren't cheap tools and equipment, either. The price on the vise box was $145...that's in 1995 prices. I say 1995 because that's when I bought my Patriot. Today, the $145 would be $300, yes, that much. I don't remember what in a Traveler cost in 95, but I doubt it would be that much. I believed at the time I was getting a quality in a "rotating" vise. Being green, I didn't know about the advantages of a trut e rotary vise. I chose $600, because I believe the tools and materials that came with the vise I bought last month would be worth $300. It became apparent that a wise, experienced fly tyer chose the vise/materials/tools. I think he bought these because the components had never been used. As for tools, except for a whip finish tool, they were complete, from a good pair of scissors, Dr. Slick, to a bodkin. A hair stacker, bobbin, six spools of thread in different colors. Although there were nymph hooks, I think there was a strong dry fly composition. Dry fly Mustad packs of 100 in 12 and 14 and a lesser amount of 10s, which had been opened and a few missing. A pack of muskrat dubbing, another of caddis green. A Metz Multi Pack in size medium which has about 40 hackles in dun, brown, and grizzly, size 12-16. The feathers are cut from larger necks and are about 5" long. A good idea for starter tyers. The price was $26; today, about $50. I feel pretty sure Whiting could have offered better hackle, but not packaged this way. It was a good idea. Three or four cards of chenille but no wire or lead, nor any marabou for a Wooly Bugger. Included was one of those foam tool caddies and a hair stacker. And a tube of wax. There was a good patch of deer belly fur and another of dyed deer hair. It was the only component that had been opened. Two or three tufts had been removed. I realize I'm inferring a lot here, but my conclusions (not proven) is that someone chose these materials and tools for someone else. It's a starter kit, although a well chosen one of pretty high quality. Something prevented the giftee from using it, however. Hence the reason I asked you guys to make estimates of what YOU would recommend as I think this "kit" was chosen by a pro for a new tyer.

OK, let's reimagine this. Let's eliminate the friend/acquaintance factor. I'm only interested in how the $600 is spent by an experienced tyer. Tools, feathers, etc. No taking him in hand and tying flies to see if he likes it; he's pretty much determined he'll give it a try. For argument's factor, he's determined to spend the money; if not with you then he'll buy a prepackaged kit.

Say you have an acquittance who thinks he's interested in tying flies. He's not sold on it so he's not willing to spend a huge amount of money until he gets his feet wet, so to speak. He's retired with a good retirement program and when buying stuff, he generally is willing to spend the money, but without committing a ruinous amount of money to begin with. He knows nothing, but thinks he'd like to be able to tie dry flies and standbys like Wooly Buggers (actually, that's what you infer.) He gives you $600 and asks you to set him up, vise, materials, hooks and a quality "kit." So what do you do? What are your choices? Where do you begin?

Don King

I had one in 1996, I believe. It was before the cam made its way onto the vise, and I bought a cam head for it. It's a great vise.

Year, I mean.

Here's another try with a better background. This is a 14 Mustad hook 94840. I chemically stripped the peacock eye, which was a new experience for me. That stray fiber sticking down is killing me.

My attempt at a Catskill fly, and an attempt at photography. Looks in focus on my phone.

The Griff's I have is very thin and liquid-seeming. Is this the way it should be?

My TFO is marked "China." I would feel better if it was made in Korea. It casts just fine.

Don't do what I did, which is to buy in haste nail polish remover (thinner) containing no acetone. It didn't work when mixed with acetone; left a disgusting mess. Better off using acetone on laquer.

I broke my 4 wt. LL about 25 years ago by slamming my tailgate on it. I sent it to Sage and they replaced it, even though it was my fault and the LL series of rods were no longer made. So I'm pretty happy with them. Since I'm not the original owner of the 6 wt, the warranty doesn't apply. I think the "Lifetime Warranty no matter what" has caused a major shift in pricing. Companies were replacing at any cost has got to figure into it. And a lot of rods are now being made in China, where cost of manufacture and the price of blanks is way low, seeing that the cost of a finished blank can only be a few bucks. At least Sage rods are still made in America. I recently bought a 6 wt. TFO rod at the bottom end of their rods. It cost $300. The rod was made in China. Turned me off. The rod casts fine, btw.