To Kit or not to Kit?

[dmport0113 0]

I've only been fly fishing for about 5 years now but am hooked. I've upgraded my original reel and purchased a new rod and reel (3wt which is really exciting with a nice sized trout on). Anyway, with more time on the water, I've started going through more flies. I really want to get into tying my own. I've heard to not even bother with a kit, which is the way I'm leaning, but was looking for some input and/or a list of tools/brand names to start amassing my own collection of "better quality" equipment. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

[tmds3 0]

I started with the tool kit from cabelas-http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Tying/Tools-Vises|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104340780/i/103884480/Cabelas-Deluxe-Tool-Kit-with-Case/732320.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftools-vises%2F_%2FN-1100441%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103884480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104721480%253Bcat104340780&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat104340780%3Bcat103884480

and picked a few flies that I wanted to learn to tie and picked up the materials and went from there. It is addicting to say the least.

[flytire 0]

there is a few topics in the following links regarding tying kits

 

give them a read through

 

http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?app=core&module=search&section=search&do=search&fromsearch=1

[FlyTieDad 0]

I started tying about a year or so ago and like tmds3 I started with the Cabella's kit.

I can't say it's the best of tools but with the book and supplies you can get a good start.

 

However, if you can find someone to teach you, you'd be much better off.

I ended up going to an instructor for a few weeks and he was able to set me up with just what I needed and gave me tips on where to find materials on the cheap.

 

-FlyTieDad

[lykos33 0]

One thing though...If you are entering tying to save money on your flies.....bwahahahahahahaha....roflmbbo.....That is a fib invented by fly shop owners to become rich. It's like the dealer giving free tries of drugs knowing full well you WILL become addicted and mortgage the house for another fix....You'll buy that first cape or neck or spool of sweet thread and it's all over. My wife was delighted I found a hobby in tying....6 + years ago...now she watches the checking account like a hawk. And if trout flies aren't bad enough....wait till you start trying salmon or saltwater flies....

Other than that....WELCOME to the wonderful world of tying!!!!

Murray

[Piker20 0]

Yep it works out cheap if all you ever tie are patterns using the same stuff, you buy it in bulk cheap and then you're away. But as Murray says, you start with one fly and try the next and the next and then next and you buy lots of lovely bits for all of them and then you have to worry that the wife dont knock you off cause you're worth more dead in second hand fishing stuff.

[nick2011 0]

personally I would buy a cheap kit just to see if your actually gonna hang in and commit to tying your own flies, it can be to tidius for some people, however if you do decide to stick it out and really enjoy tying .. you are gonna quickly out grow the starter kit and want to move up to something a little nicer.

[Christopher K 0]

I started with a kit, but I don't believe it's the best way, choose about 5 flies, and buy all the supplies needed, you'll get better quality materials, and you can tie whatever you want!

[mikechell 0]

A few questions you have to ask yourself:

(1) How much money do you want to spend to "get started"?

(2) Do you have a good fly shop near you?

(3) How many different species, thus different kinds of flies, are you going to go after?

 

The second question might be the most important. Many fly shops have tying classes, where you don't need any equipment. You can take a few classes to see if tying is going to be "your thing". Also, a GOOD fly shop will give you good advice on equipment, kits, materials, etc. Yes, as has been stated, they are in it to make money, but the good ones know, they make more money from happy customers than they do from disgruntled ones.

[lykos33 0]

Ok Ok Mike .....I guess comparing them to a drug dealer was a low blow....but ya gotta admit, once yer hooked it's all over but the buying....er ...crying....LOL!

Murray

[Poopdeck 0]

Being a beginner fly tyer as well, about two months, preceded by about two months of "research" I decided against the kits for tying one type of fly mainly due to economics. Meaning, it's more expensive to purchase the fly kits. As for equipment, I have tied jigs for years so I already had most of the tools. I also inherited my fathers tying tools as he was a fly tyer for many many years.

 

The actual tying material is not that expensive. As a beginner there is no need to buy the expensive high brow material. My tying vice cost me maybe 15 bucks 20 years ago. It works fine, it's the one I still use, and so far I have no plans to buy a better one and frankly I do not think I will ever replace it. My fathers vice is a far better vice which I will probably use if I start tying very tiny flies. There are plenty of fly tying tools that cost only a few dollars. I do not need a 30 dollar whip finisher when a 4 dollar one made in India works just fine.

 

I will say that when I go to cabelas or other fishing shops I always walk out with some chenille, feathers, dubbing, thread or whatever buts it generally amounts to a few bucks here and a few bucks there. Start small, build small and it will be a very enjoyable hobby. So far I'm loving it. I started by watching youtube and scouring this site. Good luck

[RapidRiver 0]

On my way up to camp Friday night I stopped in at Cabelas to put together a kit to have up there. Dropped 80 bucks on a deluxe kit and a box of materials. The kit isn't top quality, but it's perfect to start with. I was impressed by the box of materials, though it doesn't come with elk or buck hair. When I got to camp, I lit my lanterns, cracked some beers and churned out a dozen flies I knew I"d need the next morning.

 

 

Tools

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Deluxe-Tool-Kit-with-Case/732320.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Ddeluxe%2Bfly%2Btying%2Bkit%26x%3D-805%26y%3D-51%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=deluxe+fly+tying+kit&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

 

Materials

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Tying/Fly-Tying-Kits%7C/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104340780/i/103883580/Cabelas-Material-Kit/711028.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fly-fishing-fly-tying-fly-tying-kits%2F_%2FN-1100438&WTz_l=DirectLoad%3Bcat103883580

[utyer 0]

You said you have been fishing for 5 years, so look back at what flies you have been buying and using. Ask yourself, which ones were the most successful. Now find out what materials you will need for those patterns. You will be better off purchasing a decent (American made,) vise and tools. In my experience, the asian made vises just don't hold up to serious tying, most of them wouldn't make it through a 6 month season of tying classes.

 

As long as you understand that a beginners kit is just that (a kit to get you started,) you won't mind replacing everything as it wears out. There are US made vises available for less than 100, that will give you much better service. The Griffith Montana Pro vise is priced at 78.00 and is available with a good set of tools for 128.50. The Cascade Crest #3000 vise is a rotational vise with an adjustable head angle, priced at 75.00 and can be purchased in a kit (including materials,) for 129.95.

[Poopdeck 0]

That must be a grueling tying class. My 15 dollar vice has tied buck tails up to four ounces for twenty years and it seems to hold a size 14 hook just fine. 15 bucks went a little further then but I recall it being a cheapy. I also see no difference in my India made bobbins then any of the others that I have. In fact my India made bobbin is much smoother and does not break the thread like another that I have. The india made whip finisher works like a charm. So far so good now I will wait to see if they pass the test of time. I see no reason why they won't.

[utyer 0]

My previous post included this sentence: " In my experience, the Asian made vises just don't hold up to serious tying, most of them wouldn't make it through a 6 month season of tying classes." I made no reference to the other tools in that statement. I have no problem with the Imported Whip finishers (I have 1,) or the imported bobbins (hopefully with a ceramic insert. ) Many other imported tools like dubbing needles, hair stackers hackle pliers can be good enough for most tying needs. For a hair stacker, I use a half inch copper tube, and cap. I have a large stacker that I made from an old boat rod ferrule.

 

My first vise, was a D H Thompson (US made,) which was my fathers. It served me well for the first 6 or 8 years. Then I replaced it with a NEW vise, which was also a US made D H Thompson. This was the Pro model with a pedestal base. I was tying commercially in those days (1975 to 1990,) about 7,500 to 10,000 flies a year. Both these vises are still in use; my niece and nephew have them now. Since my brother has retired, I will be teaching him to tie his own flies this summer. Both these Thompson vises were under 50 bucks, and have lasted well over 30 years, and are still in fine condition.

 

For tying classes, the shop I worked in used Sunrise (Asian made,) vises. Most of these wouldn't make it through the class season which was only about 6 months. Four nights a week, 3 hours a night, by the end of the sessions, many of the vises were used for spare parts. We could usually salvage 25 to 50% of them for the next year. After using the class vises, most of our students would purchase better quality vises.

 

Your experience and results are different from mine, and I am sure that there are other tiers who have gotten satisfactory results from some of the Asian made vises.