Cody Coyote 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 I'd be interested in getting some suggestions on beginner's fly tying kits. Yes, I know the arguments for and against kits, but sometimes a kit is the best way to go. I started with an Orvis kit over 45 years ago and while I still have some materials from it that I never used (and never will), I also have some tools which are still serving me well. I'd like to hear some of your recommendations for a good quality kit on the market today. Price isn't as much of a factor as quality. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve sparkie 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 I'd be interested in getting some suggestions on beginner's fly tying kits. Yes, I know the arguments for and against kits, but sometimes a kit is the best way to go. I started with an Orvis kit over 45 years ago and while I still have some materials from it that I never used (and never will), I also have some tools which are still serving me well. I'd like to hear some of your recommendations for a good quality kit on the market today. Price isn't as much of a factor as quality. When is start fly a kind friend I was buying materials from advised me to tie the hares ear nymph this thought me to fish on the surface in the surface film just under and various depths if you want further ideas email me Steve Sparkie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 Cody ... you're being too vague. There are kits for individual flies (thread, materials and hooks for one pattern) ... kits for beginners with tools etc. (which you wrote about and probably don't want) ... bags of materials to help a beginner get stocked (http://www.flytyersdungeon.com/, for instance, does great boxes of synthetic material for super cheap prices) ... What type of kit are you asking about ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 Look into the tying kits offered by Dyna king and flyfishfood websites Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cody Coyote 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 mikechell - I'm asking about beginners kits. Something for a friend, not for me. A basic kit that that gets someone started in fly tying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 If you can't get good info here I'd call one of the big brick and mortar shops that also has good online presence/service. I know Bob Marriott's in Southern California has a lot of helpful staff, but there are others I'm sure. Here's a link to their tying kits page. I'd call the store and see if you can't get someone to help narrow the selection. http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/fly-tying-materials/tying-kits Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 I'm a big fan of Bass Pro Shop's White River tying section. I know a lot of people on here don't agree with me, but they've always been good to me for quick answer to immediate problems. Like this kit, which I think is a great value for less than $100.00. http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-wr-emerger-fly-tying-bench-with-vise-tools-and-material-kit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fisherboy0301 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 I'm sorry Mike but I have to disagree. I started with a kit from BPS, gifted to me, very similar. It was the bass tying kit not trout, but same vice and many same sub par materials. The vice doesn't hold hooks well and it broke before I had even put all the hooks provided through it. I would agree with Flytire. Check out the FlyFishFood kit or one similar. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whatfly 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2017 Chugbug and Flytire pretty much covered the best alternatives I've seen out there. I've always been partial to the Dyna-King kit myself because of the quality of the tools, which are the only parts of a kit that will last. That being said, unless it is just a casual gift where a cheap set is sufficent, I think kits are a really bad idea for beginning tiers, nor are they particularly economical. The mark up for kits seems quite disproportionate for what you actually get. YMMV. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLogik 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 Cody, My advice is to focus on just the flies you intend to fish with and buy materials just for those to start out then expand from there. A kit is not the way to go in my opinion. You'll be spending money on materials you won't need and the tools and materials will be marginal in quality. Half the pleasure of tying is tying is tying with good tools and good materials. You'll also find you'll tie more often with good stuff also. Focusing on three or four specific flies will allow your budget to get both good tools and good materials. As far as tools, buy a decent beginner vise and not a cheapo. Get one from a shop or buy a used one on eBay. You should get a good bobbin, dubbing needle, good quality scissors and hackle pliers. After that, add as you go. A short list of good tools to start out: Used vise off eBay Tiemco bobbin or similar Renzetti dubbing needle Anvil of Dr Slick scissors Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cody Coyote 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 Thanks to all for your comments and candor. After weighing all of the options, my friend has decided to forego a kit and build up what he needs piecemeal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyty1 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 One of the better materials kits(for trout flies) can be put together with the hooks, materials, and book by Skip Morris "Fly tying Clear and Simple" both the book and video follow a nice progression from simple to advanced techniques. The recommended flies are easy to tie and do not require exotic materials. Add in good tying tools and you have a great start for tying a multitude of patterns. The other advice I have for one starting out (especially if they think this will be a long term hobby): start out with a good vise - after collecting materials and tools for more than 50 years, I now know that several hundred dollars spent on a quality vise is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what I have spent on materials. Since tge vice is the center of most tying activity, choose one that will make the hobby fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike West 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 Im with DrLogik...I think he hit tthe nail on the head. Ive been trying for 50+ years Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene L 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 Thanks to all for your comments and candor. After weighing all of the options, my friend has decided to forego a kit and build up what he needs piecemeal. A good decision. Get a good vise and build around that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cphubert 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2017 Yes, I agree I bought a low priced kit for my nephew and he got frustrated trying to use a low, zero quality vise and marginal materials. He still fishes but doesn't tie, hope he will try again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites