Help please.....fly tying etc......

[RonB]

Hi all........Been an AVID (to say the least) fisherman for the last 40+ years....this year I've decided to go "fly" about 95% of the time....
I have a 6 wt and 9wt.....In going to my local stores to start stocking up, I was blown away by the prices of pre-tied flies.......
So......help!!!!!!!!!!
I'm interested in starting to tie my own.....where the heck do I start???????

(Most of my fishing will be in freshwater - live in Illinois - but I go to sunny Florida once a year......)

Are the "kits" any good? I have two daughters in college with limited funds, but figure this is a great way to keep busy!!!!!

Thanks!
Ron

[PeteV]

This is my el'cheapo advice

Equipment to get started.
1. Decent Vice
2. Bobbin for thread
3. Scissors.

Materials:
For Wooly Buggers
1. Black thread
2. Chennile (Black, Olive, Purple)
3. Maribou (black, olive, Purple)
4. Wooly bugger Saddles Hackles (Black, Olive, Purple)
5. Some Crystal flash for the tail.

For Bucktails and clousers
1. Black thread
2. Bucktail (White, Black, Olive, Purple)
3. some lead eyes
4. Some Crystal Flash

Skills,
1. Learn how to do a half hitch or use a whip finisher.
2. palmer the saddle on the wooly bugger body.

Learn to tie these flies and you've just saved a bundle.

[Punchshot]

Welcome aboard Ron, I started tying flies last year - saltwater flies - and it's addicting, though I know I saved no money tying my own flies, there's always some material you need to tie a certain fly. As for tools get what Pete said, and as for material buy what you need to make the flies you want to fish, though using that method, as I have, you could spend hundreds ;)

[RogerStg]

Find a club in the area that ties flies. Ask around at you local fly shops, they'll know what's available. I think I learned more in a few years attending clubs than in many years of DIY book learnin.

[Mark Dougherty]

Tying is relaxing and rewarding. After a while you will be improvising...a ton of fun ,especially when it works....some thoughts: What is your target species ? What are the traditional flys that match that species....for instance bonefish = gotchas, mini-puffs to name a few. Then get in contact with Chris from saltwaterflies.com....he is a site sponser and has provided great service and helped me lot in buying the right materials for the right pattern.

Have FUN !!! --127-3-

[Iwan]

Hi. I can give you two pieces of valuable advise based on my experience.

1. The first thing you should do before buying anything is to enroll in a fly tying class at a local store or club. This way you can familiarize yourself with the basic equipment/materials and by the end of the class you will have had the chance to try many types of vises and tools so your mind should be pretty much set on what your initial purchases will be. Some fly shops may even give you a discount on their inventory during the duration of the class :brow

2. Buy a book called 'Fly tying made clear and simple' by Skip Morris. A great book. It deals with everything a beginner fly tyer needs to know and provides you with full tying instructions for the basic flies in a freshwater trout box - GRHE, PTs, buggers etc. The book is well laid out and tells you what your initial purchases should be and then you use this material to learn the basic tying techniques as you advance through the book. It's an excellent book and well worth getting.

In no time you will be tying your own flies and :-% all night long --127-3-

[PeteV]

If I was going to learn I'd probably get a video... I bet there pretty good now. And probably give you a nice view for how to hold the materials...as well as other little tricks.

I learned from a Dick stewart picture book, then a local shop had some informal tying sessions.

If any you guys need help and can get onto Hanscom AFB I'd be happy to get youy started.

[RonB]

Thanks for the friendly advice....there's a free class every Thursday night at our local Bass Pro Shop that I will be attending......starting tonite!
Ron

[PeteV]

Ron ...you're already spoiled ...I can't believe you have a local BASSPRO shop.