Beging Fly Tying

[Flyflinger]

I want to start tying my own flies. I am however hesitant because of 1 main reason.

1. The cost of vises..as I understand it you don't want to scrimp on this...but it seems you can't get a nice one under $100. I would not balk at the price if it ended up paying for itself. Yet...you can buy alot of flies for $100. This isn't even taking in the initial cost of all the other stuff you need.

So what would be a good figure I would exspect to spend to get a start in the craft and would it pay off in the end?

Thanks

[Flysmallie]

I have been using this vise for several years. It's a great vise for $75.00.

Griffin Odyssey Spider

[Gavin]

Its a complete waste of money...but its allot of fun and you can tie exactly what you want...You can probably get started with a decent vice, tools, and a few materials for $200 or so, but the costs and materials pile up over time..Check out the Danvise...it sells for less than $100 and they are pretty nice. Cheers.

[Trout Commander]

My vise is the one that can be had in the kits for $29.95. All I would upgrade if I were you would be a bobbin with ceramic ends.

Although I have only tied ~30 flies so far, with probably 7 or 8 do overs it hasn't dropped a hook yet.

Just my humble opinion.

[Danoinark]

Flyflinger,

I don't think it would ever pay for itself. A great way to get started is to purchase the few tools that you will need during the learning process. I find those kits that Cabela's and Bass Pro sell for less than 50 dollars (includes a clone Type A vise) to be ok for beginners.

They at least include scissors, whip finisher, and a bobbin. Now here is the key in my opinion. Don't buy a "fly tying kit" you will find there are so many items that you will never need included. As your skills improve you can upgrade to better tools. Here is how I started. I decided what fly I wanted to learn and just bought the materials for that particular bug. For instance if you wanted to tie a wooly booger (which is an excellent one to begin as it ecompasses many of the tying techniques that you will use in your new hobby). You would buy some booger hackle, chennile, marabou,thread, hooks, flash, etc. Most of those items can be bought in smaller packages. Also most fly shops are willing to show you how to tie a particular pattern as you purchase the materials for the fly from them. Don't be shy to ask them to tie one up for you. I guess with any hobby they don't "pay" for themselves in savings...but they do pay for themselves in the satisfaction and pleasure you get from doing something you enjoy.

Any of us here will gladly share our fly tying tips and knowledge with you.

Dano

[Outside Bend]

Like Gavin said, the biggest reason I tie flies is because I enjoy it, not because it saves me much (or any) money. I get to tinker with patterns and materials, and develop things the fish may have not yet seen. And I take pride in it, in tying for myself and others, and teaching what I can when I can.

200-300 bucks would be a good initial investment. You don't have to have the premo equipment to start out with, as has been mentioned, there's a number of decent vises in the under $100 category. Buy decent hooks, though- I've had numerous issues with bad hook batches from one manufacturer, and it always sucks to break off a big fish due to brittle hooks.

[stlfisher]

I tie on a cheap vise that came with a kit and have never felt I was limited. It may not look flashy, but it get's the job done. Spend as much as you are comfortable with and just have fun with it. I like making different variations and just coming up with random flies...that is what I enjoy the most. I second what others have a said about materials. A short trip to Feathercraft to pick up supplies can turn into a 100 dollar trip easily. It will not save you money that is for sure.

In saying all that there is nothing more sastisfying than catching a fish on a fly you have tied. It is also a great way to relax...well sometimes. I like to watch the cards game, tie a few flies, and have a beer or two.

One word of caution it can be more frustrating to lose a fly you have tied...especially on your first cast...which seems to happen to me alot. And there is nothing worse than losing an entire fly box, 3 days before a weekend trip, that took me all winter to make. I am still sick when I think about that.

In all seriousness it is a lot of fun. The Kit from Brass Pro has you tying Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, and Wolly Bugger. Not a bad start for a collection that will work anywhere. Once you have those patterns down the rest are pretty simple.

[Kayser]

I got one of those $30 kits from Cabela's for Christmas when I was 13 (8 years ago), and it's the only vice I use. It's worked great for me over the years, there is just a slight learning curve for it. The half-hitch tools and hackle pliers are other tools that I absolutely love.

I totaled up everything I have, including that kit, new scissors/bobbin, and all of my materials, then divided it by the # of flies I have tied. In that 8 year period, it came out to about .30 per fly. I've since lost most of those, but I've also caught a lot of bass, bluegill, and trout on them, and enjoyed every single fish. I'll never get back those countless hours at the vice, tying for trips, fun, and even a couple competitions, but personally, I think I'd spend the time tying more flies.

Also, being a hunter helps with some material expenses. Squirrel tails, rabbit hides, and wood duck flank, mainly. Have a friend that gave me some pheasant tails (and a skin), and a local farmer that gave me about 200 peacock feathers for $5. Still need to find a use for the barred wood duck flank, though. Also, don't take up hunting to help with fly-tying, that's something you will definitely never come out ahead on. But if you already do it, start looking at your take for the day as potential flies.

Rob

[Danoinark]

Also, being a hunter helps with some material expenses.

Rob

...the same with road kill.

[Pflugradt]

In no way shape or form do I ever see my tying materials or tools ever getting to the point that they will pay for themselves.... but I do get a great deal of enjoyment out of it and now that I have a wife a 7yr old and a 4yr old that are all tying with me I get even more enjoyment out of it and the cost of doing so have more then quadrupled!!!! It is a ton of fun and very relaxing when you just need to unwind and get your mind on something completely pointless. I would suggest it to anyone and everyone. Right off the bat there is no real reason to break the bank on a vise... get something decent like the Dan Vise or the Spyder from Griffin (I have owned both) and it will last you a good hand full of years and then upgrade to a the 2, 3, 4, or 5 hundred dollar vise. I now have a Dyna King Baracuda, a Renzetti Presentation 2000, and HMH Standard, (by far my favorite) and a Dyna King Squire. All great vises but not one of them is under the 200 mark new except the Squire (199)... all except the Renzetti were bought used and I love them all equally, sorta!!!

Tying flies for yourself is not about saving money, don't let anyone confuse you on that fact, it's about fooling a fish into thinking that some stuff you lashed to hook might possibly be food, therefore they eat it and you catch them.

Steve