Beging Fly Tying

[Danoinark]

Flyflinger....tell you what I will do. I have one of those old clone type A vises around here. If you would like to have it, send me your address to my message box here. I will gladly ship it to you for nothing.

Dano

[Danoinark]

...and for that matter I will throw enough wolly booger materials in so you can start tying up a few. I don't have extra bobbins, scissors or a whip finisher. Just drop by a fly shop and pick those up and you will be in business...

Dano

[Andy & JoAnne]

I would love to do this also but my eyes aren't what they use to be.

[ness]

The saving money aspect is how you sell the idea to your wife but, there's a good chance you'll lose money. If you're frugal and don't buy a ton of expensive materials or tools, you can tie flies for a reasonable cost and come out ahead.

I think Dano's is right -- the tool kit will get you started, and your investment is small. If you take to it, you can upgrade over time. If you don't, not a lot wasted. I started on a kit with an inexpensive Thompson A, and it was fine.

I'd suggest getting the materials for a fly or two that you use a lot -- preferably nymphs as they typically have more straight-forward ties. Pick a fairly simple one (2-3 ingredients) and just get going. You can do that for about a hundred bucks, or the cost of 50 flies.

Find somebody to show you how tie, or find a You Tube video and you're off and running.

[ness]

I would love to do this also but my eyes aren't what they use to be.

Same here. I finally had to get bifocals a couple years back. But, when I tie or read I'm sporting a sweet $9 pair of 1.5x reading glasses I picked up at the grocery store.

[Justin Spencer]

I disagree with most in that I think it saves quite a bit of money. Depending on how much you fish and how many flies you lose, I know I come out ahead. Also fishing on the NFOW I use the proper amount of weight because I know each fly didn't cost $2, instead cost a quarter or so and 10 minutes. That makes me feel better when I lose a dozen or so a day. I catch a lot more fish when I'm fishing deep enough to lose flies. You can also tie simple effective patterns that you can't buy at your everyday fly shop. It is also much more rewarding to me to catch a fish on a fly I tied, or a pattern I "invented". If you don't have much time to fish, and don't do it that often, then I would just keep buying them, otherwise it is a fun hobby that can be done when it's too hot, or too cold to fish. My main problem is people always want to know what I use, when I tell them they ask if I have any for sale. Then I go to my own stash and sell them all I have. If I want to go fishing I have to set aside an hour to tie flies just so I have something to fish with. Anyone got any flies for sale?

[eric1978]

I tie on a $20 piece of junk, and it suits my needs so far. I'll be upgrading in the future, but there are LOTS of EXPENSIVE materials to buy before I do. My advice would be to buy a cheap vise at first, maybe in one of those kits, and find out if you have the patience and inclination to tie flies. If you discover that you enjoy hours at the vise, upgrade. If not, you haven't lost much.

In the long run, tying your own flies certainly saves you money. It's a big investment up front, but eventually it pays for itself, as long as you tie a lot of flies and do a lot of fishing.

[Danoinark]

I would love to do this also but my eyes aren't what they use to be.

They make nice adjustable magnifying jewelers lamps these days Andy. Heck when you get down this way it will be on our bucket list for you. Besides those big juicy Crooked Creek smallies like BIG ol Flies anyway.

[Andy & JoAnne]

They make nice adjustable magnifying jewelers lamps these days Andy. Heck when you get down this way it will be on our bucket list for you. Besides those big juicy Crooked Creek smallies like BIG ol Flies anyway.

I'm all in. After we tie a few I will take you to "THE SPOT" I discovered and give em a try.

[Ham]

Run the other way as fast as you can!