re: The Fly Fishing Thread: Questions, pics, discussion all here

First off, if you're looking to tie flies to save money, then keep buying pre-tied flies. Tying flies is likely a money losing proposition. If you want to tie so you can customize your flies, you're doing it for the right reasons. I've been tying my own flies for close to 30 years. I still consider myself an intermediate tier. (I was, however, invited to tie at a regional fly tying expo several years ago.) I've submitted a couple of fly patterns to some of the manufactures but they've never picked up any of my patterns. (They did release on that was eerily similar with difference materials... )

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I have nothing so I will need everything. Can anyone suggest a kit that will get me started with all the tools and materials I will need?

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Stay away from the kits. The vises they sell in them are total junk and the tying materials aren't much better. Go ahead and spend a little money on a decent mid level vise. It will make the process much, much easier. The danvise is a decent entry to mid level vise, but be VERY CAREFUL with the jaws. They chip easily. Renzetti, regal and griffin are good brands. Your budget should be about $100 for your first vise.

Buy good scissors and a good bobbin or 3. Never ever cut wire with your good scissors.

There are about eleventy billion how to videos online. Find some (simple) patterns that you commonly use and follow along with them. Start with simple patterns and work on the accuracy of your wraps to start with. If you can do that, rest will come in time.

What species do you normally target?? If you target coldwater species, Cheeh and Curtis over at Fly Fish Food are buddies of mine. Cheech has forgotten more about fly tying than I've ever know. I've had the pleasure of fishing with both of them and they slay.

Good luck and tight lines.

What he said. I have a whole bunch of materials and don't get to fish as much as I use to. That will hopefully change before too long.

I have a Renzetti traveler and love it. It's a great vise. I've had it for probably close to 20yrs.

To start, I'd get materials to tie a hare's ear (rabbit mask), wooly bugger (chenille, maraboo, hackle, and weight).

Your 1st 20 will look ok. The main thing that you will learn is that less thread the better. I use a very thin thread (size 6/0).

from those two, you can learn the steps and build from there.

Deer hair flies are the hardest to tie (to me) but I love them.

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Deer hair flies are the hardest to tie (to me) but I love them.

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Do a Youtube search Kelly Gallop. He's the king of articulated streamers and uses deer hair on them A TON. His videos are long, but he's got some very useful tip for tying with deer hair. I had the pleasure of watching him tie an expo out here a few years back and he knows his stuff when it comes to big hairy flies.

Yeah, I'll have to find some photos and upload them...

Got a handful on the fly Saturday morning before I had to hit the road for the game. Tide was low and fish were active for about an hr. Had a few not interested in the mullet so I tied on the crab and they started to chomp.

Nothing crazy big, but a few fun slots.

Nah, those are he sandbar crabs. I don’t have the time or patience to do that myself.


ETA: I took those pictures by myself, so thanks.

The record breaking heat of the last few days sure has been depressing. I went through my bass box checked my flies and cleaned my lines with flote coat got all ready for my favorite fall season

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Color me jealous. Never had the good fortune of catching a red fish on a fly....

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I think the only species that I like better on the fly would be steelhead.

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Here's a little work from this weekend

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Those are sweet! How do you do your weed guards?