What to buy for fly tying.

[Rat Catcher]

I would like to get into tying my own flies, and would like any recommendations on what to buy, possibly a kit where I would get tools, Vice, hooks, materials etc.


I know its probably endless on what you can buy, but want to try stay away from things I might buy and then later find, why did I get that and should have got something else.


Any help/tips on what to get, where to get things and any links to good videos on tying.


Many thanks.

[adric]

Hi
That is a very good question. My recommendation is that you first think what flies you will be tying? Then get the materials you need for them. For many river flies I tend to use the following materials: CDC, deer hair, hare’s ear, a few suitable hackles partridge hackles are good and pheasant tails feathers. Hook sizes from 12 to 18.
I hope that this helps.
Richard

[springerman]

Hello tenkara and welcome to the forum.  Don't buy a kit.  Do you know anyone who ties flies themselves?  There are classes run by fly tyers up & down, you may be able to join.  Well worth it.
I totally agree with adric and start with the natural fur/feathers.  Hare, Rabbit, squirrel fur.  Duck, Partridge, Pheasant.  They make some of the best flies you will ever use.
I say don't buy a kit because it is better to get good quality tools separately, especially scissors.
Good luck. 

[springerman]

tenkara,
Have a look at this web page. www.flytierspage.com  Also YouTube has many videos on tying.  Another site worth looking at is www.onstream-guide.com.  

[adric]

If you want to find a group look at the Fly Dressers' guild web site www.flydressersguild.org/Pages/default.aspx. there are a lot of local groups who will always welcome new members.

Richard

[dbl]

Hi "tenkara". All good advice, but as a very amateur fly tier and a tenkara enthusiast, I think I can make a basic suggestion. Buy a basic vice, about £20, from memory. With a base if you don't want rows about what you are doing to the dining room table, or a clamp if you have a bench to work on.
Now you need some size 12 and 14 wet fly hooks, some black sewing thread and a cheap Indian cock or hen cape, either red game or black to start. The only other essential tool is a bobbin for your thread. The other desirable tools are 2 pairs of scissors, one cheap for cutting wire (killer bug or ribs) and a good pair of fly tying scissors. Some varnish or super glue helps to secure your final half hitches.
Now look up Dr Ishigaki tying his kebari and you have a tenkara fly that will catch trout!
You can add weight to this pattern to fish deep, by winding on a bit of lead foil from a wine bottle (waste not...), pinching on an old lead weight from your coarse days, or by the professional means of using a tungsten bead, of about 2.5 mm in natural.

[Rat Catcher]

Thanks guys for your help and info.

There is a local fly tying class near me, but I'm sure it don't start back till after the season, over the winter, which probably makes sense.

I probably wont start tying flies till after the season, and by then, I will have a better indication on what to get and where to get it.

One other question I would like to ask. What do you guys normally fish with, Wet, Dry, Tenkara, Nymph, Buzzard, dry and at what time of year. I know it might be very hard to answer this, but though I might ask anyway.

Thanks again

[captainpurple]

I rarely fish dry flies but I do tie them. I tend to use them sporadically though and I have some on hand to match hatches etc. If I do, I usually fish Sedge patterns than lets say Dun imitations. On Scottish Stillwaters I almost always fish typical bumble type flies such as Kate McLaren, Clan Chief, Zulu etc. When fishing rivers I am a big fan of sparsely dressed Spider patterns. I fish spiders even through slow pools on rivers and I have success. Maybe it's a confidence thing. I have used spiders when fishing with the Tenkara rod also and I find that method extremely effective. Dry flies will work with a Tenkara rod also - because you can control the fly easily and don't have to deal with drag in awkward pocket water and such.

Hope that helps

Cheers,

CP

[chriscreeler]

When you fish your spiders through slow pools, do you cover the water fairly systematically or just cast to the risers and into the more promising places?

Chris.

[captainpurple]

Through the slow pools I tend to impart movement into the fly by wiggling the rod tip. With the Tenkara rod its like a pulsing, lifting action through the pool. If I am casting across a pool from the bank lets say - I would stand facing the opposite bank and put a long cast across the pool towards the other banking. And then do the same procedure in a fan cast sort of thing to cover the water. I've had good success using this method. I tried it after a conversation with a fellow angler who suggested that spiders wouldn't work in a slow pool. I have also caught fish using relatively large spiders (Say size 12 and size 10) on Lochs/Stillwaters fishing from the bank. I am of the opinion, if a buzzer can catch fish - then why can't a spider?

Just my two-pence.

Cheers,

CP