JoeW
08-10-2010, 12:15 PM
I've been tying flies for many years, and yes, I have materials and equipment that I'm embarrassed to tell you the cost of! However, I began very simply and cheaply!
Tools- Instead of an expensive fly tying vise, use vise grip or locking pliers to hold the hook. Instead of a thread bobbin, just use a spring-type clothespin to hold your thread, yarn, etc. out of the way and give it some tension. Add a small pair of scissors, a pin stuck into a cork ( a bodkin!), a little can or bottle of common varnish (instead of expensive head cement and thinner!), s spool of thin sewing thread (you don't need special "fly tying thread"), maybe a couple toothpicks, and so much for tools!
Hooks?- use the one's you bait fish with, no need to invest a fortune in special fine wire fly tying hooks! ! (although the straight shank, ringed eye Sproat bait hooks work best!)
Materials- Craft and hobby stores! Even fabric stores. These will sell you feathers, fake fur, yarn, tinsel- everything you need for a small fraction of the cost at a fly specialty shop!
Last tips for beginners- think large and think fish! It's a lot easier for beginners to tie a presentable #6 fly than a #16! And Bass and Panfish (Bluegills, Sunfish, Perch, even chubs!) are usually more cooperative about taking a novice's fly than are Trout and Steelhead!
AND- you don't have to know how to "fly fish" to fish flies! Maybe that will come later! Just hang your creations with a couple split shot below a casting float or even a little red & white bobber and fish it like bait! ( like in the Outdoor-Fishing" logo!). You will have all the fun a fisherman spending a pile of money to travel to Nova Scotia to catch Atlantic Salmon on flies that cost him hundreds of dollars to buy has! Hey, probably MORE fun!
This is how I began fly tying! And my first fish caught on MY OWN fly, was an 8 inch Perch that took it as I dangled it off the shore on a spinning outfit. All that fancy-shmancey stuff can come later! Think small steps- they can take you a long way! Best----- JoeW
Tools- Instead of an expensive fly tying vise, use vise grip or locking pliers to hold the hook. Instead of a thread bobbin, just use a spring-type clothespin to hold your thread, yarn, etc. out of the way and give it some tension. Add a small pair of scissors, a pin stuck into a cork ( a bodkin!), a little can or bottle of common varnish (instead of expensive head cement and thinner!), s spool of thin sewing thread (you don't need special "fly tying thread"), maybe a couple toothpicks, and so much for tools!
Hooks?- use the one's you bait fish with, no need to invest a fortune in special fine wire fly tying hooks! ! (although the straight shank, ringed eye Sproat bait hooks work best!)
Materials- Craft and hobby stores! Even fabric stores. These will sell you feathers, fake fur, yarn, tinsel- everything you need for a small fraction of the cost at a fly specialty shop!
Last tips for beginners- think large and think fish! It's a lot easier for beginners to tie a presentable #6 fly than a #16! And Bass and Panfish (Bluegills, Sunfish, Perch, even chubs!) are usually more cooperative about taking a novice's fly than are Trout and Steelhead!
AND- you don't have to know how to "fly fish" to fish flies! Maybe that will come later! Just hang your creations with a couple split shot below a casting float or even a little red & white bobber and fish it like bait! ( like in the Outdoor-Fishing" logo!). You will have all the fun a fisherman spending a pile of money to travel to Nova Scotia to catch Atlantic Salmon on flies that cost him hundreds of dollars to buy has! Hey, probably MORE fun!
This is how I began fly tying! And my first fish caught on MY OWN fly, was an 8 inch Perch that took it as I dangled it off the shore on a spinning outfit. All that fancy-shmancey stuff can come later! Think small steps- they can take you a long way! Best----- JoeW