Recommendations for starter fly-tying.

I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom

On Mar 29, 6:55 pm, "Tom Nakashima" wrote:
I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom

Have a look here;

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/beginners/

It will tell you all you need to know to get started.

TL
MC

Tom Nakashima wrote:
I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?

Most folks recommend staying away from the kits because the
tools are often second-rate and you get a lot of materials
you'll never use.

Do a Google group search of rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying
with the word "beginner", you'll get lots of good info.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in news:eugr19$q3v$1
@news.Stanford.EDU:

I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom



Tom--

Start with a reliable vise, a good ceramic bobbin, a bodkin, some
scissors, hackle pliers, and a whip finish tool. Buy any book by Skip
Morris, probably "Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple" would be best. I can
honestly say that his "Art of Tying the Dry Fly" was probably the best of
about four books that I went through during my early self teaching days,
and the one that made the biggest difference when I found it.

Buy the materials necessary to tie the first two flies in the Nymph
Chapter and the first two flies in the dry fly chapter, and the material
to tie any two flies that you've been wanting to tie on your own.

Try to buy a dubbing assortment for dries, and one for nymphs. These
will come in kits that run about $10-$15 each, I think.

For dry fly hackle, you might think of buying some Whiting 100-packs in
the appropriate size and color, but push comes to shove, a Whiting neck
or half neck in silver or bronze grade is probably your best bang for the
buck that will offer any sort of wide range in hackle size.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

On 29 Mar 2007 17:21:12 GMT, Scott Seidman
wrote:

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in news:eugr19$q3v$1
:

I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom



Tom--

Start with a reliable vise, a good ceramic bobbin, a bodkin, some
scissors, hackle pliers, and a whip finish tool.

IMO, don't get the whip tool until you can do it without one. To me,
it's like learning to nail thing together with framing nailer or "do
math" by pushing calculator buttons. If you can't drive nails with a
hammer or add without HP, you'd better make damned sure you never need
to do so...and IMO, there's no way to do that...

TC,
R

Other reasonable advice snipped

wrote in news:cr1o03hksdiqbvnbbtd8rm7q4c1h5blp89@
4ax.com:

IMO, don't get the whip tool until you can do it without one.


I actually agree, but it doesn't take more than about 15 minutes to learn
how to tie one by hand, and then the matarelli is right there waiting for
you.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
wrote in news:cr1o03hksdiqbvnbbtd8rm7q4c1h5blp89@
4ax.com:

IMO, don't get the whip tool until you can do it without one.


I actually agree, but it doesn't take more than about 15 minutes to learn
how to tie one by hand, and then the matarelli is right there waiting for
you.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Scott, I tried to send you email (by reversing your name) but it got
bounced back.
-tom

Scott Seidman wrote:
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in news:eugr19$q3v$1
@news.Stanford.EDU:


I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom




Tom--

Start with a reliable vise, a good ceramic bobbin, a bodkin, some
scissors, hackle pliers, and a whip finish tool. Buy any book by Skip
Morris, probably "Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple" would be best. I can
honestly say that his "Art of Tying the Dry Fly" was probably the best of
about four books that I went through during my early self teaching days,
and the one that made the biggest difference when I found it.

Buy the materials necessary to tie the first two flies in the Nymph
Chapter and the first two flies in the dry fly chapter, and the material
to tie any two flies that you've been wanting to tie on your own.

Try to buy a dubbing assortment for dries, and one for nymphs. These
will come in kits that run about $10-$15 each, I think.

For dry fly hackle, you might think of buying some Whiting 100-packs in
the appropriate size and color, but push comes to shove, a Whiting neck
or half neck in silver or bronze grade is probably your best bang for the
buck that will offer any sort of wide range in hackle size.

IMHO, spot on advice. The only thing I might add is, Tom, go to the
casting club. Tell someone you're interested in getting started in fly
tying. Someone is bound to take you under their wing. You'll most likely
get some good, firsthand instruction....and maybe some free stuff too. ;-)

brians

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:55:06 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

I earlier posted Altering Dry Flies to Wet Flies question, and
some suggested that I start to learn to tie the flies to get a better
understanding.
I think they're right.
recommendations for starter fly-tying?
Kits? Purchasing items separate? Books?
-tom

IMO, get a Thompson "A," an enclosed bobbin, GOOD scissors, a bodkin,
some hemostats, and a scalpel. Then decide what patterns you wish to
tie. Look at the recipes and determine what materials you need. If you
_need_ more tools, then get them. Buy only what you _need_ to tie those
patterns you wish to tie. And don't get a whip tool at first - learn to
do it by hand, and then, if you feel the need, get a tool.

If you are generally "handy," just start tying from the recipes, which
are available on the web and any number of books. Tying, short of
full-dress salmons and the like, isn't particularly difficult if you are
generally "handy." If you aren't particularly "handy," and there's
nothing "wrong" with being such, there is at least some sort of tying
group, club, class, etc. in the Palo Alto area, I'm sure.

And whether you want/need instruction or are comfortable simply learning
from the web/books, try to learn from someone who is the same
"handedness" as you - IOW, if you're left-handed, try to find pics
showing left-handed tyers, or learn from a left-hander.

If you decide you like tying, and feel the need, then move up to
whatever of the several styles of "better" vises are available, but I'd
suggest trying as many as possible before you purchase.

Since you probably won't see this, it probably can't help,
R

On Mar 29, 2:36 pm, wrote:
IMO, get a Thompson "A," an enclosed bobbin, GOOD scissors, a bodkin,
some hemostats, and a scalpel.

Lest this gem of advice get lost in the info about other materials,
tutorials, & other - rdean highlighted my favorite advice: GOOD
SCISSORS. When you hit the fly shop, you'll be shocked at what these
things cost; but there are few things better to have than good, sharp
scissors; and few things more frustrating than dull, cheap ones. I'd
rather have a cheap vise and good scissors than the reverse.

(And instead of (or until) a scalpel, a single edge razor blade will
do just fine.)

Joe F.