05-09-2011, 10:14 PM
I would recommend staying away from kits in the first place. Usually they give you a few cheap items that are really not what you need for the flies you want anyway.
I still don't have a good vise but I have many "made in India" knock offs that work well. (I know flygoddess, I need to stick with made in American).[
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You will need good scissors, bobbin, hackle pliers, hair stacker, dubbing spinner, dubbing pocker thing, a whip finisher, and I use a scalpel all the time.
As far as other materials look at what you are going to tie and get the best that you can afford. Some say you will save money from tying flies. I am not so sure. I am always buying a few materials here and there because there is another fly that I want to tie. I do save money on the day to day flies that I use.
I would start with wooly buggers, leeches, prince nymphs, hares ear nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, scuds, and egg patterns. Then I would go to renegades, humpies, elk hair caddis, etc...
I am still not very good at complicated dry flies.
I would take your first dry flies to somewhere the trout are not to picky. Like Birch Creek or Warm River.
It is an awesome feeling catching fish on your own flies. There are many good tiers on this forum who can help you more than I can. You are welcome to come see my bench if you want.
I would take a beginners class at Jimmy's Fly Shop in IF if you can.
Windriver
[signature]
I still don't have a good vise but I have many "made in India" knock offs that work well. (I know flygoddess, I need to stick with made in American).[
]You will need good scissors, bobbin, hackle pliers, hair stacker, dubbing spinner, dubbing pocker thing, a whip finisher, and I use a scalpel all the time.
As far as other materials look at what you are going to tie and get the best that you can afford. Some say you will save money from tying flies. I am not so sure. I am always buying a few materials here and there because there is another fly that I want to tie. I do save money on the day to day flies that I use.
I would start with wooly buggers, leeches, prince nymphs, hares ear nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, scuds, and egg patterns. Then I would go to renegades, humpies, elk hair caddis, etc...
I am still not very good at complicated dry flies.
I would take your first dry flies to somewhere the trout are not to picky. Like Birch Creek or Warm River.
It is an awesome feeling catching fish on your own flies. There are many good tiers on this forum who can help you more than I can. You are welcome to come see my bench if you want.
I would take a beginners class at Jimmy's Fly Shop in IF if you can.
Windriver
[signature]