Any opinions on this kit? Good buy or keep shopping around? Thanks in advance.
‘Anything’ that gets you into tying is great and, in the end, will cost you a bundle! You will replace most of any kit sooner… or later. Just, do something. There is no ‘best answer’.
I’m not familiar with that kit but I would suggest you compare it’s contents to what Al Campbell reconmends in the beginning tying section under fly tying on the left side of your screen. A good kit should be similar to that.
all leaders tangle; mine are just better at it than most. Jim
Don’t know the kit you speek of but I like the kits that are put together with certain flies in mind. Wapsi has a few different kits to choose from. They have the materials and instructions for specific flies so there isn’t a bunch of stuff in the kit you don’t need. I don’t like the general all purpose tying kits, I feel you get a bunch of junk in them.
Turk
heelerdog,
As JC said. Just buy it and start tying. Once you have gone through the booklet in the kit, check out Al Campbell series on fly tying under Fly tying from the menu on your left. The main thing for you to learn right now is technique. Al’s series will give you a solid foundation for tying. As you go through the lessons and find you have questions, just fire off a thread and you’ll get plenty of help here.
[This message has been edited by TyroneFly (edited 12 June 2006).]
I started with one of their kits…near complete waste of money due to vendor neglect. I wrong a long email to the company spelling out problems (like not including the materials required to tie the flies that are in the included instruction booklet!).
They made a good effort to “make it right” for me, but I sincerely doubt the product got fxed. Most of the problems seemed like the result of various material substitutions done over time when something ran out (or something cheaper was found that enhanced or maintained profit margins).
Use the info Al posted and you’ll be well ahead of the game.
In my opinion you will be better off building your own kit with the help of a local shop.
Ignore the question of tool quality for a moment and consider the range of materials in the kit. The problem is that the kit is made up of generic material that will tie a wide range of generic patterns, anything from a wooly worm to a bucktail streamer to a bass bug. Designed to be marketable anywhere in the world, it will probaly contain materials that you will never use. What good are hooks and feathers that will tie a size 4 bass bug if the trout in your reagion prefer to eat size 18 mayflys?
Your material choices should be influenced by which fish species you are targeting and what kind of water you will be fishing.
Consult a local shop or local chapter of Trout Unlimited and find out what patterns you are likely to need. You can then target your purchases accordingly.
Some of the manufactors (such as Griffin) sell a kit of tools only, letting you choose your own materials. Start simple and build up your inventory as your skills and tastes develop.
As my tying progessed my choice of tools and material has become more specific. Over the years my favorite hook style, vice, bobbin holder and thread type have changed and I find that I have replaced most of my early gear anyway.
[This message has been edited by kengore (edited 13 June 2006).]
What Kengore said. After completing the beginner’s fly tying class at my local fly shop, I asked the owner if he could put together a “starter’s” kit for me. Including a clamp on vise, he set me up for about $100.00 to get started. This included all the materials for the flies I’d tied in my class. Don’t think you can go wrong asking for help from your local fly shop.
I got an Umpqua kit about 10 years ago at Wal-Mart. I think I paid around $20.00 for it. I didn’t have a lot of money back then. I’m still using the vice and the tools it came with. It was money well spent, and paid for itself many times over. They’re great. It didn’t come with the materials to tie EVERY fly you’re gonna want to tie, but for the money, it was a good deal. Of course, I’ve bought a lot of extra materials over time and eventually amassed a respectable work station, but it got me started, and still serves me today. And I caught a lot of fish on the dozen or so patterns you could tie with just what it came with.
I guess it probably comes down to how much you can/want to spend to get started. You can set yourself up with top-of-the-line Griffen Barracuda vises and a $1000.00 fly rod and be in permanent bliss, or, like some of us, you can start with a $5.00 Eagle Claw fly rod combo from a local Pawn Shop, that came with a plastic box of 10 flies, and a Wal-Mart Fly-Tying Kit. They both catch fish and provide endless enjoyment. Basically, you get what you pay for…
I’m just now contemplating upgrading to a Regal Rotary Vise, and my fly rods and reels are now mostly Scientific Anglers. I still have and fish with the Eagle Claw on occaision.
Semper Fi!
[This message has been edited by Gigmaster (edited 14 June 2006).]
Thanks everyone now its as clear as mud. Just kidding. Nearest “fly shop” is about 70 miles away. A friend at work ties so I think I’ll solicit his opinion/help too. I just don’t want to take a screwing, get turned off to tying my own and end up buying my flies for the rest of my life.