My 10 year old Cody wants to start tying his own. I have been flyfishing for years, but have never gotten into tying due to many other hobbies.. But he loves fishing
A good pool player is an unmistakable sign of a mis-spent youth (they all say).
But a good fly tier is…somehow just the opposite. I’m sure that’s true.
But I’m not sure exactly why.
Any inexpensive kit would be a good way to start.
But be fore-warned: fly tying is addictive. And it is not cheap.
Saving money is not part of the deal.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started. Many Fly Shops have similar type kits as well
Bass Pro starter tool kit
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_50249_175004005_175000000_175004000_175-4-5
Bass Pro tools and material trout
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_27765_175004001_175000000_175004000_175-4-1
BassPro tools and material bass
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_27766_175004001_175000000_175004000_175-4-1
Cabelas Starter tool kits
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?id=0001059&navCount=4&parentId=cat20534&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20534_TGP&parentType=index&indexId=cat20534&rid=
Cabela’s tools and material starter kits
Good suggestions from Bass Bug, also my local Sportsman’s Warehouse carries a pretty good looking Wapsi beginners kit. If you have one nearby it would be worth a look.
Cliff
DAVE.
PM me your mailing address and I can send some extra Chenille your way. I think I have some Green and Blue.
This is me Paying it forward, others have helped me!
On the main page there is the Fly Tying in the FAOL Index (left side of the screen) you will find Al Campbells Beginners Fly Tying Kit. This is a general roundup of all the stuff that is needed for basic fly tying. Good reference before you go shopping for the stuff.
I still think that Al Campbell’s Beginners Series on Fly Tying is one of the best for starting to dress hooks.
I have extra stuff like scissors, thread, capes, dubbing, floss, hooks, chennile, peacock herl. Just PM me you mailing address, I will see what I can gather up to get that 10 year old started. I will include the FAOL CD of all Fly Tying Patterns on FAOL… it also has the Fly Tier’s Dictionary on Fly Tying Terms. All articles are in PDF so it requires the free Adobe Reader Download on the computer.
The main peice needed is a vise, and these can cost money Griffin is a good vise, so id Danvise. You might make that his main birthday or Christmas Present. Then you can fill in the missing items.
I am sure others will be glad to help out, maybe someone has a griffin vise that they no longer use, because they upgraded. ~Parnelli
I also host the Beginner’s Only Fly Swaps during the Winter Months when you think he is ready.
Dave,
These guys, in your area, offer a tying class. I only did a quick search so there may be others that are available… It is a great way to get a kid started!!!
http://www.steamboatflyfisher.com/fly_tying.html
I have been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful tiers, along the path, and went to school on them…:lol:
PT/TB
Dave, I have a starter vise with a clamp to hold it to a desk or table. PM me your address and I’ll “pay it forward” like epuffer and steven.
Dave, when you get set up with all the good advice above, post a list of materials wanted and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that you can get all the materials you need free from members here! I second the suggestion to stay away from tying kits, the materials and tools are usually inferior. Look at Al campbell’s list and remember you can make many of the tools youself, such as bodkins, fur rakes, dubbing teasers, hair stackers etc from information posted here. Congraatulatons on starting your son on a wholesome lifelong obsession er… hobby. Please PM me or any other member for needs or suggestions, and we will all gladly pay it forward.
Dave,
Welcome aboard! Get that boy going… I don’t have anything I know of that I could forward to you to help you get started right now but I’m looking forward to hearing the progress he makes. Keep us posted and let us help if we can!
When I started tying, Santa Clause brought me the basic tools I needed to get started, after that, birthday, Easter, school year end gifts consisted of material, gift certificates, etc. Not only did I get a great gift, I could wander the hall at the the local shop and ponder my purchase and get what I needed. After 30 years, I am still doing this.
I have a 9-year old who has been at it for about 3 years, a 7 year old for 1 year and a 5 year old who sits on my knee to hold the feathers. Pretty soon I won’t need to tie anymore, just let the production line go at it… I got them a good quality vise and good quality pair of scissors, those are two things I spent the extra on, the rest comes as necessary (most of which is not needed). Even if I didn’t tie, I would pick up materials as needed and stay away from kits.
Enjoy, it is a hobby that will last a lifetime…
You never know, you might get interested also, I have had alot of father and son combos sit at my fly tying table when I teach at the Fish and Game club.
One of those unintended consequences is the interest in the life cycles of the creatures we are trying to replicate. I believe the more you know about the larval and pupa and adult lifes of the insects, tadpoles & frogs, etc., the better tyers you become and the better fisherman you become. If I had been a fly tyer in high school my interest in biology class may have extended beyond the young lady I sat beside. (She was a looker.)
Dave,
Warren sent me a bunch of stuff to get me started, and I’d like nothing better than the chance to pay that forward. PM me your address and I’ll gather up some stuff. I’ve got the old vise he sent me to that I can send. just let me know.
Jason
many folks tell you not to buy a kit but never tell you what to specifically buy.
with all of the negative comments on buying kits, you would think someone would actually put together a basic medium to high quality tool kit (no materials).
non rotary i would look at a vise similar to this one
[http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20534&id=0011423314847a&navCount=2&podId=0011423&parentId=cat20534&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20534&hasJS=true"]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&hasJS=true]([URL)
http://www.jsflyfishing.com/cgi-bin/item/O…-Tyer-Vise.html
for a rotary vise look at this one
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template…&hasJS=true
fortying tools look at these
[http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0018003316853a&navCount=9&podId=0018003&parentId=cat20534&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20534&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20534&hasJS=true"]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&hasJS=true([URL)]
for materials, pick out 5 flies you want to tie, GOOGLE the recipes and buy those materials.
tying lessons at your local fly shop will lessen the learning curve quite a bit.
Dave, am today mailing Cody a starter vise, some tools, and some materials, along with an Orvis instruction book on how to tie six different flies. I hope he has fun! Ron
Thanks to all who have replied, and to all who have offered tools and materials. Greatly appreciated. In return we’ll update stories and pics as we proceed!
Again, thanks, and keep 'em coming.
-Dave and Cody
I’ve been in a lot of different hobbies for a middle aged man and have never found a group so generous with time, information and donations than fly tiers.
I think that Normand is spot on about kits. Many kits just tease you with things that you end up replacing anyhow. They are few that have been tying flies for very long that are using anything that came in their original kits. I think that Kits are the great lie in fly tying. This is one of the exceptions to that rule, but they don’t give them away. It comes with a solid vice that you wouldn’t need to upgrade if you could stay with a non rotary vice: http://www.dyna-king.com/flyvise_dtl.asp?itemval=8&pv=0&pid=083
Here’s some Whiting product that might interest you: http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=46894
2nd, reading the Al Campbell articles.
If you’re not already a member, join you local Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) club. Most of these clubs have great tyers who love to teach, especially teach kids. Also, try to bring him to a couple of FFF EXPO’s or Conclaves, where you’ll both learn a tremenous amount in very short time from great group of tyers.
Cody: I was going to post this as a personal message, but your in box is full, so I was unable to send the below message…
I have had a string of incidences that have delayed me with the shipment, I apolizie for not getting back to you in a timely manner. I will start packing up useful fly tying materials this coming week for shipment. ~Parnelli
Dave & Cody, e-mail me your ship to address and we will make sure he gets good hackle to tie with.
