Quote:
Originally Posted by dmac111
Spent sometime last night organizing all the flies I have purchased over the last two years... I would say I probably have $500-$600 worth of flies. I enjoy buying them because I have two young boys and time is tough to find sometimes. But my wife pointed out something last night and basically gave me the green light. She said "you spent about two hours organizing flies, why don't you find that time and tie your own?".
Sounds like a green light to me.
All of you who tie seem like you know a lot. What would be a good starter kit to purchase? Something basic to see if I can find the time, and to see if I enjoy it? I'm sure I won't be the only one jumping into this.
Any advice would be appricated.
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2 ways to go... start with a kit, knowing that if you really "get into it" that you likely will be upgrading some of it; or start with where you might end up anyway with better quality stuff. I started a few years ago with a $50'ish Cabela's kit, which had everything I needed for tools to start doing some basic flies. I slowly started to get some better tools (bobbin almost immediately, then eventually a stacker & hackle pliers). This year I upgraded my vice to a nice Renzetti rotary, and have added lots of other tying gizmos along the way. Even though I now recognize how mediocre the vice in the kit is, I don't regret starting there as it was a good way to try things out for minimal investment. I still use several of the tools I got in that kit.
You can find an inexpensive intro kit at any of the big box stores or online. Not sure if any of the fly shops carry such beasts, as I think their market is more for upper end stuff. Minimally, you will need a vice, scissors, bobbin, whip finisher, hackle pliers, and a hair stacker. Consider where you will do most of your tying, as that may dictate if you need to have a vice with a base and/or c-clamp.