Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: Dave Mundie on 07/01/2009 at 18:50
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I'm thinking of starting to tie some fly's, would i be best to buy one of those cheap £20 kits (tools inc) to see how i get on or would i be best getting everything seperatly :?
Dave
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My advice would be to get seperates or go to a shop where they wont rip you off and ask for the essentials to start off!.
All you need IMHO is the following:
Cheapish rotary vice
scissors
Bobbin holder
Whip finish tool - optional
varnish
Hackle pliers
These tools would do for most of the basic flies!
It all depends what you want to start tying dave!
For buzzers all you need is some coloured threads , black, red and tan and some various tinsels.
If you want more details on types of tinsels and threads or hooks let me know :z16
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If you want more details on types of tinsels and threads or hooks let me know :z16
Well i'm a complete noob so all the help i get the better.
What type of flies do i want to tie well i don't really know just want to try and see where it takes me.
I also dont have a clue as to what feathers, fur, hair ect are what
Dave
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I think the best thing to do would be to go to a club or meet up at someones house to learn the basics!
So much to type!
But if you wanted to start of with buzzers or cormorants i could give you a list of materials you would require :z16
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Dave
Tricky one. I would suggest starting with a cheap kit is a good way to get a few bits you will use and lots you wont, however it gives you lots of stuff to experiment with
And thats how we all learn :z16
Cheap vices are good for starting as are cheapo tools, then you can upgrade as you need.
Once you get into the tying of flies then you will start to decide what you want to tie and THEN the slippery slope starts
As you start to buy a bit here and a bit there to make what you want.
I would suggest that perhaps a really good way to start is with something like this which gives you, a good selection of useful materials without to great an outlay
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/33876/Beginner%27s_Material_Fly_Tying_Kit.html
And then you could acquire, beg, steal or borrow some tools or add something like http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/33876/Beginner%27s_Material_Fly_Tying_Kit.html and a vice http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/34073/Super_II_Vice.html then you have some half decent tools as well.
And it looks OK :z16
Or you could go for something like this http://www.lakelandflytying.com/2989/products/Wapsi_Fly_Tying_Starter_Kit.aspx Which also looks like a great way to start tying flies to me.
Its a bit more but looks like it has good stuff in it.
I'm sure there are others out there too, if you try to list all the stuff you would want to start, we will have a different list, best to learn how to tie any old flies first and then you decide where you want it to go.
Sandy
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Where are you based Dave- there may be a club or forum member close by.
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@ Sandy
Yes thats what i was thinking have a muck around with cheap stuff first to see how i get on first and if i get into it i can upgrade as time goes on.
Where are you based Dave- there may be a club or forum member close by.
I'm in Pitmedden, there was a weekly night at the Mastrick community center but i just not been able to get time to make it. Is it still running after the festive period anyone else go to it?
Dave
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Think it starts again tonight. A very good place to find like minds & good tyers who are keen and willing to help. Ask for Kevin.
Peter
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Going into town today so might see what Sommers have on offer.
Dave
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Stick your head around the door at Orvis in Banchory, Ben has/had assembled a beginners outfit for a reasonable price :z16
Could be worth a look :z17
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Stick your head around the door at Orvis in Banchory, Ben has/had assembled a beginners outfit for a reasonable price :z16
Could be worth a look :z17
was away to mention that also!
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Stick your head around the door at Orvis in Banchory, Ben has/had assembled a beginners outfit for a reasonable price :z16
Could be worth a look :z17
Yes it would be but im going to be pushed for time today.
Dave
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Got myself a kit from sommers and a vice/tools now i've to find the time to get going now. :z16
Dave
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Have fun :z16
:z12
Sandy
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Not got anything tied yet :cry cant seem to get my head round this whip finish tool :z8 cant start if i cant finish its a bit frustrating :mad
Dave
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You can use two or three half hitches to finish off if you like Dave :wink
That'll get you started and you can come back to master the whip finish later :z17
Cheers
Mike
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This should help alot Dave
http://copperfly.net/fly_tying_videos.php
Let me know if they are any use :z4
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hey dave the flytying class at the mastrick community center is back on :cool: if you come along and bring your stuff we have alot of experienced people there from expert classic salmon flie tyers to trout bums like me :wink :z4 :z4
clark
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You can use two or three half hitches to finish off if you like Dave :wink
That'll get you started and you can come back to master the whip finish later :z17
Cheers
Mike
Yeh but how do i do them though?
This should help alot Dave
http://copperfly.net/fly_tying_videos.php
Let me know if they are any use :z4
The prob with all the videos i've seen they dont use the same tool that i have (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i283/Allsounds/Fishing/IMG_0180.jpg).
hey dave the flytying class at the mastrick community center is back on :cool: if you come along and bring your stuff we have alot of experienced people there from expert classic salmon flie tyers to trout bums like me :wink :z4 :z4
clark
Its just getting time to get there thats the problem.
Dave
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I hated that tool and never understood how it worked , the matarelli is easy to use :z13
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I hated that tool and never understood how it worked , the matarelli is easy to use :z13
Yep it deffo looks easier.
Dave
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But iam sure if you look on you tube there will be an explanation for that tool somewhere! :z18
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Dave,
I've the same tool - they are all easy when you've seen them used.
I tried to take stills of the process but gave up as I didn't feel that they were as clear as I'd like if I was learning.
I've taken a small video on my camera as my camcorder is giving me gip. Battery is charging - as always when you need to upload, and will post via photobucket real soon.
Iain
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HI Dave
I used a half hitch for years, however i decided to try the tool eventually.
It took me ages to get the knack, but now i wouldn't use anything else.
Hopefully iain's Video works, if not i'll have a go myself and see if it can be demonstrated.
Otherwise it'll require the hands on approach. and a date will need to be set at the Hut :z18
Sandy
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Hope this helps Dave,
not a great quality but it givs you the idea of the twists and turns required.
Iain
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/th_MVI_1398.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/?action=view¤t=MVI_1398.flv)
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Brilliant, Iain :z16
Hopefully, Dave, that will help loads, I wish i had had something like that to try and copy when i learned how to use it :grin
Sandy
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Easy when you know how :z16
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Thats a great vid Iain, Ive always struggled with those damn WhipFinish tool. I always just use my fingers, but now i tend to use the "a few wraps around the dubbing needle handle then over the eye" method. quick and easy :D
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Wow cheers Ian think i got it now will keep practicing though. you better check i haven't worn out your video with the amount of times I've played it.
No other video i found on you tube uses this tool.
Dave
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My advice, for what it's worth, would be to get a biggish hook in the vice and practice on the bare hook till you can whip finish blindfolded almost. then go on to big flies and graduate down in size. When I could see to tie them I used to tie #28 caenis and there was no real problem whip finishing with appropriate thread
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So what is or was your first attempt of a fly dave?
I still have my first one lying about some where and it looks like a shark lure!
Quite funny how your fly box changes over the year as your tying gets better!
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Still remember my first.
It was a Size 10 black spider, Start the way you mean to go on :z4
It was christmas morning, 1984 and i have never looked back :z16
Now thats a memory that makes me feel good :z18
Cheers Baz :z16
Sandy
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My brother was a keen fly tyer and even tied lovely fully dressed Salmon flies @ a very young age, he showed me how tie red seals fur buzzers with peacock herl heads ....back in ?? 1976??
A very basic pattern but it caught me loads and loads of wee trout & I'll wager would still do a turn today.
Iain
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So what is or was your first attempt of a fly dave?
I still have my first one lying about some where and it looks like a shark lure!
Quite funny how your fly box changes over the year as your tying gets better!
Not tied anything yet as i want to master the tying off part first.
Seen lots of tutorials on various flies but don't know if i should copy them for a start till i get the hang of it or just dive in and see what happens.
Would like to get a chance to go to the tying thing at mastrick just to give me some idea of all the things, i mean you read about this and that but what are they, if i was there and they said im going to use bla bla then i'd see them picking it up and know what it was if you know what i mean?
Dave
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Not tied anything yet as i want to master the tying off part first.
Seen lots of tutorials on various flies but don't know if i should copy them for a start till i get the hang of it or just dive in and see what happens.
Would like to get a chance to go to the tying thing at mastrick just to give me some idea of all the things, i mean you read about this and that but what are they, if i was there and they said im going to use bla bla then i'd see them picking it up and know what it was if you know what i mean?
Dave
I do think it would be benifitial to get the the tying @ mastric (this thurs), as you can ask questions also rather than just watching tutorials. As for first fly, I would recommend having a go at a spider pattern.
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Hi Dave,
Why not try this one
Basic Black and green buzzer
Materials required; Hook – Kamasan B110 size 12 (smaller if required) , Black tying thread, Mylar Pearl rib, Flouro Green Floss, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6527.jpg)
Place the hook in the vise - masking the point
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6528.jpg)
Tie in black thread at the eye and extend to the end of the thorax area, remove tag.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6529.jpg)
Tie in the pearl tinsel. Snip the tag of tinsel or if you’re feeling brave make it neater by tying the tinsel in with two or three loose turns of black thread then pull the tinsel towards the hook bend until the butt is level with the 1st of the wraps (no cutting to be done).
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6530.jpg)
Hold the tinsel at an angle and continue wrapping the thread along the hook shank – holding the tinsel at an angle assists the thread being applied with touching turns. Stop the thread about half way around the bend of the hook.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6534.jpg)
Leave the tinsel and return the tying thread up to the thorax area, again in touching turns. Try to ensure that the turns are touching as you are trying to leave a nice even surface of thread for the next step.
Wrap the pearl tinsel up the shank towards the eye. Try to make the wraps nice and ever increasing toward the thorax. Tie the tinsel off at the area that will eventually be ‘under the thorax’. Trim the tinsel , whip finish the thread and snip off.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6539.jpg)
Tie in the Flouro. Green floss at the eye and snip off the tag. Make as nice a head as you can – rugby ball shaped is good. Note that whip finishing with thick floss will increase the head size so you may want to back off a few wraps prior to finishing. Snip off floss.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6542.jpg)
Apply a coat (or two) of ‘Hard as Nails’ ensuring that most of the fluid is wiped off of the brush prior to application as the brush fibers and shaft hold a lot of fluid and you don’t want to spend ages trying to wipe all the excess off.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/goolager/IMG_6548.jpg)
Ok so it's not rugby ball shaped but I'm confident the fish don't mind.
This is not only an easy fly to tie but it is without a doubt a fish catcher and my most productive buzzer
To make things even easier miss out the pearl rib and it’s just as reliable.
Hope this at least encourages you to give things a go.
Tight lines
Iain
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Ian,
Nice step by step will just have to bite the bullet and get started. Not sure but i might make it along to mastick tonight give me a feel for all the various feathers and their names ect.
Dave
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Ian,
Nice step by step will just have to bite the bullet and get started. Not sure but i might make it along to mastick tonight give me a feel for all the various feathers and their names ect.
Dave
Yea just bight the bullet, but its not as easy as it looks lol.
You should come along tonight, Im going. Say hi, I look like my avitar funnily enough.
Cam
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Dave,
Like you I am very impressed with Goolager's video. I have been using a whip finish tool for 15 years or so but there was a twist (no pun intended) in the vid that I had not seen before i.e. trapping the thread under the eye when starting to lay the thread. I will be doing this in future as it will secure the thread before commencing to finish off.
Goolager's suggestion to start on a buzzer is also good advice. I assist at the Stonehaven and District Angling Association fly tyeing evenings and always start new tyers on buzzers as they are straightforward and people can then progress at their own pace. BTW, the next SDAA fly tyeing evening is Mon 2/2/09 at the Community Education Centre (opposite the former St Leonard's Hotel) at 7pm. You are very welcome if you can make it.
Lyall