Hi Colin,
flytying is one of the most rewarding aspects of fly fishing, I can't remember the last time I bought a fly and doubt I'd buy one in anger again. That said, depending on how far you want to go with it, it can cost you hundreds, even thousands of pounds as you build up your collection of tools, threads, wires, hooks, beads, feathers, etc, etc. for
The good thing is that if you are thrifty and select half a dozen patterns or so that you know you'll use then you can ease yourself in gently with a good success rate. for example if you choose an apps bloodworm, cats whisker, black buzzer, F-fly, damsel & PTN then you have covered a large amount of feeding options with flies that require tying techniques that a beginner will easily master with a bit of practice.
I would go this route over buying a kit which may limit or suggest the patterns that you tie.
Iain
