Can anyone recommend a good starter set for him? I’d hate to think I bought junk, and ruined his experience even more.
Looked at Bass Pro this afternoon, and quite honestly, the vices they have on display are not worth buying. Could be that everyone that goes there plays with the stuff, but they were all was worn out and extremely loose, not to mention with everything fully tightened, the vices still moved around and not tighten all the way. Just looking to spend our money wisely, so I figured I’d learn from someone who has been down this road. That’s why I’m asking.
HDE's Link
Used to tie hundreds of flies and build flyrods from blanks. Used to flyfish every weekend up on the Logan river when I was single and going to college.
bb's Link
Best fly I have ever used in mountain streams is a "grizzly" Adams.
This year I have gotten into Japanese style of flyfishing...tenkara. I have a mini Teton that weighs less than 6 oz and have gone minimalist with my gear. Love it as I can carry my tenkara rod and gear in a small package in my car and have stopped and fished at many places as I drive. Being retired, I don't make plans (especially since the word "premediated" doesn't go well around a courtroom!), so ad hoc fly fishing has been a lot of fun. With the tenkara, I can easily fish from the bank...or take shoes off and wade in the shallows. My neighbor has a nice pond, but fears hooking his Koi, so I have been fishing with hookless flies. Who really gives a damn if one catches fish...it is the act that makes it what it is.
Headed to Jackson, WY in a few weeks and camping at the Gros Ventre campground...which conveniently has the Gros Ventre River flowing. Will be able to fish at least an hour before anyone else gets up. My daughter Carrie's BIL has just opened a fly fishing operation, so I should get some action on the Snake River and other places in the area.
Planning on getting back into fly tying this winter, but need to gear up.
There seems to be a synergistic connection between traditional archery and fly fishing. Just my humble opinion.
I have no doubt he will have a new hobby in no time. He is currently tying stuff up to catch bluegill, bass and crappie. Pretty impressed how he has taken to it. Saw me doing it in Yellowstone last year as he was using spinners and wanted to try fly fishing this year.
Once set up, I’m pretty confident I will be fully stocked with flies. Heck, when I got involved in making wood arrows, he was right there producing his own, along with his younger brother. I figure as long as I keep them busy, it keeps them out of the Bar. HA!!
Terry
My rod of choice is a GLoomis Trilogy 10'6" 5-6wt or a for steelhead 2nd wld be a 10' 7wt St Croix for chuck and duck, an original Scott G series 9' 4wt for river trout and a Lamiglass 3wt for creeks.
For ocean silvers I troll a fly on the surface with a Sage 8wt I also use Single action set ups on the downrigger.
Never got into tying flies, even back in hi school I would pay a classmate 25 cents for Wooly buggers.
Secondly are scizzors. You should be able to find a decent pair for $10-15. Look closely at the tips and make sure they line up and the mating surfaces are uniform. These should be for your fine work ie feathers, thread, tinsel etc, Get a second pair, for hairs and heavier material. No need to spend $150 on scizzors. The stuff you are cutting is not that rugged.
Lastly the third most import is your bobbin. It is important that the throat be smoothe and free of burrs. Again stay away from the cheapies but no need for the expensive one either. $10 should get you in the game with a decent quality bobbin.
Other stuff nice to have but not necessary, waste troll that attaches to vice bobbin threader feather guage hair stacker thread wax (use bow string wax, cheaper and better) clear nail polish or head cement
For starting out, 6/0 Black thread stay with larger hooks and simple flies size 10-14 buy hackle in "100 Packs" grizzly, brown, dun, ginger fur dubbing in grey, hares ear, yellow, olive (green), tan peacock tail feathers (check yardsales and craft stores- much cheaper than flyshops)silver/gold tinsel (silver one side gold the other) mallard and or wood duck flank feathers deer hair patch
That should be able to get him started tying most flies. Pay attention to proportion and think sparse. Most beginners make flies too bulky. A lot of good books and videos out there. Davie Mcphail is extremely talented and has excellent videos of a lot of fly styles +++++.
For starting out, 6/0 Black thread;
stay with larger hooks and simple flies size 10-14;
buy hackle in "100 Packs" grizzly, brown, dun, ginger;
fur dubbing in grey, hares ear, yellow, olive (green), tan;
peacock tail feathers (check yardsales and craft stores- much cheaper than flyshops);
silver/gold tinsel (silver one side gold the other);
mallard and or wood duck flank feathers;
deer hair patch .
Other stuff nice to have but not necessary, waste troll that attaches to vice
bobbin threader
feather guage
hair stacker
thread wax (use bow string wax, cheaper and better)
clear nail polish or head cement
I learned a lot about fishing from my grandfather. Caught my first fish with him on the AuSable. I can remember being about 5 or 6 and I was fishing with him with bait and he would cast the line in for me. The current would pull on the line and I'd tell him that I thought I had a fish. He'd tell me to set the hook and reel it in. Of course, no fish...and he would get me set up again. I learned what patience is from him...one of the greatest gifts one could ever receive.
When I had my grandfather's Redwing on the AuSable, I had one of those "oops...wish I could go back and redo" moments. Using his rod (figure he got it in the late 20's or early 30's), I had his fly folder and in it was one of my early attempts at fly tying that I had done with him at the cabin on the river. Lost that fly and I wish I still had it for the memories. Still...it was lost where it was born. And that, friends, is a good thing.
Dave
I've been tying my own fresh and salt water flies for 30 years with a Renzetti Traveler vise. It's doubled in price since I bought mine, but it's still very reasonable at around $150. Your son will never need another vise. And once he's used a rotary, he'll never want to use a stationary vise. 3 of my fishing buddies started out with cheaper stationary vises. Now, they all have a Renzetti Traveler. I recommend both the C-clamp and pedestal type bases. I've used both depending on the type table I'm tying on.
Renzetti also makes perhaps the best line of scissors, bobbins, and hair stackers available, as well. Dr. Slick is another quality line of fly tying tools. If you buy right, you'll only buy once with most of this stuff.
Tying materials depends largely on what type of fly fishing your son will be doing. My snook, tarpon, and redfish box is completely different than my trout box. I recommend going to a local fly-fishing shop for materials, not Cabelas or Bass Pro. You'll usually get better quality materials and advise at a dedicated fly shop.
I hope this helps, and good luck.
Matt
