My fly tying set-up

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Haven`t posted for a while, so I thought I`d share some of my limited knowledge with anyone thinking of taking up fly tying. I think the biggest mistake I made was buying a "complete" tying kit, lots of lovely material that I`d never use. A good idea is to make a list of the flies you want, google the fly and note the material you need. This is the set-up I`m using:-

First thing you want is a non-slip mat,that one cost me £3.00 in TK Maxx, to stop everything moving about. For drying flies once you coat the head in varnish, I bought clips on ebay and made the holders myself, easy to do. The vice I got on ebay for £20.00. good one for starting is a regent lever release, I still use the first one I bought.

I used a fast cutter bit for the varnish bottles, and deeper holes to hold the tools. The black strips front and back are bits of magnetic tape to hold hooks, saves going in and out of hook boxes.

It`s important not to skimp on scissors, they`re the most used tool you`ll have

Bobbin holders, Ilike to have about 4 saves time not having to change thread.(worthwhile checking the nozzles for nicks every so often, as they will snap the thread under tension.

most of the thread/silk/floss, I use about 8 colours, then shades of.

Hooks, I use 2 types Kamasan and an ebay dealer Royds, both excellent.

Two things I found recently, the use of mohair wool, great for dark olives and saves dubbing on some flies. Copper wire for ribs, cut 8" lengths and bare the wire as in pic, then pull out a strand for ribbing( I reckon at that length, 1 strand will rib 3-4 flies).

This is a Curver air tight box £25.00 from John Lewis`s, for materials, worth every penny. So this is my set-up,

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Large ribbed Dark Olive

Daddy (dry)
Red Ribbed Spider

Green Pennel

Gold head tied with mohair wool

LDO tied with mohair wool

Damsel fly (work in progress, still can`t get it right)
With the exception of the Damsel, the rest are flies I use most of all on the river



Peter

[Baz T]

Interesting post, Peter, and most helpful to those thinking of trying their hand at tying their own. I love the photo's of the flies too - they look excellent. The dark olive was one of the flies I used regularly as a lad on the Glazert (and greenwells glory - if thats the right spelling/name - or if all else failed a size 20/22 black midge, though dont think my eyes would be good enough nowadays to handle flies and hooks that small - lol).

[Mark78]

Great post ,very helpful especially as i'm a novice fly tyer, great flies too.

[ConnorW]

Thanks Dubbed another helpful post . I agree with not buying a starter kit theres a blot in mine i dont think i will use

[fish4life85]

Nice set up you got there mate,

I started up my collection in december I borrowed the tying tools off my dad which he prob wont ever get back .
I tend to buy materials for the flies im tying, tho the only tackle shop near me that sells fly fishing stuff dont have half the stuff in .

Ps Im being cheeky now but if anyone that wants to give this poor lad some stuff they dont use ill be happy to take it off your hands
mitch

[flyman]

I Pete another great thread,
looks like you got a great set up and nice and tidy.
Im banished to under the stairs as you can see,

A bit of a mess so had a little tidy up before starting to tye tonight.

i find the mug holder great for hanging your tools off, another little tip the are the
zipped folder bags great for your capes or furs to keep the moths away i get mine from
wilkinsons .

[Maddison_Twatter]

nice setup , how long did it take to build up that lol ?

[Baz T]

Nice little corner to while away the hours tying some flies away from the missus and/or kids! I built myself a nice little computer room under the stairs. Boxed it all in, put a door on it, got it all set up with pc, speakers etc - great playing online shooters in the dark under the stairs - until she decided it would be better used as a coat and shoe cupboard - so I now have a small corner in the living room for my pc! To be fair, I nicked the "old" coat and shoe cupboard which then became vacant, and use it for all my fishing rods/reels/gear, so at least I got something out of it.