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Getting started in fly tying is relatively easy and inexpensive. One needs a few good tools, hooks, materials and instructions. Below is a description of such a list of starter items without the fat or hype you are apt to find in some catalog descriptions.
Basic Tools
Vise
Hackle Pliers
Bobbin
Scissors
Bodkin
Accessory Tools
Bobbin threader
Whip finisher
Hackle Guards
Vise To get started the minimum is a decent vise.
The best starters' vise is a lever action vise like our AA vise. Such vises will hold hooks from size 4 to 18 without much difficulty. If one desires to work on the underside of flies often-like streamers, salmon flies and saltwater flies, we recommend a rotary vise. The entry level rotary vise is the Super II. It will hold hooks sizes 4 to 18, sometimes 20. For larger flies we recommend the Challenger vise. It will hold hooks 4/0 to 16.
For more discussion on vises, see Vises.
Hackle pliers hold hackle during tying. The traditional pliers are the Herb Howard pliers. These are available in two sizes- Med for most standard applications and midge for tying the tiny hackle sizes 20 and smaller.
A more modern plier is the non-skid plier. It has a corrugated rubber jaw on one side and a corrugated brass jaw on the other. This plier will work for all applications but the midge hackle and is our favorite type of hackle plier.
Another modern type of hackle plier is the tear shaped hackle plier. By gently squeezing the tear section the jaws open. Then a finger inside the loop to gently spin hackle completes the job.
Bobbin A fly tying bobbin is used to hold thread spools. In days gone by there were at least a dozen varieties. The only survivor is the "spring wire" bobbin. This is the only variety we carry. Our has flared ends to keep the thread from fraying.
Scissors Thin fine tipped scissors are needed to trim thread, trim materials tied on the hook and cut various types of materials for one application or another. Most fly tying scissors are surgical scissors. Materials such as wire, tinsel and other coarse components should not be cut with these delicate instruments. One can purchase a small pair of Fiskars (or the like) for such bulk tasks.
Bodkin The bodkin (or dubbing needle) plats a number of roles. It can be used to put a drop of head cement on a finished fly. It can be used to pluck out dubbing as needed.
Basic took kits may be purchased saving time and money. Fly Tying Vises and Kits
Bobbin threader. Used to put thread through the small tube of a bobbin.
Whip finisher. A tool for finishing of fly head with a finish more durable than the usually used half-hitch.
Hackle Guards. These hold hackles back out of the way during fly head finishing.
Click here to check out our Fly Tying Tools
Hooks see Hooks