Things I wish I knew before starting Fly Tying 

Good job. Its summer of 2024 and suddenly fly fishing is on the uptick. Myself have rejoined the fray and tieing is part of it. I had forgotten the fun it is. Thats why i used to fish...to have fun. Tieing? Completely satisfied every time i try and do. Every point you made is a truth that i have experienced. Thanks!

Also, because tying is expensive, support your local fly shop and try to get your materials from them instead of going on line. You’ll make friends and you’ll have a place to take your flies and questions if you need help.

I have about 40 yr of fly tying materials collected ! The countless hours of enjoyment it gave me is priceless imo . I never looked at it as saving money from buying flies. The amount of hours I spent playing with different materials , developing new tying methods and new flies is what it’s all about. Over the years for every one fly I developed that turned out to be a killer pattern there were a lot more that weren’t ! To me that’s what makes it fun. My learning was all before the internet and RU-vid videos. Trial n error. Today however I can see any fly that catches my eye and tie it pretty much without having to run to a fly shop for those materials! lol

Great information! I'm just starting my fly tying adventure. I inherited my father's collection, which has flies that my grandfather tied in the 1930's. Can't wait for the next installment.

In the late 1980's I wanted to get some caddis fly larvae flies for summer steelhead. When I went to the local fly shoppe the store owner talked me into taking a class and buying a few beginner tools and an inexpensive vise. Roll forward two years I was tying daily, buying nicer equipment, and started a business tying flies. Truthfully I could never get the costs down to compete against the ladies of Taiwan. I eventually turned those fly patterns into earrings and stick pins, all the while draining my bank account. One fateful day I stopped tying, took a paying job, and never looked back. It was fun, but for all the money I spent on equipment and tools could have bought a lot of life's necessities, and a few nice flies.

Thanks for the great advice. Tying can be part of fly fishing. But it can also be seen as a separate hobby. And hobbies tend to cost money, not save it. I started tying during the pandemic shut down and went as simple and cheap as possible just to see how I'd do. I practiced techniques with sewing thread, yarn, feathers I found in duck ponds, Christmas tinsel, and unraveled craft twine. I made my own bobbin and used a pair of vise grips as my tying vice. I cut materials off lots of hooks and started over till I like the results. And I tied, or tried to tie, every pattern I could think of. From trout to tarpon. I found i really enjoyed tying and started getting legit tools and materials. And like you pointed out, knowing what you need and don't need is helpful when you go in to a fly shop. Don't know if this approach would work for others. Not a huge list but so far I've caught sun fish, and large and small mouth bass on the flies I've made.

All very good subjects were mentioned here for starting out.

It's the best decision ever! Easily worth the time, money, and any frustration you have along the way. You will learn and you will love fly-fishing even more.

Excellent tips! I’ve fallen into the black hole regarding materials. Being organized and knowing your inventory WILL save you a bunch of cash!

things I wish I knew, 1st how to properly put a hook in my renzetti vice, what is too tight, and what is too loose. 2nd how to find cheaper materials, 3rd how to organize things so they dont end up all over the place.

I'm just starting to learn how to tie my own flies. I'm part of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, it's for disabled veterans, I'm learning a lot from them.

I’ve been tying 30+ years and find it very satisfying to catch fish on flies I’ve tied . Tying is not just about tying it’s about being creative and it gives you a better understanding of the insects and other food’s fish feed on . Unfortunately it also turns into an addiction you tie nymph’s, dries , emerges , cripples, bait fish , trout Spey soft hackles, intruders and the list goes on and then you get to salt water , crabs , shrimp and all the rest and the next thing you know you have a room dedicated to tying with closets full of all your materials not to mention fly boxes full of flies . My wife asked me once , since you tie thousands of flies what do you think it actually costs you per fly ? Ya know I had to think about it , and to my chagrin I figured about $300 per fly . Oh well enough of that , I have to run to the fly shop and pick up some lady Amherst and Jungle cock . Thanks for the video and remember to support your local fly shops .

Well done with the video.

So I always enjoy your reviews on DPReviewTV but now, you're talking about the second greatest things in the world. Fly tying and fly fishing. Bravo

Some great tips there, some made me giggle as I thought of the piles of unused materials and flies that didn't work. The greatest tip though is the one about the thread. 8/0 uni will make you cry every time you hit the point of the hook. I haven't used Nano Silk yet, will give that a try but Veevus GSP in 50d and 100d feels like it changed my life. You can just about tow a car with the stuff and it hardly builds up excesss body. Sounds like Nano Silk is the same. Makes a huge difference on small flies. Thanks for sharing.

I haven't tied flies in years, but I do plan on getting back into it as I get closer to retirement age. The last time my basement flooded I lost all of my hooks and threads, as well as a fair amount of materials. I haven't had the extra money, or time, to replace the lost items. At the time I was amassing my collection I was employed in the retail fishing industry, but now that I work elsewhere the hooks I prefer ( Tiemco, Partridge and Daiichi) have gotten quite expensive. I probably lost about $1,000 worth of hooks and threads in that flooding.

Hi Chris, what a surprise to find you whilst searching for fly tying(and not cameras😉)! Well, atleast to me. Always a joy watching your videos! Thank you

Spot on brother!

Great advice in this vid.

This is super helpful. Thank you!

Great tips thanks

I'm sure you'll cover it but I'd like suggestions on the best barbless hooks, beads and uv resin-related materials we should consider. Also desk lamp/magnifyers. Great video!

So weird to see your face there, as I follow the Dpreview podcast.. Funny how RU-vid works.. Keep up the good work!

This should have been the very first thing said. Pick 2 or 3 patterns you like and fish and learn to tie those first and just buy the materials for those specific flies. It will save you a tremendous amount of money and confusion and unless they are crazy intricate patterns you will get better with flies you already fish and so losing them wont matter as much.

I am a commercial tyer. Well said and well done.

Good stuff. I started tying a few months back. Had a feeling my bobbin was sh!t.

I agree on all accounts

Can we talk about waders? Boots and this kind of gear? I’d love a deep dive into it

Thanks.....Would love to know what camera gear you usually have in your bag streamside.🙂

Please cover vises, scissors and the differences in dubbing.

Tying for 35 years, respectfully my tips are (1) try to find a tying partner who will share the cost of materials, you’ll save a lot of money and not accumulate materials that you’ll never use up. For example, good necks are about $120 I have at least 15-16 none are close to being used up. On that note find a flyfishing club you can donate excess material to someone will greatly appreciate it. 2) use what you have. you don’t need a the latest and greatest pair of scissors, bobbins etc every other year. (3) I live in Ca. and I purchase 99 % of all my gear and fly tying materials from out of state fly shops because I fish in the Rockies, Mt.,Co,Ut, Wy NM, and Idaho so I choose to support shops in those states. Occasionally, If I’m passing thru a city in Ca. (2 that I know of) that has a fly shop I’ll stop in and buy a few hooks,beads things like that to show some support. Thanks for the video.

This video is too late for me. I have made every one of those mistakes and it’s way cheaper to buy at the fly shop,but way more fun fishing the flies that you make. I also really enjoy giving away flies to friends and strangers. I’m elderly and sometimes ask for help, then they definitely get streamers.

The best advice i can give anyone bying thread is dont spend £10 on two rolls of UTC thread and buy it off Temu instead . Its called Royal Sissi and its £3 for two rolls and jist as good as Utc.

I spent over $800 on fly tying tools and materials. I've tied a dozen deceivers that look like ass that I could have just bought for 30 bucks. 😂😂

“i’m gonna save money” haha exactly, Nope

Make sure you sell plenty of nano silk. It will dull scissors quickly. Great way to sell a lot of overpriced scissors. 😂😅

I just couldn't leave you at 666 just remember kids big fish eat big fly's they'll also eat everything else

Don’t take offense to this, but you look like the kid from Six Sense movie… lol