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Fly Tying Kit Selection

i am new to fly fishing just about 3 weeks into it. ive been buying packaged foam spider that after less than a day of fishing these things need repair. eventually i would like to tie my own. now ive seen kits as low as 18 dollars on ebay but are they sufficient? what should i be looking for?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Ducy on July 30, 2013 at 8:36am

If you look up Regal Vises and see what they look like, there are imported knock offs that sell for between $25 - $40 that

work fine for a beginner. Look on You Tube for tying Cap's spider that is a great place to start. Fishin'Jimmy

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on July 31, 2013 at 10:06am

thanks jim

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on July 30, 2013 at 10:35am

Ken if you have your vice and a few tools the most expensive thing on spiders is the hook. You can get cut out spider at the fly tying shops or be really cheap like me and buy sheet foam at your favorite hobby store and cut out your own which is where I buy lots of my stuff.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on July 31, 2013 at 10:06am

thanks Dick... just ordered my hardware today.. going to watch a few more vids on youtube.

Permalink Reply by Ray Ditzenberger on July 30, 2013 at 11:27am

If you go to my page you will see a yellow spider that I make out of craft foam. One sheet of foam will probably last me at least 10 years. As was suggested before the most expensive aspect is the hook and I use cheap Aberdeen gold hooks in size 10 mostly. Get some tying thread in your choice of color, craft foam in any color as long as it is yellow, and just tie up a storm. Make you up a couple dozen and unless you are careless you will have enough to last at least a couple seasons. You can buy leg material at a fly shop or you can find an old bungie and cut it open and you will find enough leg material for several years. I found mine along the road while on a bike ride.

I would suggest a moderate priced vise like a Danvise or something similar and a thread bobbin and a decent pair of scissors. If you want to get fancy on the spiders you can put a wrap of real small chenille on the shank to color match or contrast but I usually just wrap the hook shank with thread. Get some 6/0 uni or similar of another brand. I sometimes will put a little C/A glue on the thread before tying down the body but I doubt it matters much and the BG just love them and they will last for many many fish. I usually loose them before they tear up. They are easy and fast to tie as well as cheap. I make the small poppers out of craft foam also but the spiders work better IMHO and much less work and less tying materials are needed......That reminds me, I need to tie up a few......

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on July 31, 2013 at 10:03am

thanks Ray ... just ordered a hardware kit from ebay waiting for aug 5th for delivery

so yellow is your favorite color for BGs?

Permalink Reply by Ray Ditzenberger on July 31, 2013 at 12:30pm

I have not found that one color of spider is any better than the other and yellow is easy for this ole man to see. White blends in with the foam and dark colors just blend in too well. It is just easiest for me to see.

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on July 30, 2013 at 4:01pm