Fly Tying Kit Selection

[Slip Sinker]

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?

[Jim Ducy]

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

[Slip Sinker]

thanks jim

[dick tabbert]

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.

[Slip Sinker]

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

[Ray Ditzenberger]

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......

[Slip Sinker]

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

so yellow is your favorite color for BGs?

[Ray Ditzenberger]

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.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Great stuff, Ray. What little I've tied, I've found all to be true.
Same with you, Dick. The craft store is great.

[Slip Sinker]

thanks Dave... the craft store does sound like a good place to start

[Slip Sinker]

so what do you guys think of a kit like this ? ... selling on ebay for $48.00

[Earl W Story]

  Very nice and the price is right!

[Slip Sinker]

thanks for your input Earl... bought it NOW! should get it aug 5