Don't buy a fly tying kit.

If you want to stir up a fly-fishing forum, ask how much someone should spend on a vise 1. On the high end, people will brag about their vise that cost more than a car payment. On the other end of the spectrum folks will say that tying on anything... [Read More]

Let’s get the pedantic details out of the way. Thread (and wire and other stuff) is spooled onto a bobbin. You put that bobbin (usually of thread) into a bobbin holder 1 when you tie to keep tension on the thread while you are using the thread to fasten things... [Read More]

When you’ve finished tying up a fly you add a whip finish to keep the thread from unraveling and returning your fly back to a pile of materials and a hook. Some ninja fly tiers can perform a whip finish just using their fingers and it is an awesome feat... [Read More]

So far, the basic tools are “buy it once”. Not so scissors. Consider scissors to be a consumable. Depending on what you cut with them, expect to replace them every couple of years. Choose your birthday as annual “replace the scissors day”. Give you something to look forward to. [Read More]