Essential Tools
by Dave Cammiss on January 27, 2009
- Vice – Today you can buy an adequate vice for as little as £20, but you can pay hundreds. Buy the best you can afford.
- Scissors – You will need a pair of fine pointed very sharp scissors. Embroidery scissors are good. A good pair should last you for years as long as you don’t go cutting wire with them.
- Bobbin Holder – The early models had no ceramic inserts in the tube and eventually started fraying the threads. It is worth the extra cost to buy ceramic models.
- Hackle Pliers – Basic models are not expensive and will do the job adequately. I still have my original one that my mentor made for me from thick wire, and it still works.
- Dubbing Needle – I still use hat pins. They are handy for cleaning out varnish from the hook eye and applying varnish to the head of the finished fly. You can buy the proper tool cheaply.
- Threader – An indispensable tool for feeding your thread onto the bobbin holder.
- Whip Finish Tool – If you can use one of these then use it. If you cannot , tie off with the traditional double half hitch ( like me ).
- Varnish – You only need clear to start with. Apply with dubbing needle. Very good advice is to remember to put the lid straight back on the bottle when finished.
- Beeswax – Indispensable for dubbing.
- Pliers – A pair of small fine nosed pliers for de-barbing hooks
- Dubbing Brush – Used for raising dubbed hair. Make one easily yourself using an old lollipop stick and glueing velcro to both sides at one end.
Tagged as:
equipment,
essentials,
fly tying,
flytying,
information,
tools
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi Jim RLA
Thanks for your comments.
My vice is a Griffin Patriot Cam. It has done sterling service for several years without problems. I rarely use the rotary facility…….. force of habit to take the hook out and turn it over.
We do hope to get started with vids with fresh patterns just as soon as my hand gets over the op. and I catch up on my backlog of tasks. Even the fishing has had to to take a back seat…….fruits of getting old.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team
Hi Dave
I am just getting back into tying after many years. I came upon your site by surfing around. for supplies and information on new materials, I must say that I keep coming back to your videos to appreciate your work and how simple and uncomplicated you make things look. You make a beautiful fly appear in a graceful and flowing manner. Thanks.
Phil
Florida, USA
Hi Phil
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. Now that my hands are on the mend we are hoping to get a few more vids up in the not too distant future…….. if I can get rid of the accumulation of ‘junk’ in the bunker.
Happy Fishing
DaveC.and the Team
Dave
Sorry to learn about the problem with your hands. I wish you a speedy recovery .
I have tried to find a US source for straggle fritz with no luck. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Phil
Off the internet as follows
http://www.fishingmegastore.com I do buy off them.
http://www.garryevans.co.uk
http://www.ukfishingflies.co.uk
Artifly looks good and available from Anglian Water Tackle Shops
Rutland , Grafham and Pitsford all three reservoirs good for trout fishing.
Hope this helps
DaveC.
Dave
Many thanks for the email and your input on my dubbing question. Am looking forward to some more of your very instructive videos.
Regards
Jon R.
Morning Dave, I turned 50 this year and started fly fishing with my son 4 years ago. Through Youtube I found your site and as a result of being so inspired by your videos, I yesterday made the plunge and bought a vice.I cannot wait to get started on the journey …. Thank you
Lance Smith
Irene, South Africa
Hi Dave
I enjoy fishing for panfish; Bluegill etc. I have had very good luck with the Cap Spider which just uses a 124 ounce jig head hook, some silo legs and a small bit of Chenille.
The legs are placed across the shank then are tied in and flared.
I always have trouble placing and tying the sili legs. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks so much for your wonderful site
Was wandering the web and discovered your site.
Had in the past seen some of youe lessons on various sites.
I too have tied for over 60 plus years startinf in 1942.
Will be using your lessons in my teachings.
I Have an adult class every Monday p.m. for three hours a middleschool class every Wed and it seems a opportunity to get involved at local charities, sporting stores whatever on everyweekend.
Keep up the good work
Jack Neely
Hi David
I was wondering if you can recommend any particular vices or any brands that are well made and good for a beginner to get started.
The site is amazing, really good reading and you make everything seem so easy ! ( i guess i can confirm that when i get all my equipment haha)
Kind Regards
Craig
I’m not Dave but your can get the AA Vice for less than £15 but I recommend the Regent vice for £20, if you’re willing to spend a lot the some vices cos over £100 but for £70 you get a good quality vice, the odyssey spider vice, they’re all stocked at GAC or GAC’s website
Hi David
I fish in the river Derwent in Co Durham, I have just started fly tying having been inspired by your wonderful videos could you recommend flies which you wouldnt be without on river fishing for Brown Trout which I could learn to ty would you use North Country Spiders?
keep up the good work
Colin Churcher
Hello David
I have been looking at your videos for a good long while now and hope you are doing well. I haven’t been tying flies very much lately but im getting back into it again thanks to your videos.
Thanks
i’m in egypt & i want bay this tools how i can
hi dave
i was wondering how to make the hackle flare up when tying it an the hook.
thanks for your wonderful website and videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a beginning fly tier and have found your videos to be very helpful.
They have helped me a great deal in learining technique.
This is as good as a tutor showing me in person how things are done.
Thankyou for your instruction.
As my uncle used to say “hold a tight line.” Good luck.
Regards,
Ed Piggott Prescott Valley, Arizona.
Hi my name is Brendan. I was looking online and I found your videos. I’m starting to learn how to tie flies. What I want to ask about is I live in Washington State and I need a fly for many kinds of fish. What kind of fly should I use?
Thank you,
Brendan B.
Camas, WA
Hi David
Great tutorials! They have really helped me along the way. Just to add to DaveC’s comments, I also use the Fly Tying Company: http://www.flytyingcompany.co.uk. They are not a big concern but what I can say is they are reliable.
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