Fly Tying Materials

What are the must haves for a fly tying kit? All the tools needed, not the materials.?

in addition to a good desk, chair, and proper lighting, I'd start with the following:

1. A vise that will reliably hold the size range of hooks you'll be tying on. Rotary or non-rotary is a personal choice, as is clamp or pedestal base. I'd take a good non-rotary over a cheap (Danica) rotary any day. For a solid, reliable, entry level vise, look at Griffin. Excellent hook holding, made in the US, and superior customer service.

2. A high quality scissor. Serrated blades seem to perform better over time. Anvil is a good, moderately priced product.

3. A cheaper, heavier scissor for rough work. Cutting hair and synthetics wears out good scissors, so use your more expensive set for tasks that require delicate work.

4. At least one bobbin. Ceramic tubes and ceramic inserts are common today, but the standard Matarelli is also a great choice. Tube lengths vary, and tyers have their own preferences. Having more than one bobbin can be convenient at times, but it's not necessary. Also keep in mind that ceramic tubes are somewhat fragile and can be destroyed if dropped on tile or concrete.

5. Hackle plier. Many different styles are available. The "English" style has been in use for generations, but more modern designs are available from Dorin, Thompson, Griffin and others.

The above comprise a pretty basic tool kit. Add the following as you wish.

Whip finisher. Matarelli style or Thompson style, though most go with the former. Whip finishers aren't mandatory, and some tyers prefer to use whip finish by hand or use a half-hitch tool. Either case, a cheap whip finisher will still last the rest of your tying life.

Hair stacker. Evening the tips of natural hair is next to impossible without a good hair stacker. I've used many different products over the years and prefer my Edgin set of stackers. Make sure the size you get is practical for your tying.

Half hitch tool. Sure, you can make your own form a ball point pen, but you can buy a nice brass tool that won't snag your thread for just a couple dollars.

Nail clipper. Use it for cutting lead, tinsel, and wire. Using scissors on these will quickly destroy the blades, so go with a 50 cent clipper instead.

Razor blades. Double edged blades are the standard for trimming spun hair heads and bodies. A pack of 10 blades (20 usable edges) will set you back less than $2. Single edged blades don't work nearly as well.

Hair packer. Necessary for creating tightly packed spun hair bodies, like those seen on bass bugs. Special use tool that not every tyer needs.

Dubbing hook. This is a handy tool for creating dubbed bodies using the "loop" method. Many different styles available, but one is easily made at home if you wish.

Bodkin. Make your own with a large sewing needle.

Bobbin threader. The dumbest tool you can ever pay for. Make your own, or learn to thread without it.

Dubbing teaser. Learn to make your own from a dentist's file or velcro.

Hackle gauge. Don't bother. The hook you tie on is the best gauge.

That should about cover it. Just start with the basics and add what's necessary as time goes on. Most tying tool kits include crappy tools, so buy right (individually) from the start.

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