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Posts Tagged ‘fly tying’

Cahill Fly Tying Bench

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

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Cahill Fly Tying Bench

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Want to Start Tying Flies Here’s the tools need!

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

So your thinking of tying your own flies well you are just steps away from what I feel is one of the most rewarding hobbies around today. Tying your own flies is not only relaxing and rewarding, it can be a very productive way of putting more fish on the end of your fly line.

To get started you will need some basic tools and like most hobbies as your interest grows so will the supplies and tools you use. For now we will just talk about the basic tools you will need to get started. The following is a list of the basic items you will need to get started.

Fly Tying Vise
Hackle Pliers
Hair Stacker
Fly Tying Scissors
Thread Bobbin
Bodkin and
Whip Finisher

The Vise
Fly ViseOne of the most important parts of your tool kit will be the fly vise when choosing your vise it is imperative that you have a vise that is easy to use and even more importantly that it holds your fly hook securely. Purchasing your fly vise is no where to try and save on your budget I recommend buying a vise of high quality remember you get what you pay for.

Hackle Pliers
Good hackle pliers will hold the feather firmly without breaking off the tips of the hackle. Hackle PliersEnglish hackle pliers are quite reasonably priced They are a good choice for starting to collect your tying tools. Some of they more expensive hackle pliers have revolving handles, a lot like those found on whip-finishers. Pliers with a revolving handle helps prevent the hackle from becoming twisted while wrapping the hackle around the hook.

Hair Stacker
Hair StackerTying the bucktail streamers you will find a hair stacker is essential. A good hair stacker will have some weight to it selecting a brass hair stacker makes good since for this reason, as it will allow you to use less energy when straitening the hair. This is just my personal preference however.

Scissorsfly Tying Scissor
Make sure you purchase scissors that are made for fly tying and watch out for cheap scissors nothing can be more frustrating then trying to trim up your fly while having to fight a pair of scissors that will not cut the delicate materials that you will be using. You can usually purchase a good quality pair of scissors for around $10 to $12 dollars.

Thread Bobbin
Thread BobbinThe thread bobbin is a great tool for holding your thread and makes the wind of the thread around the hook a lot simpler then fighting the thread strait off the bobbin itself. Make sure when purchasing your thread bobbin that the barrel which the thread goes through does not have any sharp edges as this is not a good thing when winding your thread around the hook.

The bodkinBodkin
The bodkin is basically a large needle mounted on to a handle this tool become very useful for separating fine strands of material that you will want to add to your fly, cleaning, arranging and adding drops of cement. You will soon appreciate having this tool once you start fly tying.

Whip FinisherWhip Finisher
This tool helps tie half hitch knots and for wrapping and finishing your fly once you get use to using this tool you will wonder how you ever did without it. If you are just starting out or if you have tied flies before flies you will appreciate this tool.

One of the best ways of getting started is to buy a kit just make sure that it has at least the above mentioned items.

By: rrsmith

Fly Fishing For Beginners

Monday, December 31st, 2007

Fly Fishing GuidebookMore than 2,000 years ago, fishermen noticed insects that were eaten by the fish near the water’s surface. They fashioned rough imitations of those insects on primitive hooks and began catching fish. That was the beginning of fly fishing as we know it today.

The Fly-fishing technique -

From finding fish hideouts to understanding the life cycles of the different insects they eat, along with the other complexities have fascinated fly fishers for thousands of years. To become proficient in the art,  continual fine-tuning is required in addition to studying much about how to select your flies, how to adapt and blend the various materials used in the construction of a fly, how to construct a fly using defined rules in accordance with the state of the sky, the color of the water and the peculiar habits of the fish in different rivers.

You’ll find all the information you need to start fly fishing in ‘Fly Fishing for Beginners’, including getting professional pointers on finding the right stance, and information on the most common casting problems so you can avoid each one! What’s more, you’ll discover the basic equipment requirements for balancing, successful strategies for night fishing, ways to deal with weather constraints and changing water levels, plus strategies for successful lake selection.

‘Fly Fishing For Beginners’ also gives you step-by-step guidance on Tying your own flies, and shows you the tools and materials right down to the best manufacturers and proportions you need.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to hints and tips for all manner of fly fishing situations, as well a tour through some of America’s favourite fly fishing destinations (including
details of particular rivers, what fish you’ll find there and the flies to use).

In ‘Fly Fishing For Beginners’ You will learn:
* The exciting history behind fly-fishing
* Surprising beginner tips, tricks and techniques
* What fly-fishing is all about
* The necessary equipment you need – from flies to rods and accessories
* How to tie your own fly
* Types of casting and common problems to avoid
* The advantages and disadvantages of wet vs. dry fly-fishing
* The best time of day for fly-fishing – so you catch the most fish
* Fly-fishing techniques used specifically for boat or land casting
* The exhilarating practice of winter fly-fishing
* How to plan the perfect fly-fishing excursion
* The best fly-fishing locations – from coast to coast and abroad
* And More . . .

Fly-fishing is, thankfully, a life-long sport you will never outgrow. No, I do not mean that you have to wait years to catch fish! Actually, it may not even take weeks for that matter. It just takes a while to master all the elements. With a little practice, you will soon find yourself on the water hooking a fish!

Fly Fishing Guidebook