Got the Fly rod and reel ...

Finesse · 01-10-2008, 02:22 AM

My little guy and Santa surprised me with a fly rod and reel for Christmas

. So now I need to get a hold of some flies…. For Striped Bass and yes those nasty toothy blue ones. My assumption, as with most tackle that’s not “tooth proof”, the later will destroy flies in short order.

So I figured I would give tying a go. Maybe build up a little stock pile over the winter just to ease the image of bluefish wasting and shredding them in seconds.

BUT

Looking around the internet and at a Cabela's Fly catalog I was blown away at all the stuff out there for this style of fishing !!!! a little surprised at what a vise alone might cost, I mean I saw one vise for $600

I know you get what you pay for but WOW

Any Suggestions on starting up here?
Vise recommendations?
Places to buy this stuff?
Materials to start to tie with ?

Deceivers and Clouser’s are what I hear about most …. Any others I “need” to have?

I wanted to do the "fly fish" thing for the new challenge of it ... but after looking around I had no idea how much there was to learn … This could get interesting !!!

CapeMayRay · 01-10-2008, 02:45 PM

I think you will love the fly fishing. I use to be a spin and offshore guy. Tried the flyfishing once and was hooked. It takes a little time and practice but you will get it.

To start with any vise will do. I started with a $20.00 cheapy and was able to make good flies. I use a Renzetti Traveler vise now. After you tie a bit you will know what is good for you. There are lots of good ones out there.

Clousers and Deceivers will do you just fine and catch. I find with saltwater fishing, if you find the fish they will hit a variety of flies and usually are not that picky.

Good luck, looking forward to hearing your progress with both catching and the tying. There are lots of good videos on this site and others that show step by step tying instructions. Plus guys on the board here will answer any questions you might have.

wauwinet · 01-10-2008, 03:35 PM

Tying is as expensive as you make it. Saltwater flies are usually pretty inexpensive as far as materials. Bucktail and saddle hackles are available for a song and a little bit of krystal flash and a few lead eyes and you're in business. Buy a cheap vice, just make sure it has jaws large enough to hold large saltwater hooks. Many of them are geared toward tiny trout flies and will hold nothing larger than a size 2 hook. Also use heavier thread than with trout flies as it's nice to be able to tighten them up a lot.

My basic bluefish fly is a clump of blue bucktail over a clump of white bucktail both tied in right behind the hook eye. Nothing else. No Body, no eyes, no tail.

After you get comfortable, you'll probably want to make some poppers, sliders and palmered hackle flies. The epoxies won't be far behind.

foulhook · 01-10-2008, 10:03 PM

I hear santa makes a pretty nice rod and reel

Cape May and I see tying in the same way. We are more utility then about how fancy we can make them.

Simple. I tie flies that catch fish. Some guys will never use a stick on lazer eye. They will only use jungle cock. You'll see the purists out there.

I love the lazer eyes. I probably don't need them but they make me feel like the fly is complete.

I started even more primative than ray did. I drilled a hole on a picnic table and stuck a pair of vise grips in it to tie my first fies. Any vise will work for now. You can pick some pretty nice ones off ebay for cheap.

In my opinion all you need to tie flies is:

1) Bucktail (assorted colors: Olive, White, Pink, Chartrues, more white, Yellow, red, more white, etc.)
2)Lots of flash ( mostly pearl but I use others from time to time)
3) Super glue
4) Zip Kicker (Super glue accelerator. one of the best things I ever bought)
5)a Bobbin (hold your thread for wrapping)
6)monofiliment thread from walmart .005 size (I buy 5 spools everytime I go)
7) Laser eyes and clouser eyes
8) Good hooks (I prefer the daiichi #2546 sizes 2-5/0)
9) Patience, Patience, etc.

All that will cost you less than $100

You'll be able to tie flies for quite a while with it.

I stopped buying slinky fibers, Feathers of any kind with the exception of peacock, and a lot of the other stuff that cost alot. No reason to make it complicated. the fish see Profile, Size, Color. Thats really it. I use lots of flash in place of feathers now. Here are a couple very simple flies that catch fish for my everywhere I go:

Simple flies catch fish!!

Finesse · 01-10-2008, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the info guys …. Looking forward to giving this a go. I’ve taken a look at Lee’s and Dave’s vids in the past and I’m sure I’ll be watching a few more times.

Foulhook thanks for the list !! and Santa does do some nice work

Thanks again

Please keep the info flowing ….

01-10-2008, 02:22 AM	#1
Finesse I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,057 Credits: 1,714.4	Got the Fly rod and reel ... My little guy and Santa surprised me with a fly rod and reel for Christmas . So now I need to get a hold of some flies…. For Striped Bass and yes those nasty toothy blue ones. My assumption, as with most tackle that’s not “tooth proof”, the later will destroy flies in short order. So I figured I would give tying a go. Maybe build up a little stock pile over the winter just to ease the image of bluefish wasting and shredding them in seconds. BUT Looking around the internet and at a Cabela's Fly catalog I was blown away at all the stuff out there for this style of fishing !!!! a little surprised at what a vise alone might cost, I mean I saw one vise for $600 I know you get what you pay for but WOW Any Suggestions on starting up here? Vise recommendations? Places to buy this stuff? Materials to start to tie with ? Deceivers and Clouser’s are what I hear about most …. Any others I “need” to have? I wanted to do the "fly fish" thing for the new challenge of it ... but after looking around I had no idea how much there was to learn … This could get interesting !!!

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01-10-2008, 02:45 PM	#2
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 934 Credits: 1,616.9 Occupation: Charter Capt.	I think you will love the fly fishing. I use to be a spin and offshore guy. Tried the flyfishing once and was hooked. It takes a little time and practice but you will get it. To start with any vise will do. I started with a $20.00 cheapy and was able to make good flies. I use a Renzetti Traveler vise now. After you tie a bit you will know what is good for you. There are lots of good ones out there. Clousers and Deceivers will do you just fine and catch. I find with saltwater fishing, if you find the fish they will hit a variety of flies and usually are not that picky. Good luck, looking forward to hearing your progress with both catching and the tying. There are lots of good videos on this site and others that show step by step tying instructions. Plus guys on the board here will answer any questions you might have. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

01-10-2008, 03:35 PM	#3
wauwinet Got fish Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 174 Credits: 1,388.4	Tying is as expensive as you make it. Saltwater flies are usually pretty inexpensive as far as materials. Bucktail and saddle hackles are available for a song and a little bit of krystal flash and a few lead eyes and you're in business. Buy a cheap vice, just make sure it has jaws large enough to hold large saltwater hooks. Many of them are geared toward tiny trout flies and will hold nothing larger than a size 2 hook. Also use heavier thread than with trout flies as it's nice to be able to tighten them up a lot. My basic bluefish fly is a clump of blue bucktail over a clump of white bucktail both tied in right behind the hook eye. Nothing else. No Body, no eyes, no tail. After you get comfortable, you'll probably want to make some poppers, sliders and palmered hackle flies. The epoxies won't be far behind.

01-10-2008, 11:22 PM	#5
Finesse I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,057 Credits: 1,714.4	Thanks for the info guys …. Looking forward to giving this a go. I’ve taken a look at Lee’s and Dave’s vids in the past and I’m sure I’ll be watching a few more times. Foulhook thanks for the list !! and Santa does do some nice work Thanks again Please keep the info flowing ….