skiextreme19
New member
I am starting to get into fly tying and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on places to get affordable fly tying materials such as thread, lead wire, yarn, hackle, etc.?
Give us a try!
Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!
Affordable Fly Tying Materials
- Thread starter skiextreme19
- Start date
MONSTER BROWN
New member
Depending on where you live Cabela's is good. Do a search on google for fly shops in your area . It's nice to support your local fly shop. Or if you like to do your shopping online,there are many places to purchase tying materials ebay and the like also a ton of online fly shops.
eddavidson9
how's that for a slice of fried gold
j stockard is reasonable.
dont be afraid to use random things you have/find laying around, in craft stores, etc. many "fly tying materials" were adapted from other uses.
dont be afraid to use random things you have/find laying around, in craft stores, etc. many "fly tying materials" were adapted from other uses.
leakywaders
I like anything with rubber legs!
I think Tight Lines off Rt 46W in Pine Brook has a great selection and his prices are competitve. I always try to support the local shop whenever possible. Stop in a take a look around and Drew or John will always be willing to share their tying knowledge with you and have you tying rihgt there in the shop.
HooliganTroutBum
Lasciate ogni speranza voi che entrate
If you have to go online, there's a few standouts, that most may agree with.
For best bang for the buck quality natural CDC:
TroutHunter
Blue Ribbon Flies: Best Hare and bird skins if you are buying hare for compara duns be sure to tell them what size you will be tying and for what insect.
Blue Ribbon Flies \\ Merchandise \\ Fly Tying
As a beginner myself, it can easily get out of hand, if you let loose. It also depends on what you want to tie, as well. If you can find a few materials that can cover a few different flies, you're good. I try and support the "local" as much as possible, but if they don't carry something, they may be kind enough to bring it in.....at least a proper fly shop should/would do so. I use eBay and put up bids for hooks. I set a price and leave it. If I win, cool. If not, oh well, off to the fly shop.
For best bang for the buck quality natural CDC:
TroutHunter
Blue Ribbon Flies: Best Hare and bird skins if you are buying hare for compara duns be sure to tell them what size you will be tying and for what insect.
Blue Ribbon Flies \\ Merchandise \\ Fly Tying
As a beginner myself, it can easily get out of hand, if you let loose. It also depends on what you want to tie, as well. If you can find a few materials that can cover a few different flies, you're good. I try and support the "local" as much as possible, but if they don't carry something, they may be kind enough to bring it in.....at least a proper fly shop should/would do so. I use eBay and put up bids for hooks. I set a price and leave it. If I win, cool. If not, oh well, off to the fly shop.
Last edited:
jcstikfish
NJ Nymph Guy
If your ordering from NJ, J Stockard is where it's AT. They are in CT, so if you order early enough in the day, you often have your order next day with standard shipping. Good prices, no NJ sales tax, very large inventory, rewards program, etc.
They also having monthly specials and promotions. Never a bad experience.
JS Fly Fishing: Rod Building Supplies, Fly Tying Materials
~James
They also having monthly specials and promotions. Never a bad experience.
JS Fly Fishing: Rod Building Supplies, Fly Tying Materials
~James
A few suggestions:
But good materials - cheap materials can be more trouble than they are worth in the long run.
Really, really think about the flies you will tie and buy only those materials. If you keep to a handful of patterns that you use all the time fly tying can be inexpensive. Where it gets costly is in trying every pattern you hear about in all sorts of sizes and colors. Then you will have a roomful of materials in no time (which all of us can't resist).
For example, you can tie simple and effective pheasant tails with thread, pheasant tail, beads, and hooks (no wire rib, no hackle, no legs, no thorax, no wing case) fairly cheaply. Once you add ribs, peacock or fur thoraxes, wingcases with sparkle, rubber legs, hackle, CDC legs, CDC or Antron emerging wings, etc the materials you need go through the roof. Keep it simple to save money. Zebra midges are another simple cheap fly that catches lots of fish.
Dry fly hackle necks are an expensive item. Maybe at first for dries you can go with comparaduns/sparkle duns which use deer hair (another plug for Blue Ribbon Flies - best deer hair I have seen) or Usuals, which need snowshoe hare feet and buy your hackled dry flies. If you end up with a bunch of different colored dry fly necks you will have spent a lot of money.
Keeping it inexpensive takes more discipline than I have - good luck.
But good materials - cheap materials can be more trouble than they are worth in the long run.
Really, really think about the flies you will tie and buy only those materials. If you keep to a handful of patterns that you use all the time fly tying can be inexpensive. Where it gets costly is in trying every pattern you hear about in all sorts of sizes and colors. Then you will have a roomful of materials in no time (which all of us can't resist).
For example, you can tie simple and effective pheasant tails with thread, pheasant tail, beads, and hooks (no wire rib, no hackle, no legs, no thorax, no wing case) fairly cheaply. Once you add ribs, peacock or fur thoraxes, wingcases with sparkle, rubber legs, hackle, CDC legs, CDC or Antron emerging wings, etc the materials you need go through the roof. Keep it simple to save money. Zebra midges are another simple cheap fly that catches lots of fish.
Dry fly hackle necks are an expensive item. Maybe at first for dries you can go with comparaduns/sparkle duns which use deer hair (another plug for Blue Ribbon Flies - best deer hair I have seen) or Usuals, which need snowshoe hare feet and buy your hackled dry flies. If you end up with a bunch of different colored dry fly necks you will have spent a lot of money.
Keeping it inexpensive takes more discipline than I have - good luck.
HooliganTroutBum
Lasciate ogni speranza voi che entrate
Nice to know about the shipping. Good look. Never knew they were from CT.....well never bothered to look.
HooliganTroutBum
Lasciate ogni speranza voi che entrate
Learned that one fairly quickly.
:rofl:Easier said than done, pal.
Agreed. I've been tying a few PT versions that have worked well. You really can't go wrong in 1st learning this fly in it's traditional form as Frank Sawyer tied it. Like, Jeff, says the "devil is in the details". I've only recently been tying the legs in and have done quite well without. It should, since it's tyed close to the original style. The PT Nymph is a versatile fly in itself. Yet another variant of it wouldn't hurt.
Just in case you all forgot what the original PT Nymph looked like and how it was tyed:
YouTube - Pheasant Tail por Oliver Edwards
Midges are also seemingly limitless in their design, make up, and crush fish.
Good luck in corraling yourself, is right. :thumb:
Last edited:
I would recommend the Whiting Hackle Co-op as a good way to get yourself started with a variety of very good quality dry fly hackle. Its about $50 for six packages of quality dry fly hackle in six different colors. There are mixed sizes in each package. Here's how they describe it:
"Basically Whiting Dry Fly Saddles are plucked and divided amongst the participants. For each grouping to which you subscribe, you will receive a very generous package of hackles in the colors presented. Each pack is well in excess of Whiting's own popular 100 Packs. Select individuals (pluckers) will do the dismantling and packaging of the feathers and they will then be distributed among all the participants."
I bought a their midge package a couple of years ago and was very happy with my purchase. I just looked at the site and it looks like their not offering the midge package right now, but if you need the smaller sizes it wouldn't hurt to inquire.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
"Basically Whiting Dry Fly Saddles are plucked and divided amongst the participants. For each grouping to which you subscribe, you will receive a very generous package of hackles in the colors presented. Each pack is well in excess of Whiting's own popular 100 Packs. Select individuals (pluckers) will do the dismantling and packaging of the feathers and they will then be distributed among all the participants."
I bought a their midge package a couple of years ago and was very happy with my purchase. I just looked at the site and it looks like their not offering the midge package right now, but if you need the smaller sizes it wouldn't hurt to inquire.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Rookie... .
Understand what the prices are at fly shops, on-line catalogs, and eBay.
All my Uni-thread, tinsel, mohair, stretch.. all were purchased on eBay from this one vendor.
The other's could not touch his prices.
Hackle is tough to purchase on-line. I like to look and inspect it.
Bobbins.. and other tools.. no problem.
KNOW WHAT THEY COST at the other sources before purchasing.
Also have to figure in sale tax and shipping.
All my Uni-thread, tinsel, mohair, stretch.. all were purchased on eBay from this one vendor.
The other's could not touch his prices.
Hackle is tough to purchase on-line. I like to look and inspect it.
Bobbins.. and other tools.. no problem.
KNOW WHAT THEY COST at the other sources before purchasing.
Also have to figure in sale tax and shipping.
kyflytyer
New member
Hopefully, you have a fly shop or two in your area which you can support. If you are like me, though, and the closest fly shop is 2 hours away, you will end up getting a lot of materials (95% in my case) online or through catalogs. I have dealt with many, many companies over the years and, in my opinion, the following 4 are among the best. All 4 publish excellent catalogs which you should get and keep by your tying bench.
1) J. Stockard Fly Fishing - one of the largest selections of fly tying materials in the world and excellent customer service. JS Fly Fishing: Rod Building Supplies, Fly Tying Materials
2) Feather-Craft Fly Fishing - a large selection of tying materials with many hard-to-find items. Great Catalog. Feather-Craft Fly Fishing | Fly Fishing Rods, Reels, Waders, Flies, Fly Tying Materials | Sage Rods | Simms Waders | Since 1955
3) Angler's Workshop - great selection and great service. Great catalog. Angler's Workshop - Fishing Rods, Reels, Rod Building and Fly Tying
4) Stone River Outfitters - a good selection of materials. Especially strong in high-end tools and salmon fly materials. Stone River Outfitters - Fly Fishing Tackle and Fly Tying Supplies
I have dealt with all of these companies for many years and you can't go wrong with any of them. I hope this helps.
Also, here is a link to the Whiting co-op mentioned in an earlier post: http://www.linesend.com/product/whiting_coop.shtml
1) J. Stockard Fly Fishing - one of the largest selections of fly tying materials in the world and excellent customer service. JS Fly Fishing: Rod Building Supplies, Fly Tying Materials
2) Feather-Craft Fly Fishing - a large selection of tying materials with many hard-to-find items. Great Catalog. Feather-Craft Fly Fishing | Fly Fishing Rods, Reels, Waders, Flies, Fly Tying Materials | Sage Rods | Simms Waders | Since 1955
3) Angler's Workshop - great selection and great service. Great catalog. Angler's Workshop - Fishing Rods, Reels, Rod Building and Fly Tying
4) Stone River Outfitters - a good selection of materials. Especially strong in high-end tools and salmon fly materials. Stone River Outfitters - Fly Fishing Tackle and Fly Tying Supplies
I have dealt with all of these companies for many years and you can't go wrong with any of them. I hope this helps.
Also, here is a link to the Whiting co-op mentioned in an earlier post: http://www.linesend.com/product/whiting_coop.shtml
Last edited:
Bamboozle
Smoking & drinking at a creek near you!
Based on the fact you mention the Jordan Creek in your profile, I would start by taking a drive to Cabela's in Hamburg to LOOK at the staples you mention. Cabela's pricing is as good or better than most fly shops if cost is a big factor. Don't buy a lot because you will soon discover other brands and options, especially when it comes to thread.
You can also find a lot of non-fly tying specific materials at craft shops like JoAnn or Michael's while flea markets, yard sales, hunters & taxidermists can hook you up with fur & feathers.
Angler's Pro Shop in Souderton has an interesting selection of closeout and bulk materials you can't find in most shops. He used to have a great selection of saddles and chenille in big bins as well as plenty of thread & wire. Just make sure to CALL FIRST before going despite the hours posted on their website.
The better fly shops like the Evening Hatch & AA Outfitters up the road in Carbon & Monroe have a great selection, but I don't know if "affordable" is a term I would use when describing their inventory.
FWIW - L.L. Bean in Center Valley, the Little Lehigh Fly Shop and Sporting Lifestyle in Allentown are hardly worth driving to.
Good luck!
You can also find a lot of non-fly tying specific materials at craft shops like JoAnn or Michael's while flea markets, yard sales, hunters & taxidermists can hook you up with fur & feathers.
Angler's Pro Shop in Souderton has an interesting selection of closeout and bulk materials you can't find in most shops. He used to have a great selection of saddles and chenille in big bins as well as plenty of thread & wire. Just make sure to CALL FIRST before going despite the hours posted on their website.
The better fly shops like the Evening Hatch & AA Outfitters up the road in Carbon & Monroe have a great selection, but I don't know if "affordable" is a term I would use when describing their inventory.
FWIW - L.L. Bean in Center Valley, the Little Lehigh Fly Shop and Sporting Lifestyle in Allentown are hardly worth driving to.
Good luck!
Petergoodman
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
As Jeff noted before, tho decide what you want to tie first. The magazine articles are cool, and it is easy to run out and buy what you need to tie a fly. But do you actually need that fly? Do they even have that bug in the rivers you fish? Dave Hughes has written that he has significantly cut down on the sheer number of patterns he carries. I am as guilty as the next, and like a kid seeing shiny, pretty things never walked out of a fly shop without something.
But if I were on a budget, and starting out...as fas as nymphs, nearly anywhere a Hares Ear and Pheasent Tail will do fine - so besides hooks and some gold beads, buy a package of hares ear dubbing (or simply a hares mask), a pheasent tail, some gold and copper wire, and you are set. Dries - elk hair caddis is pretty basic, so get some elk hair, probably bleached to start. Dubbing - get beaver or synthetic in tan, olive and cinnimon. Some tie with hackle, some do not - if you want, get a Collins grizzley saddle or neck. Mayflies - get deer hair in a medium dun color for comparaduns - worry about hackled flies later. You will need some more dubbing, but by as you need depending on what is hatching (why buy sulfer dubbing when it will be 6 months until the sulfers hatch?) - on top of the other colors above, get grey, rusty brown and cream. Ok, maybe sulfer yellow. Get a single package of microfibrets in medium dun for tails, and maybe a package of brown or amber zelon for shucks on sparkle duns. Definitely get a snowshoe rabbit foot in natural - need to color it? Use a waterproof marker. The most versitile thing you will buy. Finally thread - get 6/0 white, black, tan, and brown, and 8/0 in olive cause these bugs are smaller. With the above you may not be able to tie every fly in the books and magazines, but you will be able to tie any fly you need to catch trout in the NE.
But if I were on a budget, and starting out...as fas as nymphs, nearly anywhere a Hares Ear and Pheasent Tail will do fine - so besides hooks and some gold beads, buy a package of hares ear dubbing (or simply a hares mask), a pheasent tail, some gold and copper wire, and you are set. Dries - elk hair caddis is pretty basic, so get some elk hair, probably bleached to start. Dubbing - get beaver or synthetic in tan, olive and cinnimon. Some tie with hackle, some do not - if you want, get a Collins grizzley saddle or neck. Mayflies - get deer hair in a medium dun color for comparaduns - worry about hackled flies later. You will need some more dubbing, but by as you need depending on what is hatching (why buy sulfer dubbing when it will be 6 months until the sulfers hatch?) - on top of the other colors above, get grey, rusty brown and cream. Ok, maybe sulfer yellow. Get a single package of microfibrets in medium dun for tails, and maybe a package of brown or amber zelon for shucks on sparkle duns. Definitely get a snowshoe rabbit foot in natural - need to color it? Use a waterproof marker. The most versitile thing you will buy. Finally thread - get 6/0 white, black, tan, and brown, and 8/0 in olive cause these bugs are smaller. With the above you may not be able to tie every fly in the books and magazines, but you will be able to tie any fly you need to catch trout in the NE.
Cabella's is a very good place for a beginner to aquire materials. If you can go to the Store in Hamburgh, PA they have a good bunch of guys that are always willing to help. I highly recoomend them. Now if you are looking at Hackle look at the Cabella's capes they are lower quality whittings and are good for beginners to intermediates to work with. Also keep in mind to try and buy materails that you can use for various patterns. Lastly, if you go to the International Fly Tying Symposium let me know and we can meet and would be more than happy to go over materials and such.
I realized I didn't post the link to the whiting coop. Here it is if anyone is interested....
Line's End Inc - [Whiting Co-Op]
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Stonefly
Conservation isn't a tag line...
Don't forget Shannon's in Califon. Or Ramsey Outdoor. The new larger store in Ledgewood has expended thematerials for sale, plus if your a TU member you get a 10% discount. Do they always have what your looking for, no but they can check their other stores for you and if they have, transfer it to Ledgewood in a day of two.
I'be used the Stone River Outfitters, but they aren't as helpful as the old Hunter's Angling Supplies who they bought out a few years ago.
I'be used the Stone River Outfitters, but they aren't as helpful as the old Hunter's Angling Supplies who they bought out a few years ago.
I have been in the old shop in New Boston, NH before it was sold.
I had two large bags of stuff when I walked out.
That place was something else.
Never been in a fly shop that was so well stocked with EVERYTHING!
S&M bobbins... I should have bought out the place.
It was a great place to test ride a rod because it was right over a stream.
They had one woman working the store and 5 in back on catalog sales.
Stonefly
Conservation isn't a tag line...
I used to go up for their weekend fly tying seminars. Great get away's. My wife and I stayed at country Inns or B&B's. She got to rest and relax.
I always thought Nick had the place set up the way a shop should look. And they werre never once out of what ever I was looking for.
I always thought Nick had the place set up the way a shop should look. And they werre never once out of what ever I was looking for.
My advice is to head to a fly shop and ask them for the materials needed to tie your favorite fly. If you don't have a favorite think about a gold ribbed hare's ear (nymph) or a usual (dry). A good shop will tie one for you as you watch.
If you really want to go cheap you can get hooks and thread online. Once you get hooks and thread, you should be able to add materials for additional flies without spending too much. If you stay away from traditional catskill flies requiring hackle you should be able to get materials for a single pattern for less than $20.
If you really want to go cheap you can get hooks and thread online. Once you get hooks and thread, you should be able to add materials for additional flies without spending too much. If you stay away from traditional catskill flies requiring hackle you should be able to get materials for a single pattern for less than $20.
Petergoodman
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
Just to follow up on previous reply, lets just see what you could do on the cheap with a Usual, which is a hell of a fly. One rabbit foot, $4. Dubbing in olive, rusty brown, tan, light yellow - $2 each, total of $8. Thread in white, black and olive - $2 each, $6 total. All together, $18. Now get some hooks - this is going to be your expense, but get dry fly hooks, packages of 25 in #14, 16 and 18 - maybe $15 total. So everything you need for $33.
Now tie up some Hendricksons, March Browns, Olives, Sulfers - in different sizes, maybe 3 per size, about 40 flies. If you want, tie some up as emergers, with same body color and short wing - another 20 maybe. Now let's tie up some caddis - just like Elk Hair Caddis, except using rabbit foot hair for wing - maybe another 20 flies. Need some spinners - use the rusty brown, and tie with sparse rabbit foor hair for wings - 9 flies. You just spent $33 to tie up about 90 flies that will cover most any situation on the surface. Average cost per fly - 37 cents.
I am not saying that using rabbit foot is the way to go for filling your entire fly box, but it is a great way to get started without a lot of expenditure.
Now tie up some Hendricksons, March Browns, Olives, Sulfers - in different sizes, maybe 3 per size, about 40 flies. If you want, tie some up as emergers, with same body color and short wing - another 20 maybe. Now let's tie up some caddis - just like Elk Hair Caddis, except using rabbit foot hair for wing - maybe another 20 flies. Need some spinners - use the rusty brown, and tie with sparse rabbit foor hair for wings - 9 flies. You just spent $33 to tie up about 90 flies that will cover most any situation on the surface. Average cost per fly - 37 cents.
I am not saying that using rabbit foot is the way to go for filling your entire fly box, but it is a great way to get started without a lot of expenditure.
Most folks that tie will tell yout that at the end of the day, if you tie your own flies you probably won't save much money. That said, you don't need to break the bank to get started.
A few basic dubbing colors: natural hare's ear (brownish gray), light tan, and olive will cover most patterns mentioned above. Try to steer clear of the 100% synthetic dubbing. There are some decent blends out there, but I'm partial the natural stuff.
If you can tie a basic nymph and dry in a few colors and sizes -- you'll do just fine. Then if you like what you're doing, you can experiment with different patterns, techniques and materials.
A few basic dubbing colors: natural hare's ear (brownish gray), light tan, and olive will cover most patterns mentioned above. Try to steer clear of the 100% synthetic dubbing. There are some decent blends out there, but I'm partial the natural stuff.
If you can tie a basic nymph and dry in a few colors and sizes -- you'll do just fine. Then if you like what you're doing, you can experiment with different patterns, techniques and materials.
