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.?
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.
A few suggestions:
Buy 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.
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.
Keeping it inexpensive takes more discipline than I have - good luck.
Just in case you all forgot what the original PT Nymph looked like
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.
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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.
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.
You just spent $33 to tie up about 90 flies that ...
Average cost per fly - 37 cents.