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beginners vice package recommendation

D

decker1313

New member
Hey All,



I am looking to break into fly tying after purchasing flies over the past few years. In my search for the necessary equipment I came across this package.



Amazon.com: Peak Trailhead Vise Package Pedestal Base: Sports & Outdoors



PEAK Tying Vise Packages



I was just wondering if you guys thought that this package would be a good value, as far as getting a quality vice and tools for a good price go.



If this is not a good deal and you could recommend a different direction to go it would be most appreciated.



Thanks.
 
I would buy a cheaper vise first(not with a pedestal)....Just to see if you enjoy it before you spend that kind of $$$ on a vise.....you can buy a fly kit(these show you how, and give you materials for about a dozen flies), and all you really need is a bobbin, scissors, and a whip finisher(if you can't do it with your fingers) for tools...If you enjoy fly tying, go out and buy a Regal vise.....
 
Honestly, I would suggest getting a cheap Cabelas fly tying kit. Especially if you're just starting to learn how to tie, it really doesn't matter what vise you buy.

As long as it holds a hook, it will suffice.

To tie good files, you really don't need to have the best tools and gadgets. I would spend more money on quality materials and literature.

I suggest Dave Huges' book 'Trout Flies' and Ed Engle's book 'Tying Small Flies'. Both are very informative and demonstrate proper fly tying techniques.

Tying a good fly is all about maintaining proper material porportions and consistency.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. I agree it doesn't make sense to spend that amount of money off the bat. Could anyone mention a cheaper vice that is of good quality? Most of the lower end vices I have looked at do not get the best reviews.
 
decker1313 said:
Thanks for the recommendations. I agree it doesn't make sense to spend that amount of money off the bat. Could anyone mention a cheaper vice that is of good quality? Most of the lower end vices I have looked at do not get the best reviews.
Click to expand...

When I first started tying, I went to Gander in Middletown and bought the $40 vise and tying kit they had. It was just a vise and a few tools, but the vise was halfway decent.

Stop by Thruway in Walden, they have lots of good materials, good tools/vises and the guys can give you good advice. Ask for Dave if he's available.

They also have a bunch of those Mustad 100 packs of hooks.. Effing awesome deal if you ask me!!
 
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. I started tying around this time last year and figured a cheap cabelas kit would help me decide if I wanted to tie flies. I got so frustrated with the cheap vice and tools that I almost gave it up before I really got started. The only tools I use from that kit are a bodkin (escentially a needle that you cant mess up making) and scissors for cutting materials I don't want to dull my nice scissors. The bobbin was cheap and was all metal (the tip should not be metal) and it kept breaking the thread. The hackle pliers were all metal and had sharp tips...kept snipping off the feather (buy one with rubber grips). The whip finisher I learned to use, but when I bought a proper whip finisher I realized how much nicer a head I could build. Fly tying has nothing to do with saving money on flies in my opinion. I really wish I never spent the money on the starter kit. I still bought a cheaper vice (renzetti traveler series) but it was enough money that the quality was there. A semi decent vice coupled with decent tools and I can't walk past my vice without itching to tie. Highly recommend spending a little more coin as to avoid the head ache and frustrations that I encountered. I do wish the base of my vice was a little heavier, but that's the only change I'd like.

I'm also going to recommend Charlie Cravens Basic Fly Tying Book to help get you started.

Welcome to the obsession.
 
decker1313 said:
Hey All,



I am looking to break into fly tying after purchasing flies over the past few years. In my search for the necessary equipment I came across this package.



Amazon.com: Peak Trailhead Vise Package Pedestal Base: Sports & Outdoors



PEAK Tying Vise Packages



I was just wondering if you guys thought that this package would be a good value, as far as getting a quality vice and tools for a good price go.



If this is not a good deal and you could recommend a different direction to go it would be most appreciated.



Thanks.
Click to expand...

I bought a dyna king beginners set up about 5 years ago.

I still use it.

Take a look at it, along with the others recs here
 
A Thompson Vise in the $60 neighborhood should serve you fine to get off the ground and not break the bank doing it. http://THOMPSON PRO VISE - Fly Tying Vise
irtcrosscurrentg20las2o1aB00B082252-1.jpg
You can spend more, and if you get into it, you likely will, but the Thompson wouldn't have been a waste of money. The Somerset NJ Fly Fishing Show is just around the corner. You can assemble an inexpensive assortment of fly tying tools and materials. There's cheap & there's inexpensive, they needn't be the same.
 
Thursthouse said:
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. I started tying around this time last year and figured a cheap cabelas kit would help me decide if I wanted to tie flies. I got so frustrated with the cheap vice and tools that I almost gave it up before I really got started. The only tools I use from that kit are a bodkin (escentially a needle that you cant mess up making) and scissors for cutting materials I don't want to dull my nice scissors. The bobbin was cheap and was all metal (the tip should not be metal) and it kept breaking the thread. The hackle pliers were all metal and had sharp tips...kept snipping off the feather (buy one with rubber grips). The whip finisher I learned to use, but when I bought a proper whip finisher I realized how much nicer a head I could build. Fly tying has nothing to do with saving money on flies in my opinion. I really wish I never spent the money on the starter kit. I still bought a cheaper vice (renzetti traveler series) but it was enough money that the quality was there. A semi decent vice coupled with decent tools and I can't walk past my vice without itching to tie. Highly recommend spending a little more coin as to avoid the head ache and frustrations that I encountered. I do wish the base of my vice was a little heavier, but that's the only change I'd like.

I'm also going to recommend Charlie Cravens Basic Fly Tying Book to help get you started.

Welcome to the obsession.
Click to expand...

The Cabela's vise may take a bit longer to get the hook set properly, but if that frustrates you so much that you won't continue...........imagine tying your first fly...that would be more frustration than setting a hook in a cheap vise...for me anyway
So if you can't get past the Cabela's shitty vise, then I agree fly tying is not for you.....:)
 
lightenup said:
The Cabela's vise may take a bit longer to get the hook set properly, but if that frustrates you so much that you won't continue...........imagine tying your first fly...that would be more frustration than setting a hook in a cheap vise...for me anyway
So if you can't get past the Cabela's shitty vise, then I agree fly tying is not for you.....:)
Click to expand...

Yea..just hold the hook in your fingers and use any old string.. If you can't enjoy that you're not a real tyer
 
Thursthouse said:
Yea..just hold the hook in your fingers and use any old string.. If you can't enjoy that you're not a real tyer
Click to expand...

No need to get pissy. I never mentioned a "real tier"...I am simply suggesting that someone should not spend a large sum of money if they have never tied a fly before, and they are thinking about starting. Starting with no instruction except books and videos can be very frustrating, more so than trying to stick a hook in a cheap vice, or whip finishing with a stick.....So buy the cheap vise and tie twenty or thirty flies..if you like it, buy a better vise, and you will only enjoy it more. If you find you do not like tying those twenty or thirty flies you are only out twenty or thirty dollars, not $200....:)
Please have a wonderful day Thirstyhorse....:)

One day, Maybe I will be able to tie in hand, but I doubt it, I don't enjoy it THAT much....
 
lightenup said:
No need to get pissy. I never mentioned a "real tier"...I am simply suggesting that someone should not spend a large sum of money if they have never tied a fly before, and they are thinking about starting. Starting with no instruction except books and videos can be very frustrating, more so than trying to stick a hook in a cheap vice, or whip finishing with a stick.....So buy the cheap vise and tie twenty or thirty flies..if you like it, buy a better vise, and you will only enjoy it more. If you find you do not like tying those twenty or thirty flies you are only out twenty or thirty dollars, not $200....:)
Please have a wonderful day Thirstyhorse....:)

One day, Maybe I will be able to tie in hand, but I doubt it, I don't enjoy it THAT much....
Click to expand...

First you screw up my whopper combo then you critize my review of a cheap ass made in India fly tying kit.

What the F is so hard about no pickles!?
 
Thursthouse said:
First you screw up my whopper combo then you critize my review of a cheap ass made in India fly tying kit.

What the F is so hard about no pickles!?
Click to expand...

First of all........ The Whopper is from BURGER KING you ignoramus...It couldn't have been me........ I work at McDonalds!!!
 
I would try to get a true-rotary vise. Therefore, I'd look at the Danvise - don't know if it can handle large saltwater hooks - and the Griffin Odyssey Spider.

You can get both for under a hundred. If you can't go that high, I'd look at the Bass Pro vise for about 60 bucks. It got a great review. I also like the Orvis vise for about the same money.

Randy
 
Thompson vises have been a staple forever - I used one for 35 years before going to a more modern one. You can get good scissors from an embroidery/sewing store. However, good scissors are costly anywhere so take care of them. Don't need very expensive tools either, but need decent ones. Sometimes the cheap copies aren't worth it, but there are lower cost options out there. Simple metal tube bobbins and hackle pliers are fine, but need to be made well and not have any burrs.

Maybe more than tools you need decent materials as well. It can be extremely frustrating tying with poor materials and even the finest of tools can't deal with poor materials.

The new high quality vises and tools are wonderful, but people tied with simpler tools for generations. Just don't go too cheap and stick to the bargain end from quality suppliers.
 
Tying sucks go to gander mountain in Middletown the had a buy 2 flies get 10 free couple weeks ago !! This topic is the biggest mistake of a new tier could make !! Keep it simple buy some size 12 hooks one spool
of thread and talk someone in to sending you some sample hackle the tompson vise i great you don't need rotary I don't use it other that putting dab glue under the eye keep
iit simple and ask many questions once you get by all the bullshit there is a ton of info and people on here that will help you out

john
 
I starter off with $30 kit from Cabelas and about a year later upgraded to something that I liked. I still have my Cabelas kit and it's my go to vise for all my fishing / vacation trips.

You can't go wrong with $30 and it will buy you the time you need to find what you really like.
 
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