When i started tying flies one of the most troublesome thing I had was finding the tools I needed to work my craft. I mean I searched through catalogs, fly shops, fly fishing shows. I was on various forums that offered me many choices. I must say it was hard to digest and i purchased many tools that were never needed and the ones that were needed were not the best. The three tools shown here are the absolute basic for fly tying. They are a good pair of tweezers, a whip finisher and and a pair of good scissors. The three instruments I use on every fly I tie. Now these were purchased over twenty years ago from a fly shop in New Hampshire. That fly shop was Hunters Angling Supplies. They are not the top of the line tools but they have served me very well and continue to serve me.
Grouse hackle, man are these feathers awesome. Light and dark bands of a subtle brown. Nicely shaped and no broken fibers. The color is perfect for the various flies that hatch along our stream and rivers.
The perfect tool to wrap those fine grouse feathers in the hackle plier. There are many types out there and range in price from pocket change to bring two Mastercards. But this little clip plier has worked for me, it's all I use.
Two Valsasina flies. They are tied with grouse hackle and silk thread.
I don't know if John Voelker would have used Valsassina flies on Frenchman's but I tend to say he would. It's that simplicity thing which I believe he enjoyed in many ways.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about fly tying tools.........
I grew up next to the North Yorkshire coast and although there where some fly fishermen nearby most of them fished the local reservoirs for stocked rainbows using mass produced garish lures. Fly tying was not a big thing, like it is today. I did manage to convince one local fishing store to stock a few bits and bobs and acquired my first real tools in about 1989 (their main customers where sea anglers targeting cod from beach and boat). I still have those tools and they are regularly in use even to this day - reminding me each time I use them of my first fumbled efforts during the formative years of my fly tying.
Thank you for posting this up it has brought back some great childhood memories.
Take care and stay safe
Alistair
Alistair
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Happy Easter...It's nice that you were able to keep and use those first tools of the trade. As a child there were no fly shops in my area and the local hardware store provided the necessary items to fish.
Hunter's was a great shop. I bought my first set of tying tools from them. Dan is still kicking around and running Stoneriver Outfitters fly shop over in Amherst. I find I use a lot of my grandfathers tools these days. Not because they're better, but because it brings him back to me. I think I've bought every hackle plier known to man...
ReplyDeletemike
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Happy Easter...Mike I could call Hunters and tell them what I was looking for and they provided it. What a nice way to remember your grandfather. As you wrap hackle can you hear him tell you your doing it right.
Alan
ReplyDeleteQuality fly tieing tools along with quality fly fishing rods and reels are a must for the serious fly fisherman and woman. Hope you all have a nice Easter, quite a change from last year. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill it pays to buy the best you can afford. Usually you come out ahead. Happy Easter.
Brk Trt, I to use to go to hunters in NH with my dad many years ago in which those trips there got me started at least in the fly fishing direction. I actually use to go to another fly shop called the American Anglers in Salem NH later on in life only because out of convenience. Actually American anglers introduced me to parachute flies, and the rest is history. They too are out of business, which is sad...Phil
ReplyDeleteDRYFLYGUY
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Phil, Hunters is still in Business as Stone River Outfitters. The fate of local shops is terrible. They have tough competition from the box stores as well as online shops. I can't remember when a new shop opened in my area. Happy Easter.
Got the tools in the first picture. Have never been able to conquer the whip finisher. I suppose practice would make perfect.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Happy Easter Mark. The whip finisher is a bit of a challenge at first but with practice it can be mastered. What I have never been able to do is the whip finish by hand...
Got my fly tieing stuff from Herter's in the 60s still using the vice
ReplyDeleteRW Van Brunt
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That's and old fly tying house. At the time they provided the quality tools that were affordable to most.
Those Valsasina flies are “the bomb,” very cool. You can obsess over tools - Been picking up the Mararelli midge bobbins to hold the Pearsall’s threads, but they are no longer made and they are quickly sold when they hit the auction site but perfect for the job. I agree on the plunger style hacker clip, also perfect for soft hackles. Kevin
ReplyDeleteNed Zeppelin
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Keven seems like great minds think alike....
I got my Pearsall bobbins from Bearsden in Taunton MA. I think they were made by Wasatch.