Tying Kits?

"Jim" wrote in message
...
"Jack Schmitt" wrote in message
news

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I haven't tied since the early 80's and would like to get back into it
this fall. I'm looking for a recommendation on a tying kit. I still
have the vise and tools, in need of materials. I recently received a
Kaufmann's Streamborn catalog and see that they sell tying kits.

Thanks


IMHO, if I were you, I would forgo the kits. Most of the material is
second rate. In our tying classes, we recommend you decide what flies you
want to tie and then buy the material for them. By doing this you will be
assured of getting first rate materials.
Kaufmann's Streamborn makes a special effort to explain the deficiency of
most tying kits and emphasizes that their kits are stocked with first
quality materials. This is what made me wonder if some kits may be
worthwhile. I want to tie a variety of dry/wet/streamers and nymph
patterns which will be expensive whether I go with their combined kits or
on my own.

Even if the materials are top quality, you still end up getting a pile of
stuff that you may or may not use. Avoidance is about the closest you will
ever come to consensus on any issue among experienced fly
tiers......especially among those who started with a kit.

Bear in mind that most of the materials you'll use are actually pretty
cheap. Aside from a few exotic materials like jungle cock, about the only
thing that's really expensive is premium quality hackle......and that is
something you can buy in small quantities as needed, rather than forking out
the big bucks for a whole neck. Many materials can be had for lower prices
(even for much larger quantities) from arts and crafts suppliers, fabric
stores, hardware stores and many other sources. For example, you could
spend several dollars for a small card wound with a yard or two of chenille
at a fly tying materials vendor, while a trip to a well stocked crafts
supplier might result in a large spool for the same price or lower. Many
years ago, I found several sizes and colors of chenille at a store that
specialized in selling junk picked up from a variety of sources. Each large
spool was wound with a couple hundred yards. They cost me 50 cents each.

Wolfgang