Fly tying materials recommendations

[DanielG]

I had decided to do this eventually but with a few gift cards from the kids for Christmas I've decided to put them towards this now.

 

I've been making some hard baits lately and I'd like to tie a few feathers on the trailing treble hooks of some of them. It's a pretty minimalist thing. No big fly tying projects, just some trebles. I'm not setting up shop for anything huge. I know some of you have done this a bit.

 

Similar to these:

 

That being said, I've looked at a bunch of youtube vids and know I need these items:

A bobbin

Thread

set glue

feathers and such.

( don't need a fly tying vise, I think my shop vise will do for now for this small project)

 

My question is regarding bobbins and thread:

There are so many bobbins out there and each one (that is of the chevy variety not the ferrari ones) have both good and bad reviews. They're not expensive but I'd like to hit it pretty good the first time so I don't have to keep trying one after another till I get one that works.

 

Also thread recommendations.

I think I can handle the other stuff okay but any sources you like would be welcome.

 

Thanks.

[haggard]

33 minutes ago, DanielG said:

My question is regarding bobbins and thread

Hi Dan -

 

I'm about to go down the same rabbit hole. Made a couple attempts in the past so I've used these already and recommend them (even though I didn't get too far). They're nothing fancy but work well. Bobbins (and the other tools) are "Dr. Slick" and thread is Danville's 70 Denier Flymaster 6/0 waxed (200 yard spools).

 

 

[Harold Scoggins]

Good video on this subject from @smalljaw67. I get most of my tools from Lure Parts Online.

https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Fly-Tying/ToolsFlyTyingLPO

[FishinBuck07]

Bobbins just make sure it has a ceramic insert where the thread comes out the top, if not you stand the chance of damaging the thread. I would recommend Dr Slick tools, they are the best bang for the buck as far as I am concerned!  Thread Danville 210 denier.  For sources I buy my fly materials from J Stockard, Feather-Craft, and Mad River Outfitters.

[Harold Scoggins]

2 hours ago, DanielG said:

No big fly tying projects, just some trebles.

Don't break the bank with your feathers/hair. Some of the fly shops command big coin for hackle. You're doing treble hooks, not competition flies. Barlows has a good selection of feathers and hair, from the good stuff down to materials for dressing trebles that won't break your wallet.

https://barlowstackle.com/jig-tying-and-fly-tying-material/feathers/

 

[jbmaine]

Sounds like good advise so far. If you need any pointers on the actual " tying" let me know. We could get together at some point.

                         Jim

[BASS302]

4 hours ago, FishinBuck07 said:

Bobbins just make sure it has a ceramic insert where the thread comes out the top, if not you stand the chance of damaging the thread.

^x2

[DanielG]

I took all your recommendations to heart and made a trip to Cabelas. I got what I think I need to get started. I also had to get what they had. Anyway, I had the gift card to use on something and I've had this in mind lately.

Left to right

-Dr. Slick ceramic bobbin

-Bobbin threader

-Some bucktail an assortment

-Gold and silver tinsel flash

-Black and white thread

-And I threw in a fish gripper, mostly for weighing as my scale doesn't have much of a hook

-And some small split rings because I needed some.

 

I don't have any thread glue but I'll be getting set up with some Alumi-UV and lights soon. I know they use UV stuff for this. I'll have a lot of it so I'll use that when the time comes instead of buying something else. I also have a small standard vise which will be just fine for my meager use right now.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll post my first disaster down the road when I make it!

 

5 hours ago, jbmaine said:

Sounds like good advise so far. If you need any pointers on the actual " tying" let me know. We could get together at some point.

                         Jim

Thanks Jim,

I'll give it a whirl at some point. Then I'll know if I need disaster relief!!!

[smalljaw67]

11 hours ago, DanielG said:

I took all your recommendations to heart and made a trip to Cabelas. I got what I think I need to get started. I also had to get what they had. Anyway, I had the gift card to use on something and I've had this in mind lately.

Left to right

-Dr. Slick ceramic bobbin

-Bobbin threader

-Some bucktail an assortment

-Gold and silver tinsel flash

-Black and white thread

-And I threw in a fish gripper, mostly for weighing as my scale doesn't have much of a hook

-And some small split rings because I needed some.

 

I don't have any thread glue but I'll be getting set up with some Alumi-UV and lights soon. I know they use UV stuff for this. I'll have a lot of it so I'll use that when the time comes instead of buying something else. I also have a small standard vise which will be just fine for my meager use right now.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll post my first disaster down the road when I make it!

 

Thanks Jim,

I'll give it a whirl at some point. Then I'll know if I need disaster relief!!!

The UV resin used for coating thread is different than the Alumi-UV you want to use. You are thinking about resin like Loon UV that gets hit with a small hand held UV light for 10 to 30 seconds, Alumi-UV needs a 300 watt light to cure for a few seconds otherwise it takes 10 minutes or more. Just get some Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails clear nail polish or some brush on super glue to seal the threads. 

[DanielG]

3 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

The UV resin used for coating thread is different than the Alumi-UV you want to use. You are thinking about resin like Loon UV that gets hit with a small hand held UV light for 10 to 30 seconds, Alumi-UV needs a 300 watt light to cure for a few seconds otherwise it takes 10 minutes or more. Just get some Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails clear nail polish or some brush on super glue to seal the threads. 

Thank you, that makes a ton of sense.....I was thinking of superglue. The polish is a great alternative. We've got both in the house too.

[MickD]

For tying trebles , it is my opinion that 70 denier is way too small and fragile.  The 210 is more like what I would use if I didn't have tons of 140 denier on hand for bonefish flies and bass streamers.

 

The Wapsi head cement is very good, but it gums up along the top of the container and can "weld" the cap on.  There is an applicator tool that allows one to pour a little into the applicator and eliminate the constant opening and closing that causes the problem above.  Clean the cap and bottle edge when you re-cap it.

 

https://www.jsflyfishing.com/crest-tools-head-cement-dispenser

 

Stockard is an excellent source for everything fly tying.

[DanielG]

2 minutes ago, MickD said:

For tying trebles , it is my opinion that 70 denier is way too small and fragile.  The 210 is more like what I would use if I didn't have tons of 140 denier on hand for bonefish flies and bass streamers.

 

The Wapsi head cement is very good, but it gums up along the top of the container and can "weld" the cap on.  There is an applicator tool that allows one to pour a little into the applicator and eliminate the constant opening and closing that causes the problem above.  Clean the cap and bottle edge when you re-cap it.

 

https://www.jsflyfishing.com/crest-tools-head-cement-dispenser

 

Stockard is an excellent source for everything fly tying.

Even in my ignorance I ended up with the 210 off the shelf. So maybe lucked out on that.

[MickD]

Serendipity is one of my most effective strategies.