In this article I'm going to reveal some secrets about both fly fishing lessons and fly fishing tools. Fly fishing is a unique sport in both the fact that you can make some of your own equipment and that it is a sport that no one truly masters.The unique properties of the sport make it a life long enjoyment for those that fly fish. Unlike other styles of fishing where one has perhaps a favorite lure or bait that always seems to work, fishing with flies is actually a daily experiment that encompasses learning which flies are working, what depth the fish are feeding at, and where exactly should you be casting that day.
If the fly fisher has to figure all of that out every time he hits the water one might wonder why anyone would bother with fly fishing lessons. The answer is quite simple: learn from other's experience. Even though successful fishing with flies requires making constant changes in your tactics an experience fly fisher can tell you how to narrow down the choices before you to a small selection of techniques that are most likely to work that day.
Good fly fishing lessons should not just cover basics like tying your leaders and at what depth you should start at but also cover how to recognize feeding patterns in the water, where to find the best places to cast and the life cycles of local insects. This style of fishing is truly more of a science than it is a sport, and good fly fishing lessons need to originate from that position.
The scientific aspect is also what draws many fly fishers to creating their own flies. Using fly fishing tools to make your own flies is in some circles considered the mark of a real fly fisher. Just like paying for fly fishing lessons won't make you an expert fisher, neither will buying fly fishing tools make you an expert fly tier, but there are a few things to be learned before you begin.
First off; quality is way more important than quantity. A few select quality fly tying tools are preferable to an entire box of tools of questionable quality. A great fly tier can do his work with just five items: a vise, scissors, pliers, a bobbin and some epoxy. These five items should be of the highest quality.
Before you can even begin to tie flies you'll need a good vise. A vise without good clamps will become useless very quickly. Once it is no longer able to hold your hook steady while you add feather, fur and thread it will need replaced. Much better to buy a high quality vise upfront that will last you a life time.
With your hook firmly secured in your vise the fly fishing tool that gets the most work will be your pliers. You'll want a set of hackle pliers, that remain closed in their normal position, so that they can be used with the least amount of effort. A good pair of hackle pliers can also do the work that many use forceps to do.
To complete your tool kit you'll need a good pair of scissors and a high quality bobbin. I recommend a 4 or 5 inch pair of scissors and a bobbin with a very smooth tube and adjustable tension. If you're only buying one pair of scissors initially, you'll want to make sure they come to a point so they can be used in close work.
There are lots of other tools that you can buy but these basic tools, when bought of good quality, will handle most of the work that needs to be done. Add some good epoxy to keep everything together and you have the making of a very good beginner or even advanced fly tying tool kit.
Even though this style of fishing takes years to master I hope that these few tips will help you get on your way. There is much more to learn, more information than even hundreds of articles like this could hold, but these secrets should get you started in the right direction.
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