Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: Alomar on November 17, 2013, 05:15:04 PM

Title: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 17, 2013, 05:15:04 PM
Just wondering your people's favorite places to buy quality flies in the lower mainland, I love berrys and will always shop there for most things but they don't always seem to have the best selection of flies, any thoughts
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Old Blue on November 17, 2013, 05:35:03 PM
Coho flies....Hatch and Match in Maple Ridge
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: joshhowat on November 17, 2013, 07:31:30 PM
Micheal & young
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Sandman on November 17, 2013, 08:59:40 PM
I tie my own and highly recommend you do the same.  You will save money in the long run (there is a short term investment in materials to overcome first), but more importantly your satisfaction with each fish you hook will increase exponentially as fish start taking your own ties.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: MoeJKU on November 18, 2013, 08:23:35 AM
Micheal and Young, of sea run fly and tackle is where i would buy them from. Its were i get all my materials to do it myself. Huge selection of materials and great flies. If you don't want to tie you own thats fine but you save a bunch of money and its a good hobby.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 18, 2013, 11:12:29 AM
So what would I need to start tying my own flies
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: MoeJKU on November 18, 2013, 12:04:09 PM
go to a fly shop they will set you up. or buy a wapsi kit, its good for beginners i hear.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 18, 2013, 02:02:22 PM
Anyone used the waspi kit before?
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: MoeJKU on November 18, 2013, 02:32:50 PM
http://www.fishingreviews.tv/wapsi-deluxe-fly-tying-kit-review/

Here is a review of the kit
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 18, 2013, 03:01:13 PM
Thanx, that sounds great
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: MoeJKU on November 18, 2013, 04:04:46 PM
No problem, it looks fairly good. I went the other way and purchased things separate just to get a certain vise and tools. Was around 300 with out feathers or materials for me. But thats not bad compared to what some vises cost.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: HOOK on November 18, 2013, 07:40:30 PM
I tie my own and highly recommend you do the same.  You will save money in the long run (there is a short term investment in materials to overcome first), but more importantly your satisfaction with each fish you hook will increase exponentially as fish start taking your own ties.


HA HA HA HA HA HA HA my wife has a different opinion on fly tying saving money

Im finally now at the point where I only need a few odds and ends when it comes to materials. I still have nothing compared to what some guys I know have even though I have more materials in my house than you'll find at the Squamish fly shop  ???

the wall is only salmon/steelhead materials. There is a giant tote in my closet with even more plus a massive tackle thing full with just trout materials which doubles as my "travel kit". The drawers are just flash material, rubber legs (squidro) and polar bear
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a80/Flaming_Hook/IMG_20131003_192437_zps7222a52f.jpg) (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/Flaming_Hook/media/IMG_20131003_192437_zps7222a52f.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Sandman on November 18, 2013, 11:29:52 PM

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA my wife has a different opinion on fly tying saving money

Im finally now at the point where I only need a few odds and ends when it comes to materials. I still have nothing compared to what some guys I know have even though I have more materials in my house than you'll find at the Squamish fly shop  ???

the wall is only salmon/steelhead materials. There is a giant tote in my closet with even more plus a massive tackle thing full with just trout materials which doubles as my "travel kit". The drawers are just flash material, rubber legs (squidro) and polar bear
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a80/Flaming_Hook/IMG_20131003_192437_zps7222a52f.jpg) (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/Flaming_Hook/media/IMG_20131003_192437_zps7222a52f.jpg.html)

Yeah, you could go that way.  :o. All my material "fit" in a single large case slightly larger than two drawers of that red unit on your bench.  I tend to have to "substitute" many materials for different patterns and find my own materials over purchasing them.  However, I must say your bench is a far cry more organized than mine.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: brandooner on November 19, 2013, 10:20:06 AM
Start tying your own, lots of fun, super addicting and theres nothin better than catchin fish on your own flies!
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: brandooner on November 19, 2013, 10:21:36 AM
nice set up Hook!
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: fisherforever on November 19, 2013, 10:24:14 AM
Start tying your own, lots of fun, super addicting and theres nothin better than catchin fish on your own flies!
X2 on this. Here's my bench and just a portion of a 4' by 2' peg board full of material (I've got 3 of those boards hanging on the walls full of materials).
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/barfisher/PB280103.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/barfisher/media/PB280103.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 19, 2013, 10:26:06 AM
What materials are needed to make some salmon fry and stickleback imitations
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: brandooner on November 19, 2013, 12:00:08 PM
Thats killer!!
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: HOOK on November 19, 2013, 04:36:27 PM
I cleaned the desk before taking the pic awhile back
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: MoeJKU on November 20, 2013, 11:23:39 AM
I cleaned the desk before taking the pic awhile back

I was going to say that thing is pretty clean almost looks as its a display only type bench. JK i wish i could keep mine clean  maybe its time for a bigger desk.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Ian Forbes on November 22, 2013, 09:02:17 AM
I've tied my own for 60 years, and even before I fly fished. There are many good shops on the Lower Mainland that provide excellent quality flies. Three major suppliers for the world are just down the road from where I live in Chiang Mai. The quality control is excellent and probably better than most home tied flies.

That said, however, I still say part of the satisfaction of fly fishing is tying your own to suit your particular needs. I've lost count of the times where a travel tying kit has saved a trip for me.

There are many groups that teach beginners and help out with materials. You can actually spend very little for many patterns that cover 90% of your needs.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: RalphH on November 23, 2013, 08:53:51 AM
Make sure you buy a good vice and basic tools (bobbin, bodkin, hackle pliers, scissors whip finisher). Invest some money  in that up front and you will profit in the long term. To start you only need to buy materials for the types of flies you intend to fish. Likewise with hooks. After that buy what you need as you start to tie more patterns and expand your horizons.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: HOOK on November 23, 2013, 09:51:16 AM
Make sure you buy a good vice and basic tools (bobbin, bodkin, hackle pliers, scissors whip finisher). Invest some money  in that up front and you will profit in the long term. To start you only need to buy materials for the types of flies you intend to fish. Likewise with hooks. After that buy what you need as you start to tie more patterns and expand your horizons.


This is how I started and have only been tying 10yrs max. It adds up quickly when you fish for anything that swims !

Ralph does make a good point about buying quality tools, especially your Bobbins. I don't have expensive vises but my bobbins are top quality as are most of my tools


HOOK - finally in the market for a good quality rotary vise (my cheapy squeeks !)
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: fisherforever on November 23, 2013, 11:31:09 AM
Take a look back at the pic I posted, hard to see but it's a Norvise, it's the cats azz. Only use my Regal for jigs now.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: HOOK on November 23, 2013, 12:12:46 PM
I've tried a Norvise out and don't like it. I also cant justify spending $500 on a vise  :o

I liked the Renzetti Traveler I tried out and probably what I will end up getting
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: fisherforever on November 23, 2013, 12:24:57 PM
To each his own on the make of vises, ;D I tried a couple rotaries and sold them to buy the Norvise. BTW you can by the Norvise direct from Norm for $300 US.
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 23, 2013, 01:27:43 PM
Would you guys know the quality of the vise and tools in the wapsi kit
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: HOOK on November 23, 2013, 05:22:29 PM
I googled around a bit and I'm almost 100% this is the vise that comes in their tying kit

http://www.mudhole.com/Fly-Tying/Terra-Vises/TT-Challenger-Vise

Looks to be of ok quality. Good started vise, you shouldn't break the bank until you find out whether you like tying or not
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Alomar on November 23, 2013, 09:36:24 PM
Cheers bud,  I appreciate yours and everyone's advice
Title: Re: Where to buy good flies
Post by: Ian Forbes on November 24, 2013, 07:19:39 PM
You can tie a fly with nothing but your fingers and a pair of scissors. The vise is optional and just makes things easier with smaller hooks. For over a century, Professional fly tiers for Hardy Brothers tied intricate Atlantic salmon flies with no vise. I can still do it and I'm 74.

That said, however, a reasonable quality vice makes it easier, but you don't need to break the bank on an expensive vice. I believe you can buy a Dan-vice for around $100. If you want to graduate to an expensive vice later, the cheaper one will never go to waste. It will be handy for a travel kit where you only tie a few patterns, but ones you really need at the time.