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Just got into tying my own flies. I've been watching lots of videos and have a few patterns I am planning to put together. The problem I have run into is that I know there are lots of materials available other than what I am seeing on the shelf locally. Is the anywhere in Whitby/Oshawa area other than sail or gagnons that I should check out? I don't mind ordering online but prefer to see what I am buying at this point. Thanks.
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Get good hooks from the fishing stores (nothing made in China is my motto), alot of the rest of my material comes from the dollar store. Think outside the box too, Halloween masks and wigs, cheap jewellery (for beads), craft feathers, furry hats, foam toys and sandals (cut up for poppers), fingernail polish (some with glitter or glow in the dark in it), for some of the crazy charlies I use the stretchy material for necklaces (.7mm works best I find), permanent markers and eyes .... so go on down to the dollar store buy yourself some a mask, feather boas, costume jewellery, fingernail polish. :)
I have used some threads from the dollar store but colours and quality can be an issue.
Not sure what to call these toys but take a look http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/wp-co...osh-balls.jpeg
My pampered spoiled cat also gets brushed and I have used some if it's fur for small flies and dubbing. Just brush the cat, then twist on or like wool card the fur so it is straight. For example, here is a pic from a few years ago with a fly I could call "Rex the cat pink boa bathroom plug chain crazy charlie" :-)
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/DSCF0609.jpg
http://www.outdoorcanada.ca/how-to-f...ying-materials
https://www.google.ca/search?q=fly+t...w=1366&bih=605
http://novascotiafishing.com/forums/...dollar-stores/
Your best bet is to take a trip downtown and see Rob at Drift Outfitters. Decent selection of materials and great to deal with!
I'm new to fly fishing and fly tying, I found materials from the dollar store frustrating as I don't have a lot experience. I've had more success and produced higher quality flies sticking with more traditional patterns and using good quality materials. I've noticed good videos like tightlinevideos use nothing but the best of materials. I will probably try experimenting once I gain more experience and skills.
Like yourself I'm a long way from a local shop. I joined algonkin fly fishers, like myself most members are resigned to buying materials online. They recommended johnsflymaterials or flymart. I still patronize the green drake in Ottawa for items i won't buy sight unseen, and always end up with tying materials before I leave.
M Mike
Alot of what you use will depend on your purpose and what and how often you will fish. If you plan on tying and saving money, then you have to get creative or you are better off just buying online or from a fishing show in quantities you want. If you want the neatest and best looking then the material from Sail or from the fly shop is the way to go.
Me on the other hand I have been tying over 30 years and I have bought from shops, big stores, estate sales, online and dollar stores. I started because there was no selection available in the area I was at and no materials too so I was forced to be creative. My first vice for the first 10 years+ was a pair of vice grips, a large one laying on the table holding a needle nose one at a 90 degree angle. I used the vice grips for years until at a garage sale I came across someone who had lots of enthusiasm (by the amount of stuff he had) and had no longer tied (ie. I got alot of tools, vices, materials etc. cheap).
Alot of it depends on your purpose, purist, practical, essential (can't get what you need, rare now with ebay, online etc.) so once you get some experience you get an idea of what you want, what will work and what won't. You will also get the idea on costs too, for me in the dollar store 2 $1 halloween masks translate to not needing 2 $10 hackle packages or 2 different colour $50 capes. The quality may not be as high but a couple fish or 1 hammer handle pike or 1 small barracuda to me can mean the quick loss or destruction of flies and I would sooner have 3 flies that cost me $5 than 1 fly I bought that cost me $5. There are those that are the artists that the higher quality and appearance makes them happy but my flies won't be in any magazines or books so I prefer the functional.
Some good infor. on here.
http://www.thenewflyfisher.com/magazine.html
There is a sale on here.
http://www.reelflies.ca/Fly_Tying_Capes_s/2128.htm
Don't pass up yard sales. I often see old fur coats that sell for a few dollars. I got a 3/4 length beaver coat that was damaged for $1. I have more dubbing material that I could ever use. Ended up giving a lot of it away. Many flies are made from local materials that are readily available. For example, I save the tear proof envelopes to make nymph wing cases, just colour them with permanent markers. Foam sheet from the dollar store have hundreds of uses for tying. Use you imagination. Invest in a good vise, and hooks and a few quality materials. Items such as marabou are best bought in bulk as they are super useful. I made up a pile of different rabbit strips from a coat from a yard sale. Not only did I get a lot of dubbing by using RIT dye, and I made up a bunch of coloured skins too. Check out craft stores and yarn shops too. My favourite fly for steehead is a purple rabbit strip wooly bugger on a #6 salmon hook. I got a bunch of knitting chenille in small , medium and large sizes for $1 a skein on sale at a yarn shop. I only weigh my flies with copper wire (free). The list goes on.Experiment and try different materials, you might create a super fly.
It's a great hobby and you can find a lot of cheep stuff out there. muddler
I'd agree with much of what Muddler said - unless you are tying for trout. Brook trout are my fave, and I find dollar store materials just don't hold up, sit as high (when tying a dry fly), or quite look the part - I'm just generally unhappy with little flies tied with poor quality materials. Unfortunately, I too am not near a fly shop and resolve to buy what I need online. Ebay will have scattered bargains for quality hackle - ie. Whiting 100's - in various sizes. There's a company in Calgary as well, but the name escapes me right now...
When it comes to bass and pike though... those suckers will eat anything. I've used all kinds of stuff to tie those things with. Last year I tied a popper out of a piece of blue styrofoam.. the kind you insulate walls with... and a few feathers. Nothing you tie is going to stand up to the kind of thrashing gamefish will put on a fly - so may as well make em cheap. In my experience Bass and pike aren't too picky, why should I be.
Try Angling Specialties in Concord I get 85%of my material there he has almost everything Keele and Highway 7
If you are not a hunter get to know one! Can get you a wide range of tying supplies probably for free! Pheasant tails, duck feathers, partridge feathers, buck tails, deer hair, rabbit fur etc.
Being a hunter myself I haven't had to buy most of the materials above...unless I want it dyed in a certain colour.