Hi fly peeps! I have been fly fishing for 1 year and 3 months or so and my wife and I are expecting our first, so I am looking to get into tying my own flies as a dual purpose, indoor baby friendly pastime/more rewarding way to fish. My question is should I purchase a fly-tying kit like this one from Cabela's , or Orvis , or Umpqua ... OR would I be better off buying tools and materials separately and if so, suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Six of one, half a dozen... But I'll say that I don't have any of the original kit tools from oh those years ago when I bought a kit. I do however have the good stuff I bought over time. If you'll get quality tools and vise, and buy the materials as you go forward, I believe you would do quite well.

Thanks Rhyne! I am a compromise for quality kind of person so your advise appeals to me!. I know that in this fly fishing lifestyle we live, it is easy to get won over and overwhelmed with pricey goods and my budget is not unlimited. Do you have any brand suggestions for tools and vise?

Any way for you to come to Bonham state park for the fly tying event this Saturday?

It will be a great opportunity to get many of these questions answered.

Buy only what you need to complete the patterns you want to tie. So many websites (if you don't have a local shop) to get free shipping and no tax, usually with a $25 min. I do this a lot. Caddis Fly Shop, J. Stockards, Fly Fish Food....all of them have some great tools on for good prices. Just look around and make a few purchases. Stockard has hooks on sale now...through end of the month. Each month they have a sale on items...and sign up for newsletter for free shipping and bonus bucks.

BTW I was like you, I started tying a month or so before my daughter was born. I filled my clouser box in the hospital. Nurses give you some odd looks, but after they see what you are doing they laugh. Then once you get home, that baby enjoys sleeping in those rocking cribs, prop them up next to the computer and fly vise. Watch You Tube fly tying videos and tie em up while she sleeps. So many naps a day....so many flies to tie.

Now 22 months later, I can't tie a fly if she is awake...she wants back at my bench and yells "hooks, hooks, hooks" while pointing at my bench....LOL! She gets back there and pretends to tie flies and disorganizes my threads and tensile. Good times!!

No I wont be able to make it up to Bonham this weekend, that is about a 2 hour drive for me! Thanks for the invite though!

Sound advise from everyone sbtay

Mike