I’ve had some free time from work this past month, and did a lot of research on fly tying. I’ve always wanted to tie flies but always felt that I didn’t have the patience for fly tying. Way back in college I bought a really cheap starter kit that I barley used and I think ended up throwing it away; I’m sure after one of my many apartment moves. Now don’t ask me why I had to move, that’s not really important here. Anyways, this past year fishing the Farmington River with Scott and tying flies on his set; I felt I needed my own set, to become a better fisherman.
So off to every web site on 
fly tying vices. Saw many different styles and in many different price ranges. Which one to buy?……. I finely settled on a Renzetti Travel Vice with cam and base at a cost of $189. First of all my feeling is that I didn’t want a cheap vise and what I mean by this is low quality; I wanted one that would last and was well crafted. I’m a Chef by trade and if you want to cook well, you have to start with quality tools and ingredients; as a fly fishermen I hold on to this maxim as well. Now I won’t go into all of the specs, because you can find them at the Renzetti web sight. What really struck me, is the fact that the Renzetti Travel Vice is pretty much exactly the same as the full model but half the price. Now as a beginner fly tyer I want a vice I can grow into and not the other way around. I’m sure I’m not gonna use half of the features of this vice for some time but it will give me a goal to strive for.
Now what about the tools?….. The hooks, thread, body, cape….. 
Well I’m half way there to getting everything I need to start tying. I stopped in at the Orvis store in Manchester a few weeks ago and bought a set of tools $80 which I thought wasn’t bad and picked up a multi pack of dry body material and dry hooks size 14-20. Now I’m sure you’re asking why didn’t I just save myself the hassle and just buy a premium fly tying kit? Well this time around I wanted to go through the whole process. I feel that I learn better working for something than just having it handed to me. Also if I didn’t like something then I have no one else to blame. Not the kit, the company, not the author of the tying book.
Now for the books I bought, “Fly Tying for Beginners” by Peter Gathercole and “Trout Flies for the 21st Century” by Dick Talleur. Again I want to work hard on the basics but have the resources and motivation to work towards more difficult flies. Just on a side note the web is filled with video on fly tying and is also a great resource, especially you tube; you can find everything! Wish me luck and I’ll post my first fly on my new vice soon!