Forgive me if this is not the correct place to post this but I am interested in getting set up to tie my own jigs and was wondering if all of you have any input on what a good setup would be to start out with. I am hesitant to just buy one of the starter kits at the local stores as I think they may be of doubtfull quality and many of the materials and hooks in them are not necessarily geared toward jigs. I felt my money might be better spent on buying a quality vice, bobbin, whip finisher, and any other recommended tools and putting the rest of my money towards buying materials that I would actually use and in a variety of colors. Also, I am curious if it is worth investing in kevlar thread or if the standard stuff is fine. I have ordered a video from First Bite that I am hoping will give me the instuction that I will need on the actual tying process. Any thought and input are greatly appreciated.

Hello KDog,

As an avid jig tyer, the best recommendation I can make to you is to get a quality vise. Trust me, if you get into the jig tying and like doing it (it is addictive), your best bet would be to spend extra money on a good vise.
I prefer the cam style jaws, I have a Renzetti cam vise and it is amazing. Pinch a hook in there and push down on it and you will bend the hook before it moves The cheap vises that usuall come with inexpensive kits will be OK for a while, but they will quickly get worn out and not hold the hook as well as needed for the pressure you put on them.
Good ceramic bobbins will save you headache of broken thread when tying with pressure.
Good scissors is a wise choice too.
I use alot of flat waxed nylon thread that comes in great colors and 100 yard spools, this stuff you can put a significant amount of pressure on w/o breaking it and I like it alot. I have not tried Kevlar, but that is as strong as it gets.
I tie much bigger jigs as a norm than Chad does, although I do tie small ones as well. The flat waxed nylong is good for everything

Since you are just starting out, nothing wrong with seeing if you like it first and starting with an inexpensive kit. If you like it alot.....go for the gold and get the best vise you can afford. When I blew mine out, a buddy of mine shared his experience. He stepped up incrementally and wound up with a cam vise after spending tons on different vises.

Good luck and welcome to the obsession!!!!

I have been using the danvise vise for four years now and its been great for me and only cost around $90! Its a rotary vise and has been tough as nails. I love the waxed flymaster plus from danville. Its like the flat waxed but doesn't fray like the flat wax does at times and its very strong! If you are on more of a budget I would look at the danvise, I am going to do a short video review of it when I get time just for this kind of question. Good luck, it sure is addicting.

Great advice John, was thinking about tying a few "ideas" myself.

On the Little N.fork
Dave

Thank you guys!! That is just what I was looking to hear. In some other research I have done I heard people say, ohh don't bother with a spendy vice, mine was only $10 and works fine and even someone who said they used a set of needle-nose vice grips that were welded to a mounting bracket! Good thing I went to the experts. I have a do it once and do it right mentality so this is just the push I need to get a nice vice and basic tools. I was bit worried about the "beginner kits" with a vice and all the fixins straight down to hooks and half of which I didn't think I really needed for way to reasonable a price. If you think of anything else let me know! I don't have too many posts here yet but I have been "stalking" this site for nearly a year and a half and you helped get me into my first summer run this last year. I beat water with a spoon for several days with a couple of hits and no hook-ups and then tied on a jig and on the second cast..... WAMO!!!, summer steelhead numero uno. Many thanks and keep spreading the addiction.

I would have to dissagree with regards to purchasing a cheaper vice. A middle of the road 40-60$ bare bones cam-action vice will give you all the preformance a hobbiest jig tier could ask for. I purchased one about five years ago and it just recently gave out on me. It took four years of production abuse before it finally did go. I suppose that I couldn't justify putting a higher end vice to my heavy hands during my tying sessions. I suppose if you are taking the buy quality buy once approach, a good strategy, buying an upper end vice wouldn't be so bad, though it certainly isn't necessary. Other than that ceramic tipped/tube bobbins are a must I think as are dependable scisors, and a pair of sturdy hackle pliers. As for thread I like 3/0 mono cord or flat waxed, although it does fray. Kevlar thread may be "whats in" for jig tying but I don't like it. Kevlar builds to quickly and I don't think it holds as well as 3/0. Other than that go have fun jig tying, pretty soon you'l' be making up reasons why you just need a few more or that new color.

Thanks Seamslayer,

I especially appreciate everyones views on thread as it is hard to research the pros and cons online. After considering everyones posts I came to the following conclusions. Renzetti? is a bit out of my price range at this time but looks like they make some extremely high quality stuff. Danvice is right in there for what I can afford but some reviews online indicate that they have some kind of main pivot point/ screw which has a tendency to break for some people. I think I have narrowed my choice down to either an HMH sx or a Dynaking kingfisher. Both are a no frills cam style with a fixed angle and a fully rotating head. I think I am leaning towards the HMH in a pedistal set-up as it has a collar to adjust how easy the head rotates and the cam lever appears a bit more robust. Both retail for about $130. As a side note, the cheapos I was worried about are the $25 variety. Thanks all and I'll figure out how to post some pics of my masterpieces!

I think the problems people have with the danvise or any vise for that matter is lack of experience and over tightening the jaws. I have tied thousands of jigs on my danvise without one problem! Maybe I am lucky but from people I have talked to they all love the danvise. I would still recommend it as a great vise.

Chad,

You are probably right about the over-clamping thing. With that particular vice, quite a few of the reviewers mentioned the importance of reading the directions. Could be the few who didn't that had the problems and of course it would still be someone else's fault. Might have to take another look at them. If you use it as your primary set up, I would imagine it would last me a lifetime of tying a few dozen jigs per year. I had one other question if I may, does anyone know how much heavy barbells weigh for each size? Say 1/4 and 5/16 inch size. For example, does a 1/4" roughly tie into a 1/8 Oz jig?