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I'm clueless on this but both my mum and dad like to do a bit of fly fishing. My dad's quite into doing crafts, diy etc. so I thought about some sort of fly tying kit and instruction book. Not entirely sure what I'm looking for in terms of materials though.
Are there any enthusiasts that might be able to offer some better idea? My budget is below £50.
Hipflask and single malt.
I imagine they will be very particular about their fly tying and you'll only get the wrong stuff.
you may have some inspiration here:
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/christmas.html
and here:
http://www.johnnorris.co.uk/shop/ty_947-*christmas-gifts/
Its a tricky thing to buy for - how likely are your folks to buy you an MTBing Xmas present that doesnt suck? 🙂
A book by JR Hartley perhaps?
They're not big on drinking unfortunately and I'm not sure they're fly fishing connoisseurs as they just use it as an excuse to get outdoors and pass some pleasant time at the loch.
I'm sure the gesture and thought will probably be appreciated as much as the quality/value of the gift. Whatever I get needs to be useful and not too gimicky.
A big rubber salmon to hold up in pictures when the day has been not so successful but they don't want to admit it.
Rachel
I got a nice priest a couple of years ago
http://www.purdey.com/clothing-accessories/stag-horn-priest-priest001.aspx
You can buy a pretty basic intro fly-tying kit for £50 (e.g. [url= http://www.fishingmegastore.com/veniard-complete-fly-tying-kit~3144.html ]Veniard Complete Fly Tying Kit[/url] ) but as Stoner says, this might be a bit like buying an MTB enthusiast an Apollo (look darling, it's got a spring at the back and everything!) A good vice alone will cost more than £50.
Books are always good, and I can strongly recommend [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matching-Hatch-Stillwater-River-Stream/dp/1853108227 ]Matching the Hatch[/url] by Pat O'Reilly. Does a first class job in explaining what fly fishing is [i]really [/i]all about. (I've fished with Pat, a top bloke and the fly fishing equivalent of someone like Jedi.)
£50 is not enough to get a "Beginners kit" for fly tying.
2 alternatives send me the £50 and I will give an introductory lesson
or
a couple of [url= http://www.fishtec.co.uk/buy.cfm/fly-boxes/wychwood-tackle-vuefinder-fly-boxes/40/no/45928 ]These[/url]
Does he already tie his own flies?
If so then materials might be good. Depends what kind of flies he ties but my dad always had rabbit and pheasant hides handy for the fur/feathers.
I like that Jota180. Had to google what it actually was but it's quite a nice thing as killing implements go and will last him all his days.
A stag horn priest whilst it looks nice is not very good to use as intended.
Malcolm Greenhalgh has published a book on loch fishing.
A year's supply of midge repellant?
What's wrong with a stag horn priest? Not weighted correctly, not easily cleaned?
Nice heavy metal head is more efficient. You don't want to use more than one blow.
[i]A book by JR Hartley perhaps? [/i]
If only there were a useful source of information about shops that might stock such a title that didn't rely on a working internet connection.
One day such a thing will be available.
Depends what/where they're fishing? Small trout flies are notoriously hard to tie-an incredibly steady hand and a magnifying glass are essential. I've tried it, but ended up buying online as it's a skill I'm happy to pay someone else for. Besides, professionally tied flies are a thing of beauty. How about finding the rivers/locations they fish on then buy some nice flies from a local shop relevant to the area. Also flies are different depending on time of the year-nymphs etc so maybe want to get them a 'year round' supply.
£50 is not enough to get a "Beginners kit" for fly tying.
+1 for that, the kits you can buy are garbage and 90% of the materials will be unusable. For £50 I don't think you could put together the basics either. Also the type of fishing they do will have a big impact on the materials they need, a reservoir fly selection will look very different to one for small streams for example.
If they are interested in starting tying then maybe a nice tool kit;
http://www.lakelandflytying.com/80055/products/dr-slick-fly-tyer-tool-kit.aspx
Other than that it is better to stick to consumables IMO, so boring things like tippet, gink etc.
Of course if you really loved them you'd get them a LAW vice!
Very difficult to buy stuff for anglers without doing the equivalent of giving a pair of knee pads to a time trialist.
Even something like a fly box means you have to know what type of flies they're using.
Zinger/nipper/forceps set is pretty much universal and always needed
[url= http://www.fishtec.co.uk/buy.cfm/zingers,-nippers-and-tools/dr.-slick-deluxe-gift-set/40/no/68718 ]http://www.fishtec.co.uk/buy.cfm/zingers,-nippers-and-tools/dr.-slick-deluxe-gift-set/40/no/68718[/url]
A couple of books and a DVD recommendation.
Rivers and Lochs of Scotland - great fishing directory details pretty much all the Trout and Salmon waters in Scotland. Great for planning trips.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivers-Lochs-Scotland-Anglers-Complete/dp/1845027116
Sea Trout Fishing - not fly fishing specific but is one of the best fishing books available.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Trout-Fishing-Hugh-Falkus/dp/1841881848
Kiss the Water - a documentary about one of the greatest fly tying masters Megan Boyd from Sutherland. Collections of her work are still in demand today and fetch a fair bit of money at auctions.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiss-The-Water-Eric-Steel/dp/B00IIK6CE2
I second the comments about kits that are available, not very good at all, think along the lines of bike tool kits available from supermarkets. Far better would be one or two quality tools or a nice vice.
What's wrong with a stag horn priest? Not weighted correctly, not easily cleaned?
Mine is weighted nicely with a lead insert and cleans up very easily [when I can be bothered]
I had a few thoughts last night, if they fish catch an kill places then maybe a smoker;
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/snowbee-steel-smoker.html
Or if they like tea then maybe a Kelly kettle;
http://www.kellykettle.com/kelly-kettles.html
I can't believe I'm doing this,
but,
coke and hookers? Boom boom.
If you see a dead badger on the road - harvest the fur and tan it.
Brilliant for flyties as it's hollow - I managed to get some for my dad from when we had a cull.
Or buy an old proper shaving doodah.
Badger ?
If you see a dead badger at the side of the road stay well clear.