I've been fly-fishing for a few years now and want to start tying my own flies. Any recommendations about getting a "starter set" (seen in Cabelas) or any videos or books that are good? (I mostly fly-fish for Salmon, steelhead, and Trout...few dry flies on lakes but mostly streamers.) Thanks in advance!

AS A TIER MY SELF MY ADVICE TO YOU WOULD BE TO GET ONE OF THE STARTER KITS FROM CABELAS OR BASS PRO SHOP THAT HAS A VIDEO WITH IT. THAT IS HOW I GOT STARTED I GOT ON AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT AND DIDN'T THINK THAT I WOULD EVER EVEN USE IT BECAUSE I MOSTLY FLY-FISH FOR BASS AND PAN FISH AND IT WAS A KIT FOR TROUT FLIES. I FINALLY PULLED IT OUT ONE DAY AND PLAYED WITH IT AND REALLY LIKED IT AND IT WAS VERY USEFUL FOR LEARNING THE BASIC TECHNIQUES FOR TYING AND IT HAD ALL THE BASIC TOOLS THAT I NEEDED TO TIE MOST KINDS OF FLIES. I STILL USE THE VICE THAT CAME WITH THE KIT, I HAVE BOUGHT NEW ONES SINCE THEN BUT I JUST LIKE THE SIMPLE FIRST ONE THAT I GOT. I HAVE RAN OUT OF ALL THE MATERIALS THAT CAME WITH THE KIT BUT IT GAVE ME A REALLY GOOD START ON THAT TOO. ONCE YOU GET THE BASICS DOWN YOU CAN ATTEND THE SEMINARS THAT THEY HAVE AT CABELAS OCCASIONALLY (THEY HAVE THEM AT THE ONE DOWN HERE AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THEM EVEN MORE OFTEN UP THERE) AND JUST GROW FROM THERE. YOU CAN BUY THE INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS BUT MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DO A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL FINDS HUNDREDS OF WEB SITES WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TIE THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT FLIES. ANYTIME THAT I FIND A GOOD ONE THAT I REALLY LIKE I PRINT IT OUT AND KEEP IT IN A THREE RING BINDER AT HOME THAT IS DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK IT UP IT IF I WANT TO DO IT LATER ( I HAVE ABOUT FOUR 3" BINDERS FULL AS OF RIGHT NOW AND THEY KEEP GROWING). WHICHEVER PATH YOU PLAN TO TAKE TO GET INTO IT I SUGGEST THAT YOU DEFINITELY GET INTO IT. THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU CATCH A BIG FAT HOG ON A FLY THAT YOU TIED YOURSELF WEATHER IT IS A BASS OR A SALMON IT IS A VERY REWARDING FEELING.

Medium,
I don't know where in Oregon your from but if there is a good fly shop around you I would strongly encourage you to take a beginner class.
A good instructor can show you techniques that you cant get from a book or video.
I had tied flies for years before I took my first class, and I was amazed at how much I learned.
KC

medium,
Shoot me a PM with a good mailing address and I'll send you a couple copies of Fly Tyer magazine.
Matt