Fly Fishing

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

We who tie flies, at whatever stage of expertise we may be, all have our personal motives for sitting at the vise.

I'd be interested in reading personal insights describing our reasons; is it a practical way to save money? or more a rush to stuff our fly boxes, or to tie a new pattern variation, to experiment, accurately copy, or is it more to relieve stress, relax, pass the time. Tying flies means many things to many people.

I really enjoy tying proven local patterns, copying them as accurately as I can. When I first started tying, I had a much harder time choosing what to tie. Later, and as a guide, I needed to have a wide variety of flies for clients, fresh and salt....now, I find that have more of fewer patterns, that I'm less impressed with snazziness and complexity....and, I feel I know more about what the fish really want to eat, or can be moved to eat, and more about the basics of hooks, materials and their colors and properties. I love tying because, like fly fishing in general, there's no end to what you can learn.

Anyway, food for thought.

AvidDavid · Location: Long Island, NY

My motivation is possibly unusual. Much of my fly fishing is to face the challenge of outsmarting the fish. To achieve a take, my cast, my presentation, my fly must all fool the fish into "taking" the fly. I suspect that some of the time, takes of my flies are out of aggressive protection of the fish's territory; but, I like to think that often, the whole experience is one of presenting food to the fish... food that is appetizing to the fish. If the "food" is appetizing to the fish, it may fool the fish into deciding to eat the fly. When I fish with flies that I buy from some fly outlet/store, I can take credit for the cast and the presentation. But when I tie the fly myself, I feel as though I can take total responsibility for deceiving the fish. My cast, my presentation and the actual food-like substance (the fly) is of my own creation. I feel total involvement and totally responsible for the success. It all just seems more fulfilling to me. I feel smarter than the fish! (Quite often, I feel totally outsmarted by the fish... so catching a few, especially with flies that I have tied, is quite fulfilling.)

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Someday, I would love to devote more time than I currently do, to fly tying .. but, at this point and time in my life, I buy more flies than I tie .. or, "borrow" more flies from my friends than I tie myself. Very Happy

So, when I do tie flies, its almost exclusively out of need. However, I know there will come a day when I have the time that I would like to devote to fly tying and when that day comes, I plan on really investing a lot of quality time and creative energy into tying my own flies .. look forward to it.

greg · Posted: Mon 11/23/09 11:08 am Post subject: Why I Tie flies

I started tying years ago and even started taking a class but do to a myriad of time constraints and not catching anything on my flies, I just bought them. I only went to a few classes and ended this endeavor. I gave all my tying stuff to a local young man with whom I had fished and felt good about it. I have a lot of friends that tie their own flies and age does not seem to be a factor! So it's not one of those "OH! I'm old now and have to Tie my own deals", It's more about being closer to your sport and catching fish on your own flies. If you only buy flies your restricted to what the shop sells and there is no room for self expression or variety. I reinvested in tying materials and stated tying again and am now catching fish on my own flies. That's the point at which you have accomplished something in the sport you love and you tie more, it has it's own momentum and gives you something to do with visiting family in the house.
That's my story and I am sticking to it!

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

It rocks to tie your own! And, you said a lot in a most excellent post! Very Happy