Should I Tie My Own Flies?

Any angler, who has presented a fly to foraging game fish, whether in fresh or saltwater, has contemplated tying his own flies. Whether or not to pursue this endeavor then becomes the operational question. At first blush this may seem to be a simple question. The simplicity or complexity of this decision is dependent upon one’s approach to tying after an affirmative decision has been made.

Fly tying is a methodical undertaking that requires the acquisition of a set of good tying tools, the mastery of some fundamental tying skills and techniques, and an understanding of fly tying materials as they relate to the tying of artificial flies.  Contemporary information about fly tying is composed of a voluminous collection of books, magazines, videotapes, DVD’s and Internet presentations. These are extremely useful sources of information, especially for experienced tyers. I believe that beginning tyers can best be served by seeking the services of a competent instructor. “ THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AT THE VISE!”

Good tying classes will provide you with an opportunity to use tying tools so you do not have to spend valuable dollars on them while you are deciding whether or not to adopt fly tying as a hobby. A knowledgeable instructor will provide you with insights into tools, tying materials and flies that you will need to tie.  Your tuition costs for a good fly tying class will save you both; frustration and money in the long term.

Neophyte tyers often wish to save money by tying their own fly patterns.  A degree of economic efficiency can be achieved but accomplishing this is contingent upon some important considerations. An initial outlay of capital is required, as with any new endeavor. Your initial investment of dollars should be applied to the best tools that you can afford or to a good fly tying kit that will get you tools and basic materials you will need to get started.

Contemporary tiers, have at their disposal, a voluminous array of natural and synthetic tying materials, including genetically engineered feathers, specialty hooks and a broad range of synthetics. The proper material for the job is something that you can glean from a well-designed tying class. Purchase of the correct materials can save you some money by focusing your attention on specific items, rather than multiple choices. “Some sage advice for beginning fly tiers would be to purchase only those components that you will need to tie the patterns that you are going to use! As your tying progresses you will probably accumulate additional items. Following this simple adage will help you to tie economically.