Where Do You Buy Your Flies?

[Steve Dally]

The best way to get "cheap flies" is to learn to tie them yourself. Yes there are some startup costs, vice materials (the list you "need" seems never ending. But if your worried about cents per fly its the best way to go. Lots of stores/clubs have tying classes, for instance we are starting a whole new program in '08, thatare either free or charge pretty much for materials you will take home. And its fun.

And a lot of the flies we use here, zebra midges, scuds etc are pretty easy to replicate. You can fiddle with weighting color etc to suit your own needs.

Fly costs are basically about the time to tie them and what it costs.

The cheapie flies are basically African in origin (did anyone say sweatshop lol) with minimalist salary conditions.

The good commercial patterns Umpqua Rainys etc have well established o/s operations (cos the labor is still cheaper) with well trained and for the local economy well paid workers. These companies use better materials better hooks etc and the quality if generally very high.

Now think about whatyour time is worth. How long would it take you to tie a dozen flies _ an hour? that's one every 5 minutes for the full hour? Even at minimum wage that makes the fly more expensive than the 50c figure you mentioned, not including the materials.

We buy a pretty extensive list of local patterns, soft hackles, midges, sowbugs, speciality buggers and so on we contract out to local tiers. The demand is there because they work.

They are more expensive, but we think local tiers deserve a better deal than someone in a factory in Africa and y'all deserve better flies.

Oh BTW, check out our remodelled web store

Cheers

Steve

[Tightline]

I agree about the locally tied flys working.Thats why I usually stop at Anglers and Archery,there flys work,and they really are very helpful and friendly.

[zander]

do you guys know what time they open in the mornings?

[Tightline]

Not sure zander, about Anglers and Archery,I always stop on my way home,usually noon or after.

[The Caddis]

Lilley's Landing has a better selection, imo. Also has more variety than most in the materials I use. I've been to Branson 3 times this year, and Phil has been out of town all 3 times. Not sure what is hours are, but he'll have what you need.

[bowfin47]

While I've tyed my own for many years, I'd ask that you think long and hard about where ya' buy your flies, materials and gear... If you don't support your local shop as well as those shops in the areas that you prefer to fish, then you'll find yourself without ANY local shop or shop to visit when ya' hit the trail. We all know of great shops that are no more...

Then you too may have to travel hundreds of miles to personally check out the diffences between A and B or whatever the latest and greatest items are...

Yes, we can all buy it cheaper on line, and I do occasional do just that, but when I buy on line, I first try to check out the shops from the areas that I frequent... Over the years, I've purchsed a number of items and sent local friends to shops owned by friends (i.e. Tom Hargroves in St. Louis). For instance just today, I sent a link to a Cotter shop to my nephew who is in the market purchase a new reel...

Alternatively, I also try to purchase "stuff" at the Federation of Fly Fisher Conclaves from both the raffles/auctions, as well as from the dealers who support the showes.

Tight lines,

Bowfin47

[soggyfeet]

sorry about the two month delay Im trying to catch up on my reading. but consider yourself lucky only spending 40 bucks before leaveing the store the only way i can do that is if i make two visits to the store on one fishing trip. but it is money well spent for the advise you get.

[asgoodson]

I have had good luck online at www.discountflies.com for basic patterns like ants, griffins knats, size 20-22 midge patterns and I really like their hoppers and realistic stone fly patterns.

That said, buying online never stops me from spending $30 or $40 for new tippet and leaders while also picking up half a dozen water specific recommendations.

[Paola Cat]

If I don't tie it myself, I try to give the local shop the opportunity first. Second, I try to give the shop nearest to my favorite stream the opportunity. Third, I have used a multitude of mail order shops like www.bigyflyco.com and www.blueflycafe.com. I have found these OK for certain patterns. I have also got in on massive Kenyan and Thai fly orders that have been OK also. PC

[bobw]

When I started fly fishing I did thr same thing.Every week it was $20-$30 at the local fly shop in Branson. The people at the shop kept trying to talk me into tying my own flys. I didn't think I had the patience to tie my own. But I fish a crackel back a lot on Taney, I couldn't find a good crackel back on the internet, not like we fish hear any way. So I finally made the jump and started tying my own. I not only find I enjoy tying my own flys, but the ones I tie are so much more durable that anything I could buy. The crackels at the shop I might get 5-6 fish before the fly feel apart. The ones I tie I can get 15-20 fish out of one fly. A big money saver. I'm not the best at tying all kinds of flys, but the stuff you use most a Taney can be tied fairly easily. Crackel Back, scuds, wooley buggers, midges. You can definatly save some money and enjoy tying and catching fish on flys you tie yourself.