Cheaper?

[Tom Johnston]

I am just starting out in fishing salt water for SRC's, silvers, and Kings. Is it cheaper now or in the long run to start tying my own fly's? Paying almost $4 for a salt fly is pretty spendy. I dont mind spending that amount, but if I start fly fishing salt more I may consider it. I have never gotten into tying flys yet. I just started back into fly fishing recently(took a really long break, and got my but kicked). Is tying more of a calming hobby? I have just gone to the local fly shop and bought their flys.

[Preston]

Potentially, it's cheaper to tie your own flies but, for most of us, the allure of tying becomes so great that we wind up spending more on materials, hooks and all of the other impedimenta over the years that I question whether any kind of saving actually occurs. If you wish to limit yourself to tying saltwater flies I don't doubt that you could realize some economies after amortizing the initial high cost of a good vise and a stock of hooks and materials. The big advantage, of course, is the ability to craft flies of precisely the right size and incorporating exactly the features that you desire.

[Richard Olmstead]

Most people don't save much money, if any, by tying their own flies. However, as Preston suggested, if you are the sort of person who fishes a limited number of fly patterns and isn't into trying every dam pattern in the book, or on the internet, or that you've created out of whole cloth, you probably can save some money. If you are going to fish mostly fresh water and only hit the salt occasionally, you are probably better off buying flies for the salt.

In my experience (which doesn't come close to Preston's, or many on this board), I don't lose many flies in the salt, because there are fewer obstacles to snag them on and I use larger diameter tippet, so I don't break them off in fish so often.

D

[david.schepers]

You may see a turn around eventually. However it would be way more likely if you limit your self to a particular spicies, ive been tying for two years and have tied many flies for species I have yet to fish for, I have also purchased tons of fly materials I may never use. Its an addiction and a fun one at that, once you get the enitial equipment its not that expencive, just do it if you can its way more rewarding even if its a 6 inch cutt

[Tom Johnston]

I see what you all are saying. Im not trying to be a cheap ass, just figured Id ask the question I did not have an answer to! Its probly a darn good feeling to catch a fish on a fly that I created. Some thing I may have to get into. Its amazing that you can take several materials from animals and turn it into something to catch fish on. On like a minnow pattern for the salt does the fly shop carry the eyes that you glue onto the hook? What kind of glue do you use?

[Preston]

Yes, fly shops carry a variety of stick-on eyes. "Stick-on" may be misleading, most of them have a small amount of adhesive on the back to hold them in place while they are secured in some other way. Epoxy is commonly used, not only to glue the eye in place but to form a protective coating afterwards. I often use Softex for this purpose and find it works well and is faster than using epoxy. If you really want to attach the eye securely, glue it in place with epoxy of Softex, take a couple of turns of extra-fine monofilament tying thread over the eye, then apply the protective top coat.

[Tom Johnston]

Cool, thank you. Think I may have to start tying for my self. Seems fun to do. Something else for my wife to harass me about!

[twinlakesleach]

If you end up saving money by tying your own flies, let me know how you did it! I have about 6K invested in tying materials and i just keep adding to it!!!! I don't tie to save money.

Twinlakesleach

[Steven Green]

1. you might save money after 100 years or so.
2. Once you tie one fly, you will never want to buy another one, you'll just want to learn how to tie it.
3. there is always a cool looking material you want to try out.
4. Endless variations you can make on your own flies will make you tie more flies than you will ever possibly need.

Enjoy

[Tom Johnston]

1. you might save money after 100 years or so.
2. Once you tie one fly, you will never want to buy another one, you'll just want to learn how to tie it.
3. there is always a cool looking material you want to try out.
4. Endless variations you can make on your own flies will make you tie more flies than you will ever possibly need.

Enjoy

Niiiiicccceeeeee. Think I will be buying a vise and material soon. Sounds like an addiction!

[Rick Sharp]

take the plunge and start tying, then post your patterns and pics for all to see.

[Allison]

It's a super fun hobby. I don't know if it's cheaper, probably not, but it's so nice to just pull out the goods and tie up what you'll need for an upcoming trip,

[Tom Johnston]

Yeah I am noticing that more and more. Help keep me home and not out spending money because I am bored.

[nb_ken]

2. Once you tie one fly, you will never want to buy another one, you'll just want to learn how to tie it.

I seem to remember there were (and maybe still are) places where you can buy flies already tied on hooks. But, they're kinda like the women's formal wear department in a department store. I'm vaguely aware that they exist, but if I ever had to actually buy a pre-tied fly or an evening gown, I'm not sure how I would go about it.

:)

[Gary Thompson]

As for the wife harassing you.
You know your having fun when the feathers start to fly.

[Tom Johnston]

Yeah it means more when you catch a fish on a custom fly you tyed.

[gigharborflyfisher]

I can become cheaper, once you get some flies down and kind of get your favored selection picked out. It really does depend on the flies a lot. Some are just much more time and /or material intensive than others. The joy of tying really isn't in if it is cheaper or not, it is in the freedom the create what ever comes to mind and catch fish on something that you yourself tied.

[ansas]

Once upon a time it may have been less expensive to tie your own. Now it is not cheaper now nor is it cheaper in the long run. Actually, it is hugely expensive in the long run.

If you use button hole twist, shedding from the dog, stuff you salvage off road kill, any stray fibers/hair/etc. that you can collect, and make flies out of that stuff and use those flies to fish with........you'll find it IS cheaper.

Been there, done that. (It's like the 5 mile hike to school every day in a snow storm.)

But if you ever buy half of one Metz neck and some antron, you've wasted your time scrounging, except of course for the "character building" aspect of it.

Really, tying is a way to go fishing when you can't go fishing. Which when you think about it is alot like shopping for fly tying material."-)

[kodiaksalmon]

Depending on your volume, it'll be cheaper or more expensive. If you're my Dad, and you have a couple of fishing trips a year, mainly for trout, and it behooves you to stop in a local shop and stock up on the current, local hatch, tying flies won't be beneficial....and he doesn't.

If you're me, and you fish 150-200 days a year for pike and muskie, then tying your own becomes prerequisite. For a couple of reasons: the flies I tie for muskie, you can't find in a fly shop or catlog; and if you did, they'd be $20 a piece. I spend probably $250/month in materials and it stocks my fly boxes for the year. But between spinner blades, Flashabou, wire shafts, clevises, splitrings, and 10/0 Gamakatsu's, it adds up. But still allows me to use my own patterns (not just flies, but [I]patterns[I]). Which brings me to another primary reason I tie-

I enjoy the creative aspect of it. I like conjurring up muskie patterns, and having them work. I like when people see my flies and ask me, "you didn't tie that did you?" Or when people ask me if I sell them.

If you're gonna fish alot, tie your own.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/kodiaksalmon/P4060008.jpg
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