Fly Tying

**northcountry** · 08-27-2010, 01:38 AM

How many members are either amateur or professional tyers who sell their flies? How did you start out? Who do you sell your flies to and how did you make that connection? Any other pertinent information?

Im not trying to do this myself, not in the near future, but Im curious and interested. Thanks.

**Troutastic** · 08-27-2010, 04:26 PM

Might wanna start by putting an ad out in the paper, put out a few feelers and see what kind of response you can get.

My fly tying sales are limited at the moment to a couple dozen to some friends on the cheap every now and then.

**Esopus Guy** · 08-30-2010, 07:09 PM

Learning how to tie. I started the old Irish way holding the hook in my left and just made stuff happen. After a few weeks, blisters and some fish on I went to Dunkin D's and said "I can Do this". Found a starter kit at Gander MT. After you learn just a few techniques from these starter sets you'll be able to pick up a fly and immediately know how it was put together. The hardest part is keeping your porportions right and knowing how to manipulate different materials.

As far as selling them....... Go on Catskill Flies forum and drum yourself up some business with PM's to it's members....lol Lots of guys hungry over there for some quality stuff that they can't get. Like that Czech pattern you picked up from there with absolutely no weight other than the brass bead.. Or get a vendors permit and set up right out side their door. You'll sell em' ;D I started by catching fish and having guys on the river ask me what i was using,I would open my box up full of crap and colors they had never seen on a nymph and say any thing you see catches fish............ How many you want?
As you witnessed the other day, sometimes it's not the fly but how you fish it.

**frankm205** · 08-30-2010, 09:07 PM

I bought some used vises and materials on Craigs list. Then I asked Brandon to show me some tips, and I was off. i'll never make any money at selling them but I can now tie them good enough where they catch fish. Also, following the TPO flys of the month were really helpful. Those first few though WOW it's amazing I ever caught fish with them.

It would be cool to hear how guys like Aaron and Davy got started.

**Magnet** · 08-31-2010, 12:28 AM

A friend of AJ's recently pulled a limb out of a popular hole on the Farmington. On it there were a number of woven flies. This friend said," I recognized whose flies were on that limb. Some of them looked good and had to be AJ's. Some of them looked like a 6 year old tied them. They must be Bob's."

**dooberhoopa** · 08-31-2010, 10:42 AM

Nice poke at CF B, that was awesome. Anyways, i picked up one of the starter kits over at gander too and B is right once you get the basics all u need is the recipe and you'll know how to put a fly together. Like frank i wont make any money on mine but my friends and i do trade flies for gas money!

**frankm205** · 08-31-2010, 01:54 PM

Any Vladi fingers on that limb Bob?

**Magnet** · 08-31-2010, 05:23 PM

Ha ha! If i relied on my ties for gas money id be riding a bike to the stream. I know at times my tying skills have hampered my takes but by and large i can intice a hit with frequency because I have payed attention to the detail in my presentation. AJ gets a kick out of my ties. In Montana I had Aaron and Alain busting a gut when I opened my fly box for them. They meticulously examined each one and critiqued it. It was a lot of fun.

**northcountry** · 08-31-2010, 08:19 PM

Great advice guys. I had a starter kit given to me as a gift about 10 years ago. Back then I wasnt much interested in it, but I tried a few from the instruction book. Im not sure they would qualify as flies...or anything for that matter. But earlier this year I pulled that vise out of the closet and started again, this time I had discovered this site and learned a ton from great threads like this one. Since then I have upgraded gear, my ties have all fooled the fish so I guess Im doing something right. I get such a kick out of tying up something, either following a recipe or tweaking it to my own ideas, then catching fish with it. Tying flies has really changed everything about fly fishing for me, for the better of course.

I doubt Ill ever have enough time in the week to tie enough flies to sell, but thanks for the info everyone. And If there are any fly swaps coming up in the near future, Id love to join in.