marcvansluys Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I've been thinking about this lately. I guess it depends where you shop for them, and the quality of your own ties. I'm gonna say no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliesbymike Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 In the long run I think you do . It is definately more of a thrill to catch them on what you tie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ÜberFly Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I would say it depends what you value... Convenience vs. quality. "Usually" if you buy cheap the hooks will bend out or unravel sooner rather then later, and if you tie your own you can definitely control the quality!! may cost you in the short term and save you in the long run!! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnotLikely Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Save money...I wish! Once you're addicted to tying, you end up buying material you need, material you might need, material you think you need, but already have at least two of, so no you don't save money. That's said, it is rewarding catching, or seeing others catch on your flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hooks $4 for 25 =.16 ea beeds $7 for 25= .28 ea goose biots $5 for Oh say 300=.02 ea peacock hearl $5 for say 300=.o2 ea hackle $20 for say 200 =.10 ea thread $5 for say 100 flies =.05 total $.63 to tie a prince. Just guessing at costs but i should be close. Even if you add wire and glue its still under a buck each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Even if you add wire and glue its still under a buck each. Mike, you didn't factor in the cost and depreciation of your vise and tools plus time. You'd need to tie a lot of flies to start breaking even on what you spent on your tools and vise I think. I know I spend far more money tying my own than I would buying them, but it lets me come up with my own creations and variations and use higher quality hooks and materials. Plus when the fly shops are sold out of the "hot" fly I can just spin some up on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Ya theres the vise and other tools but if ones frugal with the materials like dollar store type items.Buy only what your gonna use,lets face it we all pay to much for stuff we don't need and just sits on the bench. I think allot depends on the fly.SJW's princes PT stones leetches......... and most drys can be made for less then what fly shops are charging now. I thinks it $2.50 ea If you stick to just the materials you need then its cheaper.Its when you start buying other materials and tools that you could do without is when it all goes out the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnotLikely Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hooks $4 for 25 =.16 ea beeds $7 for 25= .28 ea goose biots $5 for Oh say 300=.02 ea peacock hearl $5 for say 300=.o2 ea hackle $20 for say 200 =.10 ea thread $5 for say 100 flies =.05 total $.63 to tie a prince. Just guessing at costs but i should be close. Even if you add wire and glue its still under a buck each. That's if you're a responsible purchaser, and only tie a few patterns, once you get addicted and go off the deep end, you have to factor in the cost of: - multiple vises - extra clamps or bases for each vise - at least a half dozen bobbins and scissors - dozens of threads and flosses in every conceivable colour and size - nymph hooks, scud hooks, streamer hooks, dry hooks, salmon hooks, shanks, tubes, salt water hooks, stinger hooks, all in various sizes, bends and eyes - crystal flash, cheneille, flashabou, rubber legs, rubber hackle, tinsel in various colours and sizes - at least 2 dozen types of marabou in various colours - Grizzly hackle in all grades, and at least 3 colours - Brown and black hackle in all grades - a dozen or so salt water hackles and schlappen - every conceivable colour and texture of dubbing - a few different types of epoxy, glues and head cement - hares masks - rabbit strips - temple dog - pb if you're lucky - ostrich and rhea - pheasant tail in at least natural, olive, black and red - deer hair, elk hair, - squirrel tail - pheasant skins - partridge skins - lady amherst - golden pheasant tippets - a few different dubbing twisters - containers to hold all the stuff - cabinets to hold all the containers - goose biots - turkey biots - peacok hearl - turkey flats - mallard flank - teal flank - bronze mallard - beads in every conceivable size shape and colour - foam - a few different foam cutters - a UV light - nearly as much yarn as your grandmother. - doubles of about 60% of the above ...that's why it's not cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 LOL forgot stuff for the tying room such as laptops stereos desks fancy chairs just to name a few. I don't disagree with you,I've spent my share.But i think its possible to be cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Short answer for me is no, but I dont do it to save money. I never come out of the fly shop without more than what I went in there to buy, For me it is a pleasurable activity to pass the off season. Being able to customise one's flies is also valuable. For example, I find that alot of the patterns have the proportions a little off, especially small flies like midges. They are almost always too fat. The ability to use better materials is key ie, better hooks, tungsten vs. brass beads. I think if a guy were to only tie what patterns they fish in large numbers, and only tied those flies it may save money in the long term. The problem with that is hardly anyone does that. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 420FLYFISHIN Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 save even more money by doing what i did and find some one who is selling their ENTIRE collection for 25 cents to the dollar. I have well over $2000 worth that i picked up for $550. 2 vises (regal and a renzetti), and doubles of everything with little to know use out of either (when i first got them) all the tools under the sun, *hit even the renzetti foam tool caddy. Over 500 hook in a variety of sizes and styles and oodles of thread..... Leaches break down to Mustad 3x #10 (25/pk)/$2.50 = 10 beeds $7 for 25 = 28 marabou tail $2.50/pk = 6 1 hen cape feather = 3 (tops) thread and glue = 5 total a whopping $0.42!! i tied 30 last night and doing so again tonight. but you must fish a lot for this scheme to work....dang i got a good wife..... WARNING!!!!!!! you can however WAIST a tone of money by buying low quality capes or bad chunks of pelt that you didnt inspect before purchasing. You can get a cheap hen cape for $12 but you can get a really nice "Whiting Farms" or "Metz" for $20. The extra $8 will get you much better quality feathers resulting in much better flies. The other way is to buy things you will not be using that much ie. there is no point in tying for Golden Durados when your not planning on doing to South America in the future (YES THIS INCLUDES STEEL HEAD)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownonbow Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 MONEY? This is fly fishing, you have come to the wrong place to save $... If you want to save some coin go to Frank Sissons or the Elbow River Casino. You will spend less there than you will at the flyshop. Seriously though, it all depends on how much you fish and how many flies you typically lose on said trips. My .02 is to get into tying slowly. Buy a $20 dollar vise and start with some san juans (there is no way these flies are worth $2.50) then move up to some buggers, and finally a few easily tied nymphs. If after all that you decide to tie dries, well that's ok too, I just find that I don't lose as many of these because they don't snag bottom. When purchasing material for a fly I always try to go home and tie up the retail value of my purchase in flies, figuring a cost of $2.50 a piece. That way I feel I have at least gotten fair value for what I bought and if I don't use any more of that material I'm even in my mind. Factoring in time spent tying I don't think you can balance it out to favor tying your own, but tying gives you a better understanding of what your fishing and what fly to tie onto the end of your line when the bugs are hatching...or are not. At the end of the day, I think tying should not be boiled down to whether or not your saving money. We don't fish to save money and I don't think we should tie to save money either. It is, like fishing, just a great way to spend some time learning about the sport we all love. P.S. Have I showed you my new 5 weight 4 piece fly rod with increased line speed and hook setting ability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Have I showed you my new 5 weight 4 piece fly rod with increased line speed and hook setting ability? The one made with multiple, carefully chosen high modulous carbon fibers and a new space age resin system? LOL. That is a classic. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timo Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hey when I signed up for this hobby no one told me there would be so much math involved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hey when I signed up for this hobby no one told me there would be so much math involved! We need top bury this thread in case out wives find it. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adc Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I've been thinking about this lately. I guess it depends where you shop for them, and the quality of your own ties. I'm gonna say no. No.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfishy Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 DONT' DO IT This hobby takes all your life to learn, I did it.@ still livin the dream. PS buy good hooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTownTBoyz Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 There is no question that you save money tying flies - for sure. And you can make it as expensive as you want with tools etc. I use a NorVise (I paid $200.00 at the time) , ceramic bobbin ($20.00) and scissors ($25.00).....and occasionally a Bodkin($2.00). And I've tied everything including Classic Atlantic Salmon flies, Bonefish Flies, Bass Flies, Tarpon Flies, and of course trout flies. If you get a ceramic bobbin it will last forever, the one I use I've had for close to 7 years. I've had my NorVice for 12 years, but I replace my scissors about every two years ($20.00- $30.00). I have some material from first tying kit that I got when I was 13...I'm 37. I tied commercially for years and I figure I've tied somewhere between 40k and 50k flies (that is a scary thought....but what’s even more scary is I know some people that tie that many every year or two). The materials that can get expensive are Dry Fly Hackle, and Hooks. That said, Dry Fly Hackle (Saddles) last a long long long time. And lately I don't even use them much....The mayflies I tie are usually Comparaduns (no hackle...and they work the best - even for the toughest fish). Fly Tying will save you money, but the most valuable thing you’ll get from it is an understanding of the fishes prey, their habits/behaviors etc. An absolutely essential component of an accomplished Fly Fisher is the ability to tie flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryH Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Count me with the NO's. For me, it never was about saving money. Probably 95% of the flies in my flyboxes are not available in any fly shop. The reason I tie my own flies is quite simple -- I get exactly what I want. Besides, what else is there to do during a cold Alberta winter? Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeler Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 After seeing the prices for some steelhead flies (some around $20 a piece for an intruder style), I won't feel as bad if I lose a couple to fish or snags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboy Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 In the words of my wife " How the #$@& can it be cheaper to tie your own flies when you start with a $400.00 whateverthatthingis(norvise)" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulltrout Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 it depends on the materials and the patterns themselves...also, if your tying makes you money then it would drastically tip the scales... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastBoyScout Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Yes as most of my ties are basic caddis, pt, prince, etc. and I use mostly my own flies. The added benifit is it keeps me from going nuts during these 8 month winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I've spent a ton of money on materials etc that would take decades to recover in the savings per fly. However I really enjoy it, so it's worth it. For me, the fun is coming up with my own patterns. A lot more rewarding that using commercial flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDoctor Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Not an easy question, you are assuming that by buying a vice and some materials you can tie all flies you want and need, and maybe you can, but there is a learning curve, normally many years. The average guy doesn't use up all his materials, often buys hundreds of dollars worth to tie a few flies or gives up on it. Then there are those (I'm guilty) who make it part of a lifestyle akin to religion. Tying becomes a zen and so part of life. I tied commercially for years (my sons still says his education was paid for with fur and feathers) it's more of a hobby now with just a few clients. I've seen and taught countless people at many levels of tying, the bulk give up on it for various reasons, lack of dexterity and patience is the most common. I'd say that if you want to tie just to save money you won't. If you want to tie to learn more about trout hatches and the sport itself then it's worth it. What I find odd is people who do not hesitate to lay down hundreds if not thousands of dollars in rods reels wader etc. and refuse to invest a few bucks in the most important piece of equipment you can have that is closest to that elusive trout. They buy cheap offshore flies that often unravel quickly, have no bearing on what is hatching locally and thus support questionable labor laws offshore. Effectively destroying local markets. So I guess the question is why do you want to tie? If its to save money it will take a long time to realize a return on investment. For some it is good for the pocketbook for others it's good for the soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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