Do fly shops still sell U.S. tied flies?

[dudemanspecial]

How much money and time I am losing or saving has absolutely zero factor on my decision to be a fly tier.

 

[PennKev]

I get your point about wholesale materials but I cant imagine it's much savings.

For an individual, custom tier, everything is 40-50% cheaper and quality is relatively assured in comparison to scouring the interwebs for a deal.

But, if you were really cranking out flies like in an Asian or African factory you would have some deals worked out for for huge quantities of staple items. Things like chenille, marabou, etc. would be bought in pounds and hundreds of yards. Even things like dry fly hackle would be bought in enormous quantity.

 

[hooker-of-men]

For an individual, custom tier, everything is 40-50% cheaper and quality is relatively assured in comparison to scouring the interwebs for a deal.

But, if you were really cranking out flies like in an Asian or African factory you would have some deals worked out for for huge quantities of staple items. Things like chenille, marabou, etc. would be bought in pounds and hundreds of yards. Even things like dry fly hackle would be bought in enormous quantity.

Guide / "Pro" deals for rods, etc. seem to be about 50% off in my experience. Do you - or does anyone else - have a sense if that roughly equates to the wholesale price a shop is paying for those items?

If so, is that 40-50% off roughly an industry standard that would apply to "pro" tiers and shops buying tying materials too?

 

[PennKev]

If so, is that 40-50% off roughly an industry standard that would apply to "pro" tiers and shops buying tying materials too?

From what I've seen, yes it seems to be the norm for materials.

Certain materials, like dry fly hackle will sometimes be on the lower end of that range, while things like dubbing or marabou will have a bigger margin. This applies to materials packed in retail packaging. I can't offer insight into the purchase or pricing of mass quantities beyond knowing that it is happening.

 

[HopBack]

Jonas from the feathered hook will be happy to sell you locally tied flies at $6-$10 a piece.

 

[jifigz]

Jonas from the feathered hook will be happy to sell you locally tied flies at $6-$10 a piece.

I did have a little bit of sticker shock that day we went in there, and if you remember correctly, I wanted red thread. I didn't realize they didn't sell tying materials.

I don't love a lot of fly shops, but I do appreciate a couple of them. I like Fly Fisher's, and I like Aquatic Imitations. I think the TCO shop in State College is a really nice store, but they rubbed me the wrong way years ago. It isn't all of their employees, but a few. I will admit that I don't like Fly Fisher's as much now as I used to when Steve owned it, either.

To me, the ambiance of the fly shop is what makes or breaks it.

Also, Fly Fisher's definitely sells local flies. The Feathered Hook sells local flies. Spruce Creek sells some local flies. I don't know about any others.

 

[mr7183]

I did have a little bit of sticker shock that day we went in there, and if you remember correctly, I wanted red thread. I didn't realize they didn't sell tying materials.

I don't love a lot of fly shops, but I do appreciate a couple of them. I like Fly Fisher's, and I like Aquatic Imitations. I think the TCO shop in State College is a really nice store, but they rubbed me the wrong way years ago. It isn't all of their employees, but a few. I will admit that I don't like Fly Fisher's as much now as I used to when Steve owned it, either.

To me, the ambiance of the fly shop is what makes or breaks it.

Also, Fly Fisher's definitely sells local flies. The Feathered Hook sells local flies. Spruce Creek sells some local flies. I don't know about any others.

Fly Fisher's sells local flies for sure -- just had this discussion explicitly with them last time I was in the shop.

Completely agree with your point on ambiance. There's a new wave of fly shops staffed by people that I would stereotype as "college bros" and I generally try to avoid those. My favorite shop ever was Fishing Creek Angler in Benton. It had a prime ambiance at a great location, and a cool dog that had to have been 15 years old that would mosey up to every customer that walked through the door.

 

[bringthepain]

Would love to help you out but I tie every fly I fish so my recommendation is to start tying your own quality flies at roughly a quarter per fly. It’s a very straight forward and easy process requiring only the most basic of equipment.

I have never tied a fly. 25 cent average is good. Someday i will get into it i'm sure but at this stage of life i have dont have the time

 

[jifigz]

I can't imagine being a fly fisherman and not tying.

 

[bigslackwater]

I can't imagine being a fly fisherman and not tying.

I can't either but I know many who do not tie.

 

[JimNovo]

Jonas from the feathered hook will be happy to sell you locally tied flies at $6-$10 a piece.

I’ve enjoyed my trips to the “Hook” when my buddy from VA drops $80 on flies and Jonas looks at me and I say “I’m good…I tie!”

But Jonas makes one hell of an omelet for breakfast!!!

 

[poopdeck]

I have never tied a fly. 25 cent average is good. Someday i will get into it i'm sure but at this stage of life i have dont have the time

It’s not as time consuming as searching the internet or a catalog to order flys. It’s also not as time consuming as driving to and from a half stocked fly shop and searching through the bins. it’s easy to learn, easy to do and it does not require a lifetime of studying on a mountaintop in India. The tools can be as basic as basic can be and do not require financing. The hard part is getting started. Once you do you will see just how easy and quick it is to learn.

I just tied up a beastmaster general fly that consists of a couple chicken feathers, 3 Maribou feathers and a pinch of deer hair. On line they sell for 5 to 11 bucks. I tied it for Pennys on the dollar.

 

[mr7183]

It’s not as time consuming as searching the internet or a catalog to order flys. It’s also not as time consuming as driving to and from a half stocked fly shop and searching through the bins. it’s easy to learn, easy to do and it does not require a lifetime of studying on a mountaintop in India. The tools can be as basic as basic can be and do not require financing. The hard part is getting started. Once you do you will see just how easy and quick it is to learn.

I just tied up a beastmaster general fly that consists of a couple chicken feathers, 3 Maribou feathers and a pinch of deer hair. On line they sell for 5 to 11 bucks. I tied it for Pennys on the dollar.

Tying definitely doesn’t save much money. I’m always finding a new pattern that needs different materials. I suppose at a certain point you start to come out ahead, but the payback period is probably a few years between a decent vice, tools, basic materials, and a cape or two.

 

[tomgamber]

Tying definitely doesn’t save much money. I’m always finding a new pattern that needs different materials. I suppose at a certain point you start to come out ahead, but the payback period is probably a few years between a decent vice, tools, basic materials, and a cape or two.

Totally disagree.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Tying definitely doesn’t save much money. I’m always finding a new pattern that needs different materials.

The answer is "don't do that," then.

I look at the sweater boxes stacked in my closet full of things I never used, whereas the bulk of my items could be reduced to craft store rabbit skins, a couple of saddles and a cape or two.