Quote Originally Posted by Buddy Sanders View Post
The only US based 'professional' tiers I know that are making a decent living at it tie only specialty flies. Mostly their own patterns and/or local favorites in their areas that the mass producing companies don't tie.

And, most of them are supplementing fly tying with other fishing related pursuits; guiding, writing, demos, classes, etc.

It's hard work, and takes incredible dedication. But it CAN be done.

Buddy
Both the Dettes and the Darbees were custom tiers, and in Castkill Flytier, Darbee notes that he wouldn't have made it had he only produced for the large houses. Walt Dette worked many jobs and Winnie worked at a bank nearly her entire tying career, if I remember the history correctly. Rube Cross died broke.

It seems not much has changed.