Why are so many reference websites mentioned in answers to tying pattern questions actually commercial sites basically offering flies for sale. I thought that this was not acceptable.
I think it’s because that is where you find a picture of the fly. Most people asking for a pattern aren’t looking to buy flies or maybe just one to copy. They want to see the picture and figure out how the fly is tied.
Ray,
Would you prefer that no Links are to be allowed?
Thanks,
Doug
I like people to point me to vendors that they are happy with. I hate it when owners hype their own products or push what they have to offer and knock down something that they either can’t get a distributorship for or don’t carry that the competition does. It is easy to see through that stuff for the most part.
Please, if I ask for a recomendation on a product and you can save me some time and frustration I would love to know where you got a great deal and where the people were knowledgeable and friendly. I don’t spend money with people that I don’t like. I just have to tell myself “It’s my money” and that it is so much nicer to do business with people that have their stuff together.
One guy’s opinion.
Rick
Ray,
Probably because the sites that offer good photos and/or information about patterns happen to be commercial sites. Of course there are probably non-commercial sites that have patterns with quality photos and information, like Hans’, but I’ve a feeling(and it’s just that) the commercial sites have more time, energy, manpower and $s to devote for what has to take place and what is needed.
Deezel
What’s not acceptable…? if you are looking for references to tying questions and the site(s) provides this info, having flies for sale would seem to be secondary to the reason one went to the site.
Ray,
What I think is ‘unacceptable’ is some comercial site or their agent posting answers to questions here that direct you to their site as way of shamelessly ‘plugging’ their products. I could be wrong, but I’d guess that such use would not be allowed.
I’ve not seen that here. So far, I just see folks trying to help by directing others to photos available on the web. That they happen to be on ‘commercial’ sites seems to be unrelated to the questions posed.
Hopefully we all know that even if you somehow get onto such a site, the decision to spend any money still resides with us…Most of us here are fly tyers, so I know that I’m unlikely to actually buy fly a from anyplace.
Buddy
I think its great that so many commercial sites are nice enough to post recipes and quality pictures of patterns. As a fly tier you are benefitting from their good will, and I see this as a win-win. Many commercial sites also post lists of patterns in alphabetical order, which also is helpful.
I know there are many members on FAOL that do not tie their own flies, so these commercial sites can be a benefit to them when looking to make a purchase. We need to be sensitive to our non-tiers as well as our tiers.
Commercial sites are more likely to post pictures that accurately represent the original pattern, as opposed to variant patterns that show up on personal websites. This is important for the new tier so they get off on the right foot. Once they learn the pattern, then they can create their own variants from there.
In summary, you may be offended by the advertising on commercial sites, but you must remember that you are getting something for nothing. That’s what makes fly fishing so unique. If you had to buy a book of patterns every time a new pattern hit the market, I’m sure there would be fewer tiers within our ranks.
Joe
Joe very good point but what ticks me off is when you get a link to a site to see what a fly looks like and a price to purchase said fly but no recipe or tying steps it drives me crazy as I am new to tying and sometimes have no idea on materials or steps. I guess I could always ask you but who wants to be a pain in your ashtray.
My ashtray runneth over with request, so you would just be another in the lineup. I try to refer new tiers to FAOL FOTW archives for the step-by-step recipes that you seek.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/archive.html
You can also find what you want if you Google the fly pattern name as follows:
“wooley bugger fly pattern” “caddis fly pattern”
Once you find a site with step-by-step instructions, simply create a category in your bookmarks, and save the link for future patterns. Here’s a site with lots of them:
http://buckeyeflyfishers.com/fly_tying/FOTM%20frame.htm
This site even has videos by Joe Cornwall to show you how to tie certain patterns.
“Yes, Marie, good things really do come from Ohio!”:rolleyes:
Joe
Just look the flies up on this site or there are other with fly pattern data bases. If you need some info or links to sites with this info please just PM me as I don’t like to link other sites on a board that is similar.
I have a web site to sell crappie jigs and give out links to my How To Page as well as my recipe page just to help out. I don’t put tying recipes for my flies and or jigs, but I am not in it for giving instructions, but will gladly help anyone that send me a PM or email except for a few things which I hole as my secrets and that is only with my glow products. I help people that are starting out tying all the time and gladly help.
Skip
IIRC, we got WarrenP out of Ohio. Good People came out of Ohio, for a few days, to attend the MI Fish-In last summer and we hope that more will this summer. 'Tis a pity that Ohio has shared nary a salt water bluegill with the rest of the world. 
take care,
Ed