Times are tough. No news there. I’m wondering how this is affecting your fly fishing, tying and rod building. Have you totally cut back? Have you found some deals? Have you gotten creative with the materials you use?
I recently stumbled upon a fabric store going out of business and snatched up some metallic thread (if you are interested, I added the story to my blog DSFlyfishing)
Where are the bargains? Share your creative alternatives.
Economic times are tough to say the least ( the Wife lost her job this past Friday ) but I hope it doesn’t have to hard of an impact on the family and our fun.
I have enough tying materials to hold me over for a while, and if things gets low I will just have to use my imagination I guess.
I’m actually tyin & buildin rods more these days, ‘cause the weather’s been too cold mostly, & maybe it costs less than travelin’ about doin’ other stuff… & likeScubaTim, I got enough stuff to last a good while…ModocDan
Well, of all my hobbies, fly fishing and fly tying are the least expensive really. I scrounge most of my tying supplies through hunting, friends that hunt, etc. About the only things I have to buy occasionally are hackle, hooks, and thread. I mostly tie warm water patterns so I can get away with cheap imported dyed necks for the most part. One thing that I did do last summer was cut back on driving to further away places to fish when gas was over $4.00. I tended to stay closer to my home turf. I’m hoping gas will stay under or around $2.00 this summer, so I can explore some. By nature, I’m cheap, frugal, tight, what ever you call it, so times like these just give me an excuse
I have a decent quantity of materials on hand. when needed, I buy in smaller quantities now & try to find specials on hooks. There will be NO rods/reels purchased in the foreseeable future, but I have what I need.
Luckily, once you have your equipment, flyfishing IS economical…I don’t have/need a large boat, & don’t chuck expensive crankbaits out there…loosing 2-3 of those in a day would REALLY hurt! Furled leaders seem to last forever.
As far as finding deals, when I need stuff I will look for deals. In the past, I would find a deal & buy “multiples”…no more of that. As I have told my wife in the past, “A sale is only a sale if you can afford the sale price”.
Mike
i have enough rods and reels to last the rest of my life time with no need to buy more.
i could supply a small fly shop with the amassed quantity of tying materials that i possess. i’ll never use it up in my life time, but not willing to let it go either.
I lost my job recently and have taken an inventory on several levels of my life. I too have enough tying materials for a very long time. Some of it I shall give to new tiers to encourage them and to foster the art.
Bargains are everywhere. There is free wire to be had, feathers, fur, all kinds of things.
I am fortunate enough to have a good supply of fly tying stuff that I have collected over the years, (Tuber has seen my stash in my foot locker), and so I don’t have to buy anything except an odd or an end like head cement or a spool of thread, I don’t want the gas price to go up either, but, if it does, I have enough fishing near buy, I have what I need…
I’m always buying the newest and latest materials for all the new patterns that are coming out. I simply have a budget of 50 bucks a month I’m willing to spend on flyfishing equipment. Sometimes I’ll save it up and buy a big order but most months I spend almost exactly my 50 buck amount. Just got an order in from feather-craft and got one of those cliff bugger barns. They are awsome so I had to tie up 2 dozen wolly buggers to put into it right away!
For what it’s worth, here’s a recent observation.
Every year I put together a list of fly fishing gear that I’m parting with and send it out to my friends and aquantances. In past years I’d start getting inquiries and " I’ve got dib’s on that " email’s and phone calls within an hour of sending it out, with most of big ticket items going within twenty four hours.
Not so this year - the general consensus amongst the old gang is that while most have their stash of play dough intact, it’s destined to go toward that one big trip(s).
My heritage includes a fair dose of Scottish blood and I tend to be frugal in good times and lean times. Bargains are part of my religion too. While I’m not buying any high dollar rods these days I am building some fairly nice ones for myself and a few relatives. This isn’t a new trend, the last new rod I bought was circa 1973 shortly before I discovered rod building. I too have a pretty fair supply of tying materials but it’s a rare month that I don’t spend less than $20 on something (there’s always something interesting that I don’t have) and most months it’s more.
My biggest expenditure always was gas to go fishing.
Even thou I have many good spots near by it’s still a full tank of gas for a good weekend. Four weekends a month… four tanks and you begin to feel the pinch. Last summer with gas pushing 4 bucks we had to cut down on the weekend escapades. I’m hoping this will not be the case this year… As to other stuff: One good rod a year for me or my wife will not change untill all of our gear is upgraded. As to tying stuff I really do not spend that much at any time probably less than 200 a year so again its not a big deal.
What comes to mind: with the turndown the prices on many things will be dropping down. Stores reducing inventory or going out of business and such. This actually might be very good opprtunity to stack up on some stuff. I will keep an eye on all of the offers… Too bad I can’t park a tanker in the back yard and fill it up with gas at lower prices.:roll:
That’s about what they usually have.
Lots of waders and ‘toons. Very few rods, reels or lines.
I bought one of the very last of their private label rods last year.
A 10’ IM6 8wt…
Best 20 dollar rod I ever bought. Wish they still had 'em
I have several fly rods all set up. A few I built and a few others came from buying.
I have watched for specials on materials and hooks for along time., I have a stash of thing built up. I don’t have to buy anything of consequence for along time.
We, too, know that the times are tough. From a shop’s point of view, I can just tell you that we’re selling more hooks, threads and feathers than anything else. I agree that people are not spending so much on tackle. But they still building rods and tying flies. Thanks for all your support.
Tim,
I chuckle every time I think of that locker. I can’t believe how BIG that thing is! :lol:
Folks…Tim not only has YEARS supplies of material, he lives in God’s Country (at least IMHO)…Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. I love that place. Great people too…like Tim, his lovely Bride Susan, & many others I’ve met at the Festival.
Mike
The only reason for not buying more rods, blanks or tying materials, is that I have enough to last me the rest of my life, especially with 11 fly rods and 5 blanks to be built. Tying materials? I got enough dead chickens and critter skins to make clothing for several grown people. I don’t NEED anything, but that will not stop me from spending money on things that I see and that I want. Frivolous? Nope! But I’m not changing my life style and crawling into a hole just because some dorks decided to create a recession by their greed and stupidity. I choose to NOT participate, and I would encourage the rest of you to do the same. If we pull in our spending we’re buying into the gloom & doom mentality that the naysayers want us to, and the losers will not only be the retailers who are already hurting, but all the people who work for them as well. Remember, that every person who loses their job now has less buying power, and this affects the whole economy.
I’m not suggesting that anyone spends money needed for bills and food and clothing on frivolous purchases, but don’t hoard your cash just because the prophets of doom say we are going to hell in a handbasket. If we are to ever restart this economy, it has to start with each and every one of us doing our part. That’s what made this country great in the past, and it’s what will keep it great in the future. Don’t do anything foolish with your money, but don’t allow yourself to be intimidated either.