It takes me at least 143 flys just to get it right! Out of all those flys I choose the best 3. Later.
When tying a new fly, I find that the first couple don’t come out as well as I would like. The third and fourth look pretty good. By the time I get to number six I start to change things or get bored so it’s time to move on.
I tie till I think I got a particular pattern right. Then I keep tying the darn things till for who knows what reason I get interested in a new pattern. Then the cycle starts again with the new pattern. I have tied more than a 100 of some patterns and never used them. I have been known to razer blade perfectly good flies just so I can tie some more when my hooks ran out. It doesn’t have to even be a fly I would ever use. I tied over 150 Tom thumbs just because i really liked tying with the Elk.
If my life made sense , it wouldn’t be my life.
I tie 3…one to fish…one to lose…one for backup
I think I will go to 4 though…one for the buddy I’m fishing with…if I’m catching and he isn’t… with only three I hate to give my backup away :roll:
Six in different sizes two of each say 10,12,14s.
If I decide to tie a pattern, I’ll usually tie a minimum of six. That way, I get the tying mechanics down well and allow several flies for bush/tree decoration and a freeby or two for other fishermen.
8T 
Six, for the first five usually aren’t good enough. Takes me awhile to get into the rhythm. JGW
If I’m tying a fly I haven’t used before, then I would probably only tie ONE.
Just because I tie a NEW fly, doesn’t mean I’m going to fish with it.
The NEW fly has a long way to go to get in my rotation. If I have a GO TO fly that catches fish, the NEW fly is going to sit on the bench.
Doug P.S. Ducksterman…BEE CAREFUL!
six in each size.
If it’s a new pattern for me, I’ll shoot for six “presentable” flies. That means I tie at least a dozen to get enough good ones.
Will
I have more and more been sticking to Catskill patterns exclusively. If I’m getting low on a particular pattern I generally tie at least a half dozen. But in addition, I never sit down to tie unless I know I have time to tie those 6, or more. I tie on and off throughout the winter. I never tie during the fishing season unless it’s at a show or a fish-in. It takes up time I could be fishing. I seldom run out of a pattern, but then I’m 70, retired and have probably accumulated enough flies to last until they plant me.
I’m also inclined to think like DG. If I tie up less than 6 and, let’s say I’m fishing with my son; he probably winds up with two, a tree or rocks get a couple and I lose one to a fish. Then I’m reduced to one and worryin about that one. If I tie up a bunch they’ll wind up in a storage box, like forever. Tying Catskill-only patterns pretty well assures me that they’ll get used.
Keep in mind that fly-fishing goes hand-in-hand with Murphy’s first law: “If anything can go wrong it will.”
Later, RW
If it is a new pattern I have never tyed I will tye at least six. But on the other hand if I am tying a pattern I use to fish and am planing to tye up a few dozen I will sneak in tying one or two if that is all the time I have just to say I tyed a fly today I know it is sick but I can’t help myself it put’s me in a good mood.
Monty
I usually tie 4 then if it works well for me I will tie up a dozen. I do give away a lot of flies. I like to experiment with colors, materials and sizes so I may tie a dozen of a pattern just to see how a different material or color or size in the same pattern will work. John
Warmwater is my focus these days, and I’ll tie about 4 each (for new patterns or colors)in a couple different sizes do to the wide range of fish that might hit it. I’ll tie some size 8-10-12(depends on pattern) for pans and smaller bass/white bass, and I’ll tie 4 in the 2-4-6 size for bass. If the pattern might work for Pike, I’ll tie a few in the 1/0, 2/0 size as well. If the pattern/color is a hit, then it’s a dozen minimum. And they will go fast, as those Warmwaters tear up the flies bigtime.
Gary