A followuip question.
Once a pattern works for you, how many of them do you tie up? How many do you keep in your stock?
Also how many sizes of the fly will you tie?
Rick
16 of each size and color.
I only vary the size of certain patterns like BWO’s, caddis or other generic bugs. Most others are imitating specific insects so I typically stick to specific sizes with MAYBE one size variation.
I usually keep 3-4 in the fly box and the rest in the car as back-up.
I have an entire fly box of nothing but deer/elk hair caddis in a couple of sizes… of course, I just started tying recently so it’s more about that than any real or perceived need. I know some of them will end up in friends’ boxes, not to mention trees, bushes, logs and hooked to the back of my fishing vest at some point. Being that I’m still learing, I’m tying bunches of the “old standys” right now.
I’ll tie up anywhere from 6 to 8 of a proven pattern, but I’m retired so tying is not a problem with me and I can add more as needed.
Hobo
I usually tie 2-dozen of a proven pattern during the winter. I keep 6 in my box, 6 in the car and the rest at home. I always carry extras in case my fishing buddies or nephew need a few. All year I keep a written list of flies I need to tie, or flies I may be low on, and go to it during the winter. I’m single and time is not a problem.
To tell you the truth…I’m lucky to get to 3…by then I’m usually doing some variation…either because I get bored or because I’m just using up some of the stuff on my bench :roll: :roll:
I tie a dozen at a time usually.
For my “go to” patterns, I try to keep ten of each size and color.
Generally four dozen of each size. Of course, I don’t carry this many on me. I’ll usually only carry a dozen of each size in a fly box in my chest pack, with an additional dozen each in a larger box left in a bag in the car. At home is where I store the remainder. After each trip I replace the ones that the fish chewed up (or more likely I lost in trees, ears, hats, etc.).
Although this sounds like a lot of flies, it’s really not. I don’t carry that many different patterns in my boxes. I do carry a variety of sizes of the ones that work for me though. I only carry three boxes - one with little flies (anything size #18 to #26), one with medium flies (#14 to #16 - this covers most of the mayflies and caddis that hatch here in Pennsylvania), and one box with big flies (#12 and bigger - this is where the Green Drakes and large attractor patterns live).
-Darryl
I only tie what I use (carry with me). Usually 2 of the same pattern/color/size.
For example for stocked trout I have a lot of luck with beadhed emergers in black, brown, black/tan, balck/green, black/olive. I have 2 of each color combo in sizes from 10 to 16. In any one trout outing never needed any more than than that. I rarely get a chance to fish more than 6 hours though…
Rick
That usually depends on how many “friends” are going with me 
Normally, 6 of each size is whaty I tie.
Brad
I have about 40 go to flies, with different variations of most. I tie about 10 a day at least 5 day a week, so that is 200 a month at least, if my better half is delivering babies on the weekend ill tie 50 to 100 on the weekend as well, so i have a bizzlion of my go to flies tied. January I concentrated on drys, and tied 100 + parachute adams, and 100 + parachute ants, and a bunch of stone flies both dry and nymph. Feburary looks like streamer month getting ready for the bull trout as ice comes off.
I use a lot of my favorites and have found that they make great gifts or giveaways on the stream–I will tye a dozen each in appropriate colors and sizes–makes a cold winter go quickly
2 of each size, Unless someone wants copies. then about 12 each size.
Hi Rick,
Two dozen of each size; one for me and the other for Gretchen. Understand, we usually tie the patterns together then split them up to fill each others fly box. Take care & …
Tight Lines - Al Beatty
www.btsflyfishing.com
Rick,
I like to have a lot of a ‘proven’ fly.
So, during the winter when I’m home and not fishing much, I tie to try an get enough for the summer. I have about six ‘proven’ patterns that I will use daily for three and a half months. I do give a lot away.
So, 60 of each in at least 3-5 sizes is my ‘goal’.
Uusally I can get close on everything but the spun deer hair bugs. I end up having to tie some of those during the summer.
Good Luck!
Buddy
Buddy, I think I am more like you. In my favoirte patterns I try to keep at least twenty of each size and color that I use in stock.
That means that I usually have about 2000 flies tied up ahead of time.
Rick
I will usually tie about 6-8 but if I’m really impressed with a fly on tie 6 in three size for a total of 18. 8T