Imported flies v. Locally Tied Flies

All about flies Fly Tying
1

This is a dangerous thread to post, but have thought about it for many years.

It is very hard to describe/explain, but I have found that the most effective flies I have purchased have been those tied by locals and sold at the local fly shop. Most, not all, fly shops sell mostly imported flies. Such flies are tied “perfectly” with the best materials. They are tied by folks overseas who have never seen a trout, but were taught how to tie specific flies and do so all day/all year. They are able to tie the flies “perfectly”.

BUT, when I purchase flies, I prefer those tied by locals, who are great tiers as well, and just seem to tie the more “realistic” and more effective patterns.

As one example only: In the Trouthunter Fly Shop on the banks of the Henry’s Fork, they have bins and bins of well tied flies which I am pretty sure are all or primarily imported flies. Then, they have a lesser section of bins which hold flies tied by Rene Harrop and his wife or daughter. I have always found the Harrop flies to be more effective and to look more “fishy” than the perfect, and seemingly antiseptic imports. I also enjoy Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in West Yellowstone where, I believe, most flies are tied by Craig, Jon, staff, and local tiers…

Another example is in Bob Jacklin’s shop in West Yellowstone. Bob ties quite a few patterns which are in his expansive bins. To identify his personally tied flies, a little paper tag is hooked to his tied flies. They do command a premium price over the imports, but I have found them to look more realistic and to be the more effective ties in the shop.

It just seems that tiers who have seen the actual insects they are imitating, and are skilled tiers, produce the more effective flies than overseas tiers who have simply been taught exactly how to tie a particular pattern and tie it exactly as taught and have most likely never seen the insect they are imitating.

Anyone else feel this way?

2

Local tiers-fisherman flies will always be better because they have the most intimate knowledge and experience on their waters

3

Thanks OK, speaking more about the tie than the pattern. As an example, if I look at an X Caddis tied by the folks at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop and the same pattern as an import, I prefer the “look” of the local tie…just looks more “fishy” to me.

4

As someone who does not tye what I think are very pretty trout flies, I think a “professional tyer” that tyes countless flies without ever using one can produces something that develops a “plastic” perfect look to it and will not be as effective as something produced by someone who sometimes uses what they produce. It may resemble the picture in the book perfectly, but it is a reproduction of a reproduction and loses sometime very small and almost imperceivable in the translation. I do not believe a fly has a soul but one tyed to resemble a photo certainly has less of one than a fly tyed by a fisherman or woman.

5

Jesse,
I believe you hit the nail on the head and understand exactly what I’m talking about.
Thanks! I think that a long-time tier/fisherman who is skilled at tying will always tie a pattern which will be more effective than the imported version of the same pattern. I think that his/her fly will be “better” because the overseas operation producing flies tied, usually, by young ladies who have never seen the insects or the water they inhabit…never read about or observed the insects in their habitat and observed/read about their behavior, etc., etc. will not be as effective as those tied by the fisherman.

6

I think its like a painting by the master and a copy made by an apprentice. Both may be technically correct but there are certain nuances in the painting that was painted by the master that are not present in the copy. I have noticed the same “effect” in anglers. The angler that has spent times on the water under a variety of conditions and has learned by doing is generally a more rounded and thus a better angler than the angler that learned how to “fish” by watching videos, reading books and taking a class. Just saying.

7

Right on Neal,

There are wet flies in bins at shops and then there are wet flies tied by Dave Hughes (and other masters as well)…

8

There was a recent post about Gary Lafontaine, I believe it was posted by Byron. Gary did not even use a stacker for his caddis fly wings because his research revealed that the wings are rather rough and not perfectly stacked. My flies probably resemble Gary’s in that all my flies are rather rough, but catch fish. Secondly, I can’t believe that Byron even looks at fly bins since I am pretty jealous of his flies. In any case, I tie my own except for a few given to me by fellow fly fisher people or locals. However, the tourist fly fishers will purchase flies that most appeal to them regardless of advice from locals. Many are embarrassed to ask questions I guess. So, there will always be a market for the Foreign, mass produced flies as long as they are pretty and cheap. I don’t agree with it, but such is life…

9

As one that began tying along the way early on my fly fishing journey, I have purchased very few flies in comparison. Except for early on, and mostly the classic wet flies of my youth, I have tied my own. Early on they were copies of pictures, and what I found in the local bins. But that was after buying dozens of patterns to find the few that actually worked. Now, I’m not the best fly tier. You will never see any of my patterns gracing framed shadow boxes on the walls of the sports elite. But they do catch fish.

Here though is my view on the differences between locally tied flies and professionally marketed patterns. The difference is in the subtleties, which end up affecting the whole in the the end. A local tyer, as myself, view the pattern tied on a personal level and each material is chosen in that manner. His bins are filled with the “best” materials he can find or afford to work with. They will change between brands of like materials based on performance on the water…not price or the economics of handling. The result is the pattern they feel will give you the best opportunity of bringing a fish to hand. But as a result, most of those pattern would ever reach a commercial tyers vise. They don’t make the cut on step count, material count or price and availability of the materials used.

Commercial patterns become commercial based in many ways on the economics of tying. Remove a step, substitute a material, drop the grade of hackle, change the hook…and the pattern ever so slightly changes. It often times becomes a cleaner and far more appealing pattern to the eye. But the result is basically the same pattern the local tyers began with. The difference is the lack of concern over the economics of tying…or the lack of.

10

Ralph,
What I have read and heard from those familiar with overseas tying operations have said that such operations are supplied with the best materials available (The head of Umpqua wrote an article about the process and materials used in a national fly fishing/tying magazine not that long ago).

They send famous tiers there to demonstrate to the tiers how to tie the flies. I visited with Royce Dam (a famous tier, and winner of the Buz Buszek Award) about this. He was sent there to teach patterns.

What I was getting at, is that they are somewhat “plastic” or “antiseptic” appearance. They just don’t look as “fishy” to me as those tied by professional tiers here who are fly fishers themselves…see the insects…observe their behavior…see their behavior…etc., etc.

Interesting article here: http://www.itinerantangler.com/blog/podcasts/2014/01/31/article_foreign_tied/

11

I’m not saying that your assumption is incorrect but I have met tyers that tye commercially here in the States that never cast a fly on their local or any waters. Yet their flies are tyed as well as any, it’s just what they like to do.

12

Ever since I started fishing as a kid I have often read that having confidence in the lure (fly ) you are using is a large part of success. That may come into play here also.

13

My trout fly’s are far from perfect, some might judge embarrassing, but they generally do pretty darn well. Fresh and salt also do OK. Ever notice that fly’s that get ratted up after a few catches still continue to catch fish? Guess my point is that the fish probably aren’t as critical as the fisherman…<br><br>

14

Byron, That was my point…they lose the much of the personal attention often applied. I would agree that great efforts go into overseas tying. Especially from the business aspect of companies such as Umpqua. However, I am familiar with the process, and there is an “economics” side of the business as well.

15

What business does not have an economic side. That’s a given.

16

When you place a fly in one of your boxes or on your patch, if you believe the fly will catch fish or if if you believe it won’t. You are probably right. But, no matter how well or poorly tied their is a satisfaction with catching a nice fish on your own creation. And most fish are predators; predators attack the young, the lame, the weak (which describes most of my tyes.)

17

Funny Jesse! I’m sure your flies work on healthy fish with good vision!

18

Bryon, I specialize in the aged wildebeest from the perimeter of the herd look. The lions don’t go for the strong bull leading the herd.

19

Which is my point all along. :slight_smile:

That the primary difference in this comparison, is the result of the econimics decisions on the commercial end. Just an opinion though. :slight_smile: