Presumably everyone here is a fly tier. My guess is, however, that most of us still purchase flies on occasion. Speaking for myself, I purchase for 4 reasons:
When I travel great distance (and great cost), I will pay the high prices at destination shops because:
I want a few of the local patterns in case nothing I have works;
I want some of their patterns to replicate;
I haven’t brought a particular pattern which I find out is working there; or
I see some “neat looking fly” I want to try
Anyone else become a fly buyer like me???
As an example, this summer I was in Last Chance where Mike Lawson’s shop is and where Rene Harrop sells his flies. Hard to pass up a few flies tied by Rene!! For me at least…
I believe there are quite a few members of FAOL that do not tie. On several occasions I have either sold or gave away flies and they were snapped right up.
Tim
I never buy flies any more. I just bring my travel vise and fly tying bag along loaded with hooks and materials. I make up what I feel will work and also tye up what I see going on. Never had problems yet up in the Catskills, New Hampshire, PA and NJ. I tye all year round so I do not spend all my time trying to fill up fly boxes in the winter.
My purchases are rare and getting rarer, but when it does happen, it’s either one of those reasons stated above or “5) Because it’s on clearance for way cheaper than I can tie it myself.”
I buy when I go into a shop and get some information from them. If I don’t buy a fly or two then I buy something else, usually about $20.00 worth of something I may use.
I agree with the first 4 and the 5th but only for the really little ones. While up on the Yak this year I exchanged a few of my ties with one of the local guides and some information. Visited the two shop up there and heard there used to be three. Kinda like here in Bend, there used to be five but now only two and a big box store. I believe it is good to support your local fly shop by purchasing materials and to support the others while out of town. You may not need to buy thirty flies or a new rod. One to five (specific for the river) for some information is pretty good from one of the shops. At the other I purchased a hat and exchanged some flies with this great guide Derik up there and ended up with a half day float on some unwadeable water and landed some monsters. Got some great patterns to duplicate while some good info about the river while supporting the local shops. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Plus big props out to Z for hookin me up while up there too.
Yes, I buy some standards I don’t want to bother tying, like Elk Hair Caddis, Woolly Buggers
and Pheasant tail nymphs. That gives me more time to spend experimenting with odd-ball
inventions and special purpose flies.
Very rarely. Most recent was for a cicada patten. Prior to that was in 1980 - Lake Placid - Jones Hearthside store - Ausable Wulff pattern. I do have a few fly displays that I’ve collected from Trout Unlimited banquets, that were tied by friends.
I haven’t bought a fly to fish with since I was twelve years old. I do buy some sample flies to replicate but not more than 5-10 a year. These samples are carefully stored away for future reference. My general rule of thumb is, if I haven’t tied it, I’ll do without it until the next trip. 8T
I have a habit of buying streamer patterns that I don’t have, i usually end up replicating them or put them in my log book. I don’t know why but when I go into a fly shop i’ve never been too I like to buy a fly, or if something interesting catches my eye.
Less and less…but I will still once or twice a year buy a few interesting flies to use as models.
I suppose there are a few types I would buy to use, because I don’t tie them, or I don’t tie them well. If I ever finally get to do some stream trout fishing…I might buy some local favorites or patterns that are smaller than any hooks I have.
But overall…my fly purchases are relatively rare, few, and far between.
Like several others have said, I’ll buy flies for patterns that I haven’t seen before and I want to tie. Even though I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of patterns online, there’s something about looking at the flies up close that changes everything. I’ll usually buy at least 2 or 3 everytime I get to a fly shop, Cabela’s or BassPro. My ‘local’ fly shop is 50 miles from home but I buy mostly tying material there and only the occasional fly. I do however always check out all the flies on each visit just in case. Sometimes they surprise with something new.
I always stop into the shops to talk fishing and get tips from the peoples working there. While I’m in there I ask what fly’s the trout are hitting. If they tell me what to fish I ALWAYS buy about $20.00 worth of flys for the information shared and to support their business. It may be the only sale they have all day and I think it’s only right to do for picking their brains. We all have to support each other even if I have all of the flys in my box that they recommended. :lol:
