fly tying Archives - Fast Cast Rods

Fly fishing is an great type of fishing that takes a lot of practice, and skill to master that has gained a lot of popularity among anglers. One thing that a beginner is that you are probably going to lose a lot of flies to snapping them off, or catching them in branches and trees, when you first start learning to cast. This can make some new anglers shy away because if they have been fishing for any length of time, they will know that lures, hooks, and weights can cost money. Flies can vary in price, but we are going to breakdown the price, and give you some help on saving those flies. How much do fishing flies cost? The average fly will cost between $2 and $4 dollars per fly at any big retailer, or online. The cost will depend on what the fly is made out of, how big it is, and where it is made. The cost will also depend on how popular the fly is, and if it is mass produced, so you know that if it is a fly that is used around the US, it will be on the cheaper side, while some flies that are bigger and are more rare, can run you around $10 or more dollars. You can also find variety packs for around $25 dollars or less in stores, and online. How Many Flies Should I Have? So, you know the price, and you think, okay, I can do this, but how many should I actually have on me? This number honestly depends on if you are new to the sport or not, and what you are fishing for. It is always good to have a some sort of variety on you when you go out because you might know always know what bugs are flying around in each season. You should have around 10 to 15 flies on you during a fishing day, just in case they wear out, snap off, or you just are not using the bait they want. They do not all have to be new flies, but if you know your area, and know what type of flies are normally around the lake or river you are going to fish, bring a few of those, and some other types as backup. Just throwing the biggest fly out there is not always going to work, they want something that they have eaten before and are accustomed to. Should I Tie My Own Flies? I really think tying your own flies is a really fun hobby that can get you more in touch with fly fishing. Instead of having to buy a book, you can go straight to YouTube now, and watch videos on how to tie flies. Below is a great video on an introduction to fly tying that we think you will love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoq5IAzj28g What Is A Wet Fly? A wet fly, is a specific type of fly bait that will sink it water, instead of floating on the surface, they generally look like a nymph, and will resemble some sort of larva. This is great for trout fishing because they will swim along and eat the larva like bait, and you are fish on. These types of flies will not look like a real bug, or flying creature, but more like the larva type features of bugs before they hatch. Some wet flies resemble bugs that will crawl or swim in the water to lay their eggs, and fishing with these is best around slack water and eddies, or in rivers with large pools of water that do not move much, so the eggs and larva have a better survival rate. Sometimes wet flies are made of vibrant colors to catch the fishes eye, rather than acting like a real larva like insect. What Is A Dry Fly? A dry fly is a very specific type of bait that is meant to be fished on the surface of the water. These are the most common type of flies used, and can range in size, color and shape. The bait is not meant to sink at all, but rather look like an insect landing on the water to drink, or eat. Trout do see winged insects on the surface from under water, and will generally come up to the surface to feed, which usually causes them to break the surface, and that is when you will see a fish "jump". These flies can look like normal insects, or also be made of vibrant colors to lure the fish to the surface, it really all depends on what the fish are feeding on that day. If fish are feeding and hungry, they will bite at anything to eat, while other times, it takes a little luck and ingenuity to get them to the surface. Is It Expensive Tie My Own Flies? On average, if you can afford to buy your materials in bulk, you can make your own flies cheaper than you can buy them for. Typically, you can get the cost of each fly down to 75 cents to $1.00 per fly that you make. You can purchase bags of feathers and different strings from any online place like Amazon, or sometimes at different bait and tackle stores. You might even be able to find feathers and different colored string at fabric shops if you have one in your town, or close to it. If you are new to tying flies, it may take you a good 10-20 flies before you are even comfortable with tying one that you would want to use, so in the beginning, you may only break even on the price. Tying flies is not just about the money, it is about the experience of creating your own bait to use out on the river or lake. How Many Uses Can I Get Out Of A Fly? Knowing how many uses you can get out of a fly depends on a few factors. The first is how well you know how to cast your line. The better you are at casting, the less likely you are to snap your line back and forth saving your fly from either getting snapped off, or a thread coming loose and unraveling. The second is how much fish you catch with each fly. If you are using a fly and have caught 10 fish on it, you may find that the fly is now been chewed up and is starting to breakdown, so you will need to change out your fly pretty soon. The last is the over all condition of the water where you are fishing, and if you hit you fly on something. If you are fishing near a lot of algae, or rocks and logs, you may only get 3-5 uses out a fly before it is to worn to use. The average use of a fly is around 3-5 fishing trips if you have been catching fish, more if you have gotten skunked a few times. Final Thoughts Fly fishing is a lot of fun, and I really do enjoy that style of fishing, especially if I am fishing a river. Tying your own flies is actually pretty cheap, and is fun to do because it makes you feel more fulfilled when you catch a fish because you actually created the bait. You do save some money, but not enough to really make a difference, unless you are an avid fly fisher. I think for the cost of the materials, anyone who does fly fish, should really try it. There are tons of great videos out there that walk you through step by step on how to tie both wet and dry flies, so try them both! Related Topics Is Fly Fishing Safe? Is fly fishing safe? Yes, fly fishing can be safe, as long as you do not put yourself in dangerous situation. Always keep your eye on the water, and never walk out so far that the current is so strong you cannot get back. Also watch your surroundings because there can be bears or cougars that also fish. Bear are the most common big animal that people fly fishing come across. Look at the weather report, and never go to a river when there is a lot of rain, and flash flooding. Can I Fly Fish In The Rain? Can I fly fish in the rain? Yes, fly fishing in the rain is very fun, and can be more challenging because the rain is bouncing off the surface of the water, so it might be better to use a wet fly that sinks instead of a dry fly for the surface. It is also important that you do not go too far out into the water, and stay in a safe place in case there is flash flooding.