When I first started fly fishing, I would buy my flies from local fly shops and occasionally, guide friends would supply me with the flies I was using. Eventually, through necessity, I started tying flies and quickly found out how rewarding it was to catch a fish on a fly I had tied myself. While I tied the flies I used locally, I still ordered flies that I would take on my trips to the Bahamas. That habit changed too on a bonefishing trip a couple of years ago.
I had ordered some flies the lodge I was visiting recommended from a “reliable” source, choosing a few old classics as well as a current favorite, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp. As it turned out, the flies I ordered didn’t match my expectations. Fortunately, two friends in my party offered me some of their flies. I got bailed out on that, vowing then and there that the next trip I took I’d have a box of my own home-tied creations. Fast forward to today and it’s less than a month from my next trip. This time I’ll have the flies I have confidence in. And confidence is key!
In my experience, flies don’t have to be fancy to catch fish. They do have to resemble something a local species feeds on and appear natural in the water. Two of the most reliable patterns mimic baitfish and shrimp. Probably the most basic, and one of the most effective and popular flies, is the Clouser Minnow, created by Bob Clouser. This was the first fly I learned to tie and is still a favorite. Another favorite is the bend back, a streamer tied to be weedless and fished in shallow water. The bend back is also easy to tie and very effective when properly tied and presented. As mentioned, my current favorite fly, one I tied originally for bonefish and now use locally for redfish, tripletail and snook, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp, has me immersed in tying flies and I’m enjoying the process more than ever. Fly tying is like everything else, the more you do it, the better you get. As in fly casting, golf, tennis and any other endeavor, repetition is key, so it’s better to tie often instead of for long periods of time.
If you currently tie, my advice is to master a fly you have confidence in and then work to make a fly your own. I’m constantly thinking of ways to improve patterns I fish and finding my enjoyment of fly fishing enhanced by the experience.
I would strongly advise fly anglers to take up fly tying if they haven’t already. If you want to explore tying but aren’t fully committed, start with a simple but quality travel kit that you’ll be able to use even after setting up a place to tie at home. I think you’ll find that you enjoy the fly-fishing experience even more and, as a bonus, you’ll have better quality flies at a much better price. Instructions on tying every imaginable fly are available on YouTube.
