FS Digest

Hi all, I'm brand new to fly fishing, only about 2 weeks now, but I'm having a blast in PA.

So I bought an Orvis rod and a few flies, averaging probably around $2.50 each. I lost a couple to poor ties, getting caught in a bush or submerged rock, etc. I know it happens and it's all a part of the learning experience. And the price of a $2 fly for a couple hours of fun and relaxation is a small price to pay. But I'm wondering, what are the real differences between some cheap flies from Amazon, like 120 assorted flies for $24, or ones from Orvis or a similar maker? Is it just better quality materials so the flies themselves last longer? Are the cheap flies just random colors and materials thrown together, but not really mimicking actual, regional insects, bait fish, etc? What would I be missing out on if I went super cheap? Why shouldn't I go super cheap? Where do you all buy your flies?

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by dimethylman

FS Digest

Look at BigYFly.com

I've had good luck with them. I might get some high quality ones later, but I just started fly fishing this year. They average like 35-50cents a fly and they look real good. Some do come in with some long strands that I just cut off but that's been it. They might not hold up for the long run but at 50 cents a fly I don't care. They've held up for 6 months at this point.

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by DarkRyok

FS Digest

I use Hillsdiscountflies.com from Colorado. Good prices, nice flies.

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by MattHurting

FS Digest

I wish I had a photo to show this... But I had a few assorted patterns I got when I donated to trout unlimited and it was very obvious that they were junk. Wrong proportions, bulky, poor quality materials. You pretty much nailed it. I also have bought some assorted packs and it was a mixed bag of recognizable flies and others I'd never seen or heard of before.

Better flies are just better. I tie all of mine because if I don't know exactly how much it cost me, it doesn't hurt. Even though I really know tying is probably more expensive.

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by northerndarx

FS Digest

Usually local fly shops are pretty good, but half the fun of fly fishing is fly tying yourself. Tightlinevideo on YouTube makes really good tutorial guides for flies if you already know some lingo about fly tying. Recommendation is pick 1 or 2 flies to start out tying and buy the materials for them and master them, then move on.

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by BrumChum123

FS Digest

I haven't bought flies since I started tying my own about two years ago. The difference between the cheaper ones you find on Amazon vs. the Orvis catalog are probably more the quality of the hooks than materials.

For example, you may buy an assorted variety of bead head hare's ear nymphs for a lot cheaper than it would cost to buy them from a fly shop, Orvis, or another reputable dealer, and it may be the same materials used to create the fly, but the hooks from the Amazon sellers are most likely cheaper and more susceptible to bending or breaking.

If you start tying your own, you'll see how expensive hooks are, so it would make sense the sellers on Amazon cut costs by using cheap hooks. It's up to you what you want to do, and in all honesty, most of us aren't catching 20+ inch fish every time we go out, but I would rather have the insurance of a quality fly/hook for when you finally do hook into a big fish.

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by CoreyTrevor94

FS Digest

I never thought about hook quality. I'm just fishing a couple small streams with small sunfish and small trout, so cheap hooks might be ok, but I certainly wouldn't want to lose some really big catches.

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by dimethylman

FS Digest

I would suggest buying from BigYFlyCo for your first year. Then when you figure out why the hooks are often wrong, you'll learn why you are drawn to tying your own.

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by Independent

FS Digest

100% agree with this. Buy a bunch you don’t mind losing or throwing away as they fall apart and start your fly tying education at the same time.

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by UrsinusGrad

edkealer

Most of the flies I use I tie myself. Because of my hands I am unable to tie anything smaller than a size 16 (except super easy flies like zebra midges). I would recommend that you at least consider trying to tie your own flies. With the tutorials on the internet and the books available you should be able to tie just about any fly you might need so long as you are able to get the materials for that particular fly.
Also, experiment with some of the patterns. Change materials or colors or add/remove a bead to a wet fly, etc.
I haven't caught any true monster trout on my own flies, but I have caught 7 varieties of the salmon/trout family including a Brown that went 22 inches and 4 pounds+( on a thin mint.)

Joefish1268

Cheap bulk flies tend to be tied out of proportion, on the wrong hook, and colors/patterns that aren’t seen anywhere on this planet. You’re going to be lucky to get an hour or two out of the cheapo’s. I find they unravel quickly and have poorly tied knots...not to mention absolute lack of head cement. This is not to say they won’t catch fish, because there’s always one sucker out there that will taste everything.
Sometimes you can find close out deals at places like Sierra trading post, but I would stay away from anything you’ve not heard of or recognize as a legitimate pattern.

6106b

It doesn't matter until you hook into the biggest fish you ever had on your line,then it matters.You could be kicking yourself for buying cheap flies and losing that fish or saying glad I spent the extra money for this fly I might have lost this huge fish on a cheap fly.

Hotfntuna

Go on eBay and buy from people that showcase there flies. Great flies is one good one Flybydesign is another, Irideus are nice but a bit pricey. Also you can get great deals from some of the less seen guys like justjoenow36 and anghaypda52.

greyghost

There are cheap flies, and there are inexpensive quality flies. Most that are in the 120 flies for $24 are in the junk category, but there are a number of sellers out there like Hills or Sierra Trading Post that sell some really good flies for a buck or so (or even less.) I still tie flies but if you are using expensive components like tungsten beads or salmon fly hackles it probably costs about the same as buying them. Some patterns are not cheap, like surface streamers for Coastal Cutthroats, and it's economically sensible and a lot of fun to catch something on a fly you tied yourself.

I describe my tying skills as never tying two flies that look exactly alike, but I taught my son to tie when he was quite little and he helped pay for college by tying for a number of good flyshops and commercial outfitters, and he could whip out a hundred dozen in about the time it took me to tie one dozen.

If I were you i would buy a good assortment of old staples like Adams, zebra midges, pheasant tails, hair's ears, and streamers (yes, my favorite is the Grey Ghost) and then pick up an inexpensive vice and a few supplies and enjoy tying some up in the off season. Besides filling in your fly box, you will learn what to look for when you go fly shopping.