SIslandBrowns
03-30-2008, 03:26 PM
I've been tying flies for about 20 years now, but I seem to be struggling to find the time these days with 2 young kids.
My brother-in-law is a guide, Stripers in Maine in the Summer and he also owns a lodge in Patagonia, Martin Pecasdor Lodge.
A few years ago he sent me an e-mail telling me that he found a great, cheap fly-tying company near where he lives up in Maine. I dismissed the note when he sent it because I had plenty of time to tie back then, but noticed it again in January and decided to give them a try. I bought 10 dozen flies - mainly things that I don't like to tie for one reason or another and a smattering of random things to see how they did with different styles of flies. I ordered 3 dozen #6 bead head woolly buggers (brown, green, black), 2 dozen small adams parachutes #18 & 20, 2 dozen BWO dries, #18 & 20, a dozen #16 March Browns, a dozen #16 copper johns, and a dozen #8 attractors. When you order 10 dozen, they also throw in a free dozen flies - which you can't choose, they just give you a random combination of 12 flies. I got some interesting and useful stuff - all good. They also give you a free dozen flies if someone places an order and names you as a referral.
Frankly, I wasn't expecting much. I'm a decent tyer and have high standards. I was impressed. First of all, they say that they use tiemco hooks and hoffman hackle and from what I've seen, they probably do. I put a couple of the flies in my vise and checked the hooks - I suppose you can never tell if they're really tiemco, but they're very strong.
My only gripe was that all the beads used were gold. I like to use black on black flies and copper on brown or green flies and I almost always use tungsten - but that's just my preference. This fish on the Cape yesterday didn't seem to mind the gold too much though :)
The small dries are truly excellent - very consistent, high quality tying. I like to tie, but have never really enjoyed tying tiny flies; the #18 & #20's look great - better than I could tie, frankly. The kicker is the price. Including delivery, the flies were $69. 132 flies, for $69 or about $.53 a fly - amazing
The website is www.flydealflies.com, they have a 500+ fly selection - plus will custom tie if asked.
One final comment. I don't intend to rub any fly-shops the wrong way by posting this info. I have NO affiliation with these guys, I just had a very good experience with them and their products.
Local fly shops are SO important and all deserve our continued patronage. LL Bean. Cabelas, BassPro and places like this can never replace the knowledge of a local shop. Visit them often - spend money there, use their guide services - help them continue to help us.
D
My brother-in-law is a guide, Stripers in Maine in the Summer and he also owns a lodge in Patagonia, Martin Pecasdor Lodge.
A few years ago he sent me an e-mail telling me that he found a great, cheap fly-tying company near where he lives up in Maine. I dismissed the note when he sent it because I had plenty of time to tie back then, but noticed it again in January and decided to give them a try. I bought 10 dozen flies - mainly things that I don't like to tie for one reason or another and a smattering of random things to see how they did with different styles of flies. I ordered 3 dozen #6 bead head woolly buggers (brown, green, black), 2 dozen small adams parachutes #18 & 20, 2 dozen BWO dries, #18 & 20, a dozen #16 March Browns, a dozen #16 copper johns, and a dozen #8 attractors. When you order 10 dozen, they also throw in a free dozen flies - which you can't choose, they just give you a random combination of 12 flies. I got some interesting and useful stuff - all good. They also give you a free dozen flies if someone places an order and names you as a referral.
Frankly, I wasn't expecting much. I'm a decent tyer and have high standards. I was impressed. First of all, they say that they use tiemco hooks and hoffman hackle and from what I've seen, they probably do. I put a couple of the flies in my vise and checked the hooks - I suppose you can never tell if they're really tiemco, but they're very strong.
My only gripe was that all the beads used were gold. I like to use black on black flies and copper on brown or green flies and I almost always use tungsten - but that's just my preference. This fish on the Cape yesterday didn't seem to mind the gold too much though :)
The small dries are truly excellent - very consistent, high quality tying. I like to tie, but have never really enjoyed tying tiny flies; the #18 & #20's look great - better than I could tie, frankly. The kicker is the price. Including delivery, the flies were $69. 132 flies, for $69 or about $.53 a fly - amazing
The website is www.flydealflies.com, they have a 500+ fly selection - plus will custom tie if asked.
One final comment. I don't intend to rub any fly-shops the wrong way by posting this info. I have NO affiliation with these guys, I just had a very good experience with them and their products.
Local fly shops are SO important and all deserve our continued patronage. LL Bean. Cabelas, BassPro and places like this can never replace the knowledge of a local shop. Visit them often - spend money there, use their guide services - help them continue to help us.
D