02-23-2010, 05:34 PM
[indent]Yes, you get the bang for the buck, but once you start, you will NEVER use up all your materials. Right now, after tying for over 30 years, I have enough materials to tie millions of flies. I'm talking huge box after huge box full of crap, most of which I'll never, ever use. I've spent many thousands on materials. Enough to buy all the flies I could have ever needed, or will ever need.
It is far cheaper to buy your own flies, especially trout flies. (Saltwater--well--that's a different deal)
Hell, I could have bought entire fly bins in fly shops with all the money I've spent on materials. Not to mention all the hundreds of flies I've tied over the years that will never be used, or have already been "tossed" to someone else.
However, if you don't tie, you don't get the satisfaction of having exactly what you want, tied exactly to the specs. and proportions you want, on the hook you want, etc etc. Also, you don't have to worry about finding the flies you want in a pinch, like on a fishing trip. I tie more now while on a trip or the night before one than I do just for something to do. It used to be fun. Now its more of a chore. But I still have a few bugs I need to tie myself, the way I want them, on the hooks I like, to the proportions I want.
By the way, if you were to buy $30 worth of hare's ear tying materials, you could tie far more than 30. Try hundreds. Dubbing (hare's mask), thread, wire for ribbing, something for a wing case, and something for tailing. Dirt cheap fly, and dozens of variations for tailing and wing case materials. Maybe a bead or some lead if you want it weighted.
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It is far cheaper to buy your own flies, especially trout flies. (Saltwater--well--that's a different deal)
Hell, I could have bought entire fly bins in fly shops with all the money I've spent on materials. Not to mention all the hundreds of flies I've tied over the years that will never be used, or have already been "tossed" to someone else.
However, if you don't tie, you don't get the satisfaction of having exactly what you want, tied exactly to the specs. and proportions you want, on the hook you want, etc etc. Also, you don't have to worry about finding the flies you want in a pinch, like on a fishing trip. I tie more now while on a trip or the night before one than I do just for something to do. It used to be fun. Now its more of a chore. But I still have a few bugs I need to tie myself, the way I want them, on the hooks I like, to the proportions I want.
By the way, if you were to buy $30 worth of hare's ear tying materials, you could tie far more than 30. Try hundreds. Dubbing (hare's mask), thread, wire for ribbing, something for a wing case, and something for tailing. Dirt cheap fly, and dozens of variations for tailing and wing case materials. Maybe a bead or some lead if you want it weighted.
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