The Cost of a Fly

[AKSkim]

I read this man's blog everyday, and today I found something I'd like to share with you.

What do you think?



The Cost of A Fly
By James Marsh

I received a very interesting comment from a Perfect Fly customer yesterday, that I
first completely misunderstood. The customer was commenting that when anglers
think about the price they are paying for flies, they should think in terms of how
many fish the particular fly caught, or the cost of flies per fish caught. I passed
that off as if he was referring to the durability of the fly, or how many times the same
fly would catch a trout without it tearing up.

I also thought he didn't have much of a clue about how to go about selecting flies. I
falsely assumed he was just another angler that was relying strictly on luck, or he
wouldn't have made the comment he made. After all, the number of fish caught by
any one of our Perfect Flies would depend on how well he matched the most
available food that the trout had to eat at the particular time he was fishing, not the
durability of a particular fly he just happened to try at any given point that worked.

Our flies are specific imitations of insects, not generic flies that are designed to try
to imitate several different insects. I wasn't about to try to get off into that subject
with him because I though that may be a little over his head. After all, he was being
very nice and trying to compliment the flies he had previously purchased from us. I
couldn't very well insult him by saying that I was glad he caught some fish but it was
obvious he didn't know what he was doing.

I was still thinking he was referring to the durability of the flies. I also know that some
of our flies aren't the most durable flies in the World. Some are more durable than
others but although they all are durable enough, none of them are designed with
that as the top priority. The first and foremost priority is that they imitate
insects or other trout food they are intended to imitate well enough to
catch the fish feeding on that food.

I have always thought that most anglers who spend hundreds of dollars on fly rods,
lines, reels and other gear, and maybe even hundreds or more on travel, etc.,
wasn't the ones that tried to save a few cents on the cost of a fly. Most anglers are
more concerned about how effective the fly is in catching trout than how many they
can catch on the same fly. I would think a fly that failed to catch a trout, but that last
all day without tearing up, couldn't possibly be considered a good fly.

Although this was running through my mind, I wasn't about to insult a customer who
was trying to compliment our flies. However, I must not be very good at hiding my
true feelings. Suddenly, it dawned on the gentlemen that I was misunderstanding
what he was trying to point out. He explained he wasn't referring to the durability of
the flies at all. He stated they were durable enough to last reasonably well enough
but that he was referring to the fact that most anglers don't consider the price they
pay for flies in terms of how much they cost as a whole per fish caught.

He explained that most angler's fly boxes are full of flies that have never caught a
single trout. He continued pointing out that some of the flies in their boxes are never
even used. He mentioned that they are usually just selected to be the lucky fly; the
one that worked last year or yesterday; the one in the most recent fly fishing
magazine; the one the fly shop said was hot; or the one an angler thought was a
very good looking fly.

He pointed out that if a fly cost $5.00 and caught ten trout (50 cents per trout), it
cost less per trout caught than a fly that cost $1.00 and caught one trout ($1.00 per
trout). He simply meant that he rather pay a higher price for the flies (meaning in
our case from $1.95 to $2.25 per fly) for flies that are very effective in catching
trout, than to pay $.50 per fly for flies that weren't that effective in catching trout. He
continued by saying that anyone was better off paying $5.00 each for a couple of
flies ($10.00) that ended up catching ten trout than a $1.00 each for ten flies
($10.00) that ended up catching a couple of trout.

In other words, he was strictly complimenting the effectiveness of our Perfect Flies. I
guess I need to keep from assuming so much and listen to what my customers have
to say more carefully. I've really never though about the cost of flies in that same
manner. Have you?

 

[JeffK]

When buying flies - yes. Nothing like a FFP cranefly, a Baxter House Knock Down dun, a beautiful Coq de Leon March brown spinner from the Feathered Hook, a John Collins biot dun etc, etc for efficiency when you need it regardless of what the first cost of the fly was. I generally buy top quality local flies at what the market will bear. Buying a $5 fly that catches fish always beats buying $8/dozen flies that suck (I can tie flies that suck myself).

When tying my own - no. The cost-benefit analysis goes out the window. Endlessly searching for new materials trying oddball techniques and the cost per fly to tie it myself is probably $20. For example, after watching Dave Whitlock I spent $10 for a red fox squirrel skin that I will probably use twice, and I already have premixed batches of his dubbing!

 

[NJpatbee]

As a fly tyer I have never had a concern over the cost of an individual fly. Of course I notice when materials such as wood duck flank feathers or prime dry fly hackle go up, but the marketplace tends to keep the price in check. I also could never place a value on a fly by the number of trout that I catch with it. A case in point is the fact that I tie and use Marinaro style thorax dry flies, which are time-consuming (for me), and about as durable as a cigarette ash. I catch more fish using simpler and sturdier ties like Barr's Vis-a-Dun because they usually work fine. But for a difficult trout, usually a larger wild or hold over brown, for me the Thorax tie is my ace. I have had many of my most satisfying outings by landing 2 or 3 trout on waters like the Letort, Yellow Breeches, Musky, and Big Fishing Creek with the thorax. After one or two fish the wings are mangled and its time for re-hab at the vise or the trash can. A bad value fly? To me it was worth a million bucks.

 

[Andy B]

I look at this topic in two ways. When tying flies for myself I never figure out the cost of a fly nor do I care to. I just buy the material and sit down and tye. Now far as when I tye to fill orders I do add the cost of the materials and included is some of my time as well. Strictly as a fly tyer it is more costly to tye your own flies than it is to buy them. Now as a fly tying hobbyist it is a love affar with a satifaction in tying your own flies and catching trout on them. A good tyers flies are better constructed than most commercial flies and are in a lot of circumstances enhanced/modified to match the insect occurring on ones own home waters. Do I buy flies any more? No. But when I do go into a fly shop I try to buy fly tying marterials or tippet and leaders to help support the local shop and ask for some inforamtion as well.
Now here's where the funny part is to fly fishing, You spend $500 to $700 on a rod, purchace a fly reel between $75 - $250, add on $9.00 backing, $ 39 - $75 dollar fly line, purchase some leaders for around $3.75 a piece and buy a spool of tippet material for about the same price. Now here's the funny part, it's the stupid ol fly that entices the Trout to take, and we argue or complain about the cost per fly. Thats what is really funny

 

[tomfly]

I find that the biggest cost in my flies are the hooks. I have been stripping off the old beat up flies and reusing the hooks. It drops the cost down substantialy when you can use a hook two or three times.

 

[G Lech]

You cant put a price on quality and effectiveness. Which blog is this from?

 

[sh4ne87]

are u kidding me? this shit is retarded. i do tie my own because i enjoy tying my own flies sometimes but if AK is going to promote a fly company regardless whether if it is a sponsor of this site or not then try out theflystop.com. i would challenge any of you to fish against me with the same pattern fly and i would happily fish the 65 cent fly to your semen encrusted hand jerked american fly. i took 3rd place in a fly tournament fishing 2 flies that i thought were of excellent quality and indeed did catch me fish. they didnt cost more than the change in your pocket. i cant believe i just wasted my time reading that thread. i thought with age comes wisdom.

 

[JeffK]

You got some points (although crudely stated), but I have a slightly different slant. I have tied for 45 years or so and fish my own flies 95% of the time. In fact, I use pretty simple "junk" flies like Honey Bugs, chamois worms, simple pheasant tails (only PT wrapped on a hook), Red Hots, etc a large percent of the time and manage my fair share of fish on them. My red midge larva for a while was simply a red painted hook. Can't dispute the deadliness of simple flies most (nearly all?) the time. However, 5% or 10% of the time the fish can get really picky and a better fly is called for. For example, trico fishing Saucon Ck in September you need to step up your fly since those wild browns have been hammered for 3 months and have seen a lot of flies thrown by a lot of great fishermen. Maybe you could work magic with a cheapo fly in those circumstances - I can't.

When I travel I like to throw $20 or so for flies to a local flyshop. Partly as thanks for any advice thrown my way; partly to make sure there is some convenient place to buy tippet or floatant if I run out. Most local shops have a fly pattern or two they are really, really good at and it pays to buy those for use or as an example. For example, I would never buy a pheasant tail or Zebra midge at the Feathered Hook, but the Coq de Leon March Brown spinners they tie are miles ahead of any of the cheap poly wing spinners IMHO, so I like to buy a few for the tough evenings. When the Baxter House had #18 olive Irresistibles (since dropped them - too much PITA to tie) I bought a dozen since they were super effective for the East Branch browns and lasted forever. It helps if the flies a shop specializes in are ones I just hate to tie. For example, have you ever tried to tie a size 18 Irresistible? Since I don't buy many flies, I tend to buy only those that are special, and probably more expensive.

 

[AKSkim]

are u kidding me? this shit is retarded.

i cant believe i just wasted my time reading that thread.

You sure did you GOON.

SUCKER....

 

[BRK TRT]

are u kidding me? this shit is retarded. i do tie my own because i enjoy tying my own flies sometimes but if AK is going to promote a fly company regardless whether if it is a sponsor of this site or not then try out theflystop.com. i would challenge any of you to fish against me with the same pattern fly and i would happily fish the 65 cent fly to your semen encrusted hand jerked american fly. i took 3rd place in a fly tournament fishing 2 flies that i thought were of excellent quality and indeed did catch me fish. they didnt cost more than the change in your pocket. i cant believe i just wasted my time reading that thread. i thought with age comes wisdom.

Who really cares about competition....... This is fly fishing, gentlemen, ladies, peace solitude. Tie what you like and fish it.

And third place is nothing to brag about....... Grow up.


Brk Trt

 

[Trouser Trout]

I don't tie flies, but the low cost of quality flies pleases me, think about it...... I can buy a dozen of many types of flies for under $10. How long does it take to tie a dozen flies? As far as i am concerned they are a bargain.

 

[Trout Fever]

still means more when you actually tied it

 

[redietz]

What's basically wrong with his premise is that, over time, generic flies will catch more fish than hatch specific flies.

Yeah, there will be a few days where you need something more specific than say, an Adams, or a Prince nymph, but those days are comparatively few compared to when you need exactly the right sulfur imitation -- which may not work at all a week later. There are plenty of inexpensive (whether you define that as not costing a lot of money, or are simple to tie) which will catch fish most of the time, making them the better value on a per fish basis.

 

[sh4ne87]

alright alright yes i may have been on my period or something and that was a crude post.

i do agree that local fly shops are a good place to pick up a unique fly, actually i agree almost with your entire post. i just dont see why i would pay 2.25 for say an "american made fly" when in reality most flies are coming from vietnam or whatever.

and yes brk trout i know its not competition. i fish by myself mostly. i was providing an instance where i feel the cheap flies are just as good as most others. after i grow up a little i may even be able to take first!

 

[JeffK]

I generally don't take more than 5 minutes a fly, so tie a dozen or more an hour. Steelie flies I like are tied in a minute or two. Therefore, my flies aren't as perfect as the examples here - but they work. The quality is also affected by the fact that most are tied after 10PM in a panic after I find I don't have any flies for the next days fishing.

At my billing rate those quick flies are then worth more than $10 a piece, so even a $2.25 fly looks cheap in comparison. You have to tie flies for your enjoyment if you value your time at all. That is also why I don't tie flies I hate to tie - it just isn't worth it.