Fly tying is an art just as much as a means to catching fish. Some tie flies for the beauty of it and never set foot in a trout stream. We all have different reasons why we tie flies and standards for our flies. Like fly fishing, there are many ways to do it and have fun.
For me, fly tying is one step deeper into the environment and mind of a trout. It adds to the overall experience, and I couldn’t imagine being as passionate about fly fishing without fly tying. Observing the trout’s food source on the water, taking what I learned to the vise, and heading back to the river to fool a trout is why I fell in love with fly fishing.
For myself and most DIY anglers, we tie flies primarily to catch fish. We take what we learn on the stream and apply it to our flies, hoping to find success. By playing with materials and techniques, we strive to tie a fly the fish can’t resist. We are always tying flies to solve the complicated equation presented to us daily on the river.
While we tie flies to catch fish, we live in a world of talented tyers who spend immense time on their flies to produce works of fly-tying art. You have seen these flies: the legs perfectly placed, the hackle beautifully wrapped, and the proportions realistic to the natural insect. You know, the parachute adams with eight wraps of clean hackle around the post.
With so many beautiful flies on social media, the internet, and fly shop bins, it is hard to tie a fly without comparing it to these flies we see so often.
As tyers, we are our worst enemy. We often downgrade our flies because they don’t look as clean as the ones on the internet or in the fly shop bin. I see this in many other fly tyers and myself, constantly judging my flies and picking them apart for all their slight defects. The leg didn’t orient in the right direction, the thread was showing through the dubbing, or I trapped some hackle fibers when whip finishing. The mistakes I make on the vise go on and on.
While I believe in growth and consistently pushing yourself to improve, it’s important to remember why we tie flies. Not to impress our fellow anglers but to trick a trout into eating them.
It all comes down to a trout (or whatever species you target) seeing that item as a potential food source and eating it. Rarely do we allow the fish to be the judge of our flies. So often, the trout don’t care for the slight imperfections in our flies, sometimes preferring them. The perfectly tied fly may look good in the angler’s fly box but may not imitate the fish’s food source in the water. I’m not on a trout stream to impress anglers with my flies; I’m there to fish!
If you tie flies to catch fish, keep yourself and others from diminishing your fly-tying efforts. Be conscious of whose flies you’re comparing your own to and the different standards we each have on the vise. Give it your best and have trust in your fly. The fish will tell you all you need to know and if it needs any improvement.
Let the fish be the judge. Their verdict is the only one that matters.
-Nick
2 thoughts on “Let The Fish Be The Judge”
So, I just picked up some bugs at my local shop, ones I know I cannot tie. I went fishing
and got a refusal. Even shop bugs don’t work sometimes. So, tie up bugs, don’t worry if it’s
not shop quality and enjoy fishing them.
We are lucky trout are willing to take our flies with how little they actually look like their natural food sources. Great point Dan! Fish a fly you have confidence in.
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