Pros and Cons of Buying Flies vs. Tying Your Own

Pros of Fly Tying

It's fun. For some people, the hobby of fly tying becomes more important than the hobby of fly fishing. It's a fun way to still be involved in the sport without having to be on the water. 

It's convenient. This is what really sold me on tying flies. If I need more flies, I can just tie them up. No need to wait for a fly shop to open and drive over there, and no need to wait for an online order to show up.

You can get exactly what you want. Maybe you want a fly in color X but can only find it in color Y. Fly tying means you can whip up your own colors or designs that you can't find elsewhere.

It's something to do in your down time. If the weather is bad, if you don't have time to get out on the water, or if your local fishing season is over, you can still be connected to fly fishing through fly tying.

It can be cheaper than buying. But let's be honest, it probably won't be. Read our article on this.

It's satisfying. It's very gratifying to start with seemingly random raw materials—thread, yarn, feathers, etc.—and put them together in a way that creates something beautiful than can also fool a fish.

Cons of Fly Tying

It can be an expensive hobby. Again, read our article on this.

It takes time. If you have limited time and would rather fish or do other things than tie, just go ahead and buy flies.