With all of the different types of flies, lures, and artificial baits available on the market it’s easy to wonder why anyone would want to make their own. For some, it’s just a good way to pass time during the cold winter months in between casts in to the honey hole protected by shrubs and a waterfall where they caught that massive Golden Trout or that favorite jetty where the trophy Striped Bass was lurking. But, for many folks who practice, what hinges on being an art, tying flies is more than just the idea of making a lure. There’s a connection to the sport… a challenge between the person tying the fly and the fish staring it down, examining it to confirm authenticity before swallowing it up in a single gulp. Making sure the eyes are straight and the legs are perfectly matched is all a part of the chase and thrill of catching the lunker lurking beneath the surface. Knowing you meticulously calculated every aspect from the color scheme to the size and then considered the time of year and type of insects that would be around… all of that led to your triumph.
Does that thrill sound enticing?! If so, hang out with Blake Merwin of the Gig Harbor Fly Shop as he walks through the “Beginner’s Guide to Tying Flies”.
