25 replies to this topic

[RoyalWulff]

Fly fishing is a fairly "traditionalist" sort of sport. Tying your own flies seems to make fly fishing a little more traditional. I know some tie to save money, and others for the enjoyment. But do you think some of that enjoyment comes from the idea that it is somehow rooted in a tradition or even history? Like material selection, trying to stick to certain patterns, and using the "proper" materials somehow stays true to how fly fishing was?

What are you guys' ideas on this? Basically fly tying and the traditions it carries with it.

Thanks a lot,

I really hope to get some good answers!

Phil

[netabrookie]

I love the traditional aspect of fly tying/fishing. I love history, and this is a very old sport that I am proud to be a part of. I like to try and use traditional materials when I can, but I also stay open-minded enough to try new things also. Where does the time line on tradition start and stop? Only a little over a century has passed, but I wonder if T. Gordon broke tradition with quill bodies? But when its all said and done, I guess that I do prefer feathers and fur over antron and sparkle braid.





Take Care,

[Fred H.]

Phil, speeking just for myself.I tie because I can't buy the flies just as I want them.For years the only flies that were available were tied for cold water speices.Later came salt water flies and poppers for panfish.I keep a box of go to flys that have served me well over the years. They are not world changing patterns, just patterns that have been altered by size ,color or material to work better where I fish.I have also created a few patterns with the advancement in tying materials in the past five years.Tradition has its place and if I were on a trout stream instead of a coastal marsh you might see me fishing with traditional patterns exsclusively.But where I fish its just not practical.

[RoyalWulff]

Wow,

Those are some wicked reasons, that I am sure you wouldnt find in a book, or mag somewhere. Fred, maybe you are "making history" for your costal waters!

I love history too, and although I like to keep it, I also like catching fish. I love to learn the history of a pattern and tie it. But when it come to catching fish the exact pattern isnt always the best. Although it is sometimes the most fun to fish.

Mike Boyer helped me once with the history of the Lord Baltimore american bass fly. Which is great because Lord Baltimore came from England and settled in Newfoundland, later migrating to his investments in maryland, because the weather was too bad here. Later the fly was named for him, because it was his colours. Or they designed the fly in his colours. (that was a butchering of the real history)

[RoyalWulff]

By the way Tony, that is an interesting question of the quill body and Gordon. lol I dont know!!!! lol

I find the traditional part of fly tying is just another factor that you can get hooked on, if you wish

[dwiltshire]

I agree RoyalWulf - 'another factor to get you hooked'.

For me, I tie flies for several reasons. Firstly it allows me to carry on with my fishing - even when I cannot get out to the water. Secondly, there is great pride to be taken in catching a fish on a fly that you have planned, tied and presented all yourself. Thirdly, I love sharing flies and knowing that someone else may have success with something I have cobbled together.

It's all linked to the history really - but we are all taking it further, not just going over old ground. I love seeing new versions of patterns / new ideas / different materials. This site is great for that - especially when people feedback about your work at the vise.

Great thread by the way. Cheers,
Dave.

[Redwings1]

I suppose I find great enjoyment in the tradition of our sport...both tying and fishing...but I do not allow myself to be handcuffed by that tradition. There are times that I attempt to replicate a pattern both in look and material that has been tied for decades or centuries, but I have no problem having bustard and IC on one side of my desk with estaz and plastic nymph backs on the other side. I like to expand on techniques and materials at every avenue which means that in the end I am utilizing both traditinoal and contemporary techniques. Let's not forget that the materials and techniques we use well now will be 'traditional' to our grandchildren

[ILikeFish]

Let's not forget that the materials and techniques we use well now will be 'traditional' to our grandchildren

well said, i completely agree. I have not really dug into the history of tying, or fishing all THAT much. well i mean no more than most other people. I suppose when you read any article or tutorial your kinda reading a piece of history, because however they learned to do it, was mostly likely past down to them and slightly adapted to fit. I love to tie old and new patterns with traditional and modern materials. But I have often wondered who the heck thought it would be a good idea to wrap a feather around a hook and catch fish with it.

maybe the same guy who thought spraying cologne on you will get you a woman... I think your better off with the feather on the hook. for more reason than one don't tell my girlfriend

[day5]

I feel like the traditionalism is mostly rooted in the trout fishing community. Many of the warm water guys would not have a fear of throwing a VW sized fly at a fish and try to pull the rod down as hard as possible so the fly makes as big of splash as possible. Or tie a 3/8 oz drop shot sinker on to a CnD type rig with a unweighted fly 12 inches above it and CnD/Drop Shot for smallies in 30 feet of water with a fly rod. For that matter CnD fishing in its self is not very traditional and its used mostly by the steelheaders in the Midwest. I think that is due to the new growth in warmwater fly fishing. Maybe we are starting a new traditions. Im not saying it is a new idea (warm water fly fishing) but it is growing faster now than ever. I think so many of the warm water guys are converted gear heads we have a completely different approach to and around the unspoken rules of traditional trout fishing.

[flytyingscotsman]

First off, let me say that the tradition and history of the sport of fly fishing is very important
to me personally, and that without it, fly fishing just wouldn't be the same experience.

This post got me thinking about what 'tradition' or 'traditionalist' really means ....

The definition of the word 'tradition' is 'to hand down'.

If we run with this definition, the famous names throughout fly fishing history don't
necessarily meet this criteria of 'traditionalist' - yes, they handed down to us, but
they didn't necessarily stick with what was handed down to them - they were constantly
searching for new fishing techniques, fly patterns and materials - I think this is
where we are - we take what was handed down to us and run with it - we are
maintaining tradition by not following it in a certain way. I think this is the only
way the sport can survive and the 'tradition' continue on.

Natural versus synthetic materials for fly patterns ? Natural materials are still very
prominent in contemporary fly patterns not just because of tradition, but because nature is
the best at imitating nature !

Am I opposed to the use of synthetics ? Not at all. Many so-called traditional patterns
feature tinsel - does this disqualify them from being described as traditional ?

Flies constructed solely using synthetics - not too keen on this, but if the next guy wants
to do it, I'm fine with it.

Tie to throw or tie to show ? - this is where I really do stick with tradition - the patterns
handed down to us were without exception ALL tied to throw.

That's my 2 cents worth on the matter.

[purolohi kalastaja]

I just like doing things with my own hands.

I don't care if I'm tying a traditional pattern or if I'm creating something new and bizarre.

[Old Hat]

I have been contemplating around this for a couple years now. I think I am a traditionalist. I like to follow in tradition. I like to be creative also. What is a traditonal fly? Is it tying the fly exactly as the original pattern and handing it down? I'm not so sure. Each fly design has its own style and purpose for the person tying and fishing it. The insects and fish in one part of the world and in my part pf the world are not the same. Does this mean I can't fish traditional patterns of say the North Country Spiders with the same results in my backyard. Probably. The original pattern from from the North Country may not work well on my streams. But, what is the tradition here? Not the fly itself but the the style, materials, and methods. Staying with "the tradition" I like to come up with creative spider patterns using natural materials, mostly from what is available to me in my region, heavy on local game birds, heavy on local furs to temp the fish in waters that are not like others waters anywhere else. Do I need English Grouse?, Jackdaw etc to tie North Country Spiders? Yes. Are my flies North Country Spiders? No, I use California Quail, Blue Grouse, Chukar. They are my patterns. Are my flies in the "tradition" of North Country Spiders? I would argue, yes. I am doing what the elder fly fishers of the North Country did for the same purpose. I am following their traditions only I am in the Pacific Northwest of North America.

We often confuse handing down an "original" pattern with handing down a "traditional" pattern. I think we can stay traditional and still be creative. In this sense, new designs are started all the time or else there wouldn't be any traditions. Some are lost. Some maintain through the ages and are tweaked here and there but follow in the essense of the original pattern (the tradition).

Natural vs. Synthetics...
My 2 cents: Two different traditions.


I prefer the natural tradition because I get more personal satisfaction out of it.
I will quote Darrell Martin in The Art of the Trout Fly,

"In a way, tying is trouting. Tying extends our understanding of nature. We seek the perfect pattern, even if the perfect pattern never exists. It matters only that we seek. We seek the perfect feather, the perfect method, the perfect theory. To the thoughtful tyer, it is the quest and not the pattern that matters. And in the search, fragments of fur and feather continuously transform into a new alchemy. Part of the pleasure of tying is discovery. So, we finally net more than trout. We net knowing the spotted Callibaetis, the underfur of the muskrat, the scarlet flank of a rainbow and the peent of whispering nighthawks."

[wickedcarpenter]

Fly tying in the winter gives Me something to do while i'm drinking.
Fly fishing in the Summer gives Me a reason to get out and drink

[Old Hat]

Now that is seriously a tradition one could argue that is just as steeped in Fly Fishing as tying is.


At least after a good day of fly fishing. Come to think of it, I seem to have caught more fish with the flies I tied while in college.

[chemprof2001]

Fed and I live in the same area (in fact Fred taught our fly tying session at our fly club meeting this past Tuesday). I like traditional flies, but don't use them down here in southwest Louisiana often. Fed gave you some reasons. but there is another reason living here: the nearest fly shop is 120 miles away either to the east in Baton Rouge, or to the west in Houston. So I tie with LOTS of materials from craft stores and dollar stores, and order online when I need to do so.

I suppose the part I like best about fly tying is dreaming up new ways/materials/patterns for effective flies. I've gotten pretty good at using those craft/dollar store materials to make some effective flies. I do like tying with more traditional materials, but I often don't want to wait for them so I make substitution.

By the way, the only traditional fly that I've seen work really well down here is a royal coachman wet streamer. Occasionally the bluegill will hit that fly until there is nothing left of it.

Mark Delaney