A pleasing component of fly fishing is tying your own fly patterns. It is a past time that allows for varying degrees of artistic flare. It requires one to study insects and their behavior, to study the traditions of fly patterns around the world, to study the behavior of fish that consume insects, invertebrates, critters and other fish, to study the habitat, in which, fish and their food reside.
Yes you can just order flies on line or buy some at the local fly shop or big box sporting goods store. However, you might want to enhance your fly fishing experience by taking fly tying lessons and then improving your new skills with online research. There is something, after decades of tying, that gives me great pleasure to seduce a fish to a fly I tied and then to release that fish to safety (anti Catch & Release? Get over it!).
Fall is the time many fly shops and community colleges offer fly tying lessons. The lessons are usually offered in reasonably priced allotments for beginners. This is a nice gift for someone to give the fly fisher. Classes are often provided through Winter into Spring. Consider it. Create your own flies that either match traditional patterns or create your own magical experiment.
SwittersB & Exploring 
Couldn’t agree more Gary, I don’t believe that any fly angler reaches their true potential until they tie there own flies or at least some of their own flies. Fly tyers are more observant on the water, look more closely at the minutiae of the stream, take more note of the behavior of the fish and the structure of the bugs. It isn’t just that your own flies are likely to be better, at least in time, than the commercial ones, but that you will tie them with situations in mind, know better when to use them and gradually develop more faith in your “home growns” than the generally overdressed and inherently fragile commercial ties. On top of that it provides a great deal of rewarding entertainment both on the river and at the bench. Regards Tim
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Thanks Tim. It is so enjoyable, if given a try. Hope you’re are well.
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