"why do you tie ?"

"why do you tie ?"

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"why do you tie ?" - 9/8/2008 8:48:48 PM

NotherOne

Posts: 13
Joined: 9/8/2008
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Why do I tie?

I have been tying on and off for a little over 20 years. I am terrible but I keep at it. The highest praise I could hope to receive for one of my miserable attempts is "It could probably catch a fish". The other night i was in my basement committing another atrocity at the vice. As usual I am cussing and mumbling to myself, when my better half comes down the steps and asks a question "why do you tie?”
Here I sit, surrounded by piles of fluorescent fuzz, with strands of flash and chenille stuck to my zap a gap covered fingertips.
The only thing I could think of was “BECAUSE IT @*#%&@# RELAXES ME!”

Post #: 1

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/8/2008 9:34:04 PM

mgolf92

Posts: 677
Joined: 6/6/2006
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It lets me think about fly fishing when I'm not doing it or reading about it. It is actually practical when it comes to steelheading. I live a mile or so from Elk and fish it almost every day. I said that for more reasons than one. Not only just to get you guys jealous, but to make you realize, if you already don't, how many flies you would go through fishing 4-5 times a week on shale bottom creeks like Elk. I lose at least 10 flies in a days fishing and I just don't have $20 every day to replenish that. So I buy bulk materials and tie away. I keep it simple. SS, Nuke Eggs, easy stones, bead body caddis...etc. It is the most efficient way to get through the season.

But, I also do all the stuff that most other tiers do, and mess around with #22 midges just for the fun or it..if you do it some time, you'll realize it really isn't that much fun. And I tie big ugly streamers for bass. And even mess around with poppers. But all of that is for fun and can get expensive.

Mike

(in reply to NotherOne)

Post #: 2

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/8/2008 9:43:52 PM

tippy-toe

Posts: 4452
Joined: 11/21/2005
From: under a rock
Status: offline

I do it cause my friends won't give me the ones they tie..

It is rewarding when you catch fish on something you created...plus It's cheaper

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Post #: 3

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/8/2008 9:52:58 PM

Inukshuk

Posts: 1441
Joined: 2/11/2007
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"The only thing I could think of was “BECAUSE IT @*#%&@# RELAXES ME!”

Thats funny! Maybe you need to tie a little more! just kidding. I agree with Tippy, its very rewarding catching a steelhead or trout on something you tied yourself.

(in reply to NotherOne)

Post #: 4

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/8/2008 10:26:26 PM

justinl8688

Posts: 278
Joined: 12/10/2005
Status: offline

I do it because I can't fish everyday.

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Post #: 5

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 4:06:05 AM

kyler16

Posts: 1762
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: formally johnstown currently Salix
Status: online

it keeps me out of the bars, it keeps my fly boxes always full, and when you catch fish on somthing you tied it makes you feel like a kid again. Also experimenting is fun put some marabou here, some peacock hearl here, and some crystal flash there.

I used a size 6 streamer hook and layered marabou on it after seeing something in a magazine i tried to imitate...looked nothing like the picture but wow did it catch the steelhead and trout. especially on the dead drift!

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My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my
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Post #: 6

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 8:43:46 AM

bowmandjk

Posts: 92
Joined: 3/28/2007
From: erie,pa
Status: offline

this summer i was fishing perry mounument and was hammering the bass on a fly i tyed up with foam and estaz and deer hair some guy wanted to know where he could buy some i gave him a few he started catching bass made me feel good and he said he wanted to try tying ,its all part of fly fishing

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any day of fishing is a gift

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Post #: 7

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:22:49 AM

pgh_flytier

Posts: 130
Joined: 7/27/2004
Status: offline

I don't get to fish that often, but when I'm tying, I'm thinking about fishing. It's my only hobby in the winter

(in reply to NotherOne)

Post #: 8

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:29:32 AM

doubletaper

Posts: 1075
Joined: 10/15/2007
From: clarion, pa
Status: online

its all part of fly fishing.........

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if success is consistent

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Post #: 9

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:41:21 AM

killdeer19

Posts: 229
Joined: 6/25/2004
From: Midway, PA
Status: online

I tie becuase I enjoy it and it's fun... I fly fish because I have to make room for more flies to tie... LOL

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Post #: 10

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:47:56 AM

...masterofnone

Posts: 17
Joined: 3/6/2008
Status: offline

1. creative outlet
(not sure of the order of the following...)
* to "extend" actual fishing
* to fish vicariously (sp?) through others?
* great feeling catching fish on your own creations
* great feeling when someone else catches fish on your ties

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Post #: 11

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 10:23:01 AM

smallhook

Posts: 912
Joined: 9/15/2000
Status: offline

When I can't fish, I tie. Like pgh_flytier said, its my only hobby in the winter OTHER than hunting. When I'm not hunting, I'm tying or making my family miserable. Cabin fever is a bitch boy.

(in reply to ...masterofnone)

Post #: 12

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 5:57:05 PM

clinchknot

Posts: 85
Joined: 8/27/2008
Status: offline

The reason I used to sell the idea to the wife was so I could save money. Ha! Anyone who ties knows that ain't true.

But I agree, the real reasons are it is cool to catch a fish on something you created yourself, plus can take my little stationary vice and some materials to the stream with me and replenish or whip something else up as needed. And it does relax me too.

(in reply to smallhook)

Post #: 13

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 6:48:45 PM

PeteM

Posts: 307
Joined: 11/1/2007
From: Bethel Park
Status: online

My friends dupped me into it! They said it was fun and easy.

It is fun. I get a kick out of tying up a new pattern and giving it a shot. It's amazing what fish respond to. One color of a given pattern will absolutely slay them, another color or slight variation gets absolutely nothing.

Also, "it might catch a fish" Translates to "Man! What kind of material is that? Where did he get it? Why didn't I do that? Geez! I should have tied a dozen of those..."

(in reply to clinchknot)

Post #: 14

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 7:39:42 PM

anchke

Posts: 71
Joined: 11/14/2004
Status: offline

1. The old DIY rule applies here -- "If you want the job done right etc ..." Commercially tied flies are tied to catch fishermen, mostly beginners. (no offense intended)

2. You get to customize your offerings depending on situations. Murky water? Bring out the bucktail with some flash in it. Clear water? Stick with more realistic looking stuff. etc

3. It's cheaper -- AFTER you've amortized your invcestment in hardware. (Alternatively, it's anyway cheaper than a psychiatrist who might be crazier than you anyway.)

3. Serendipity -- I used to tie bucktails with all the winging material above the hook. Then I found a Lake Erie Emerald Shiner pattern with the first wing under the hook. Brilliant! Now almost all my bucktails are tied that way. Much better, for example, than the standard Mickey Finn formula.

4. And tying is therapeutic, because when you're tying you can't think about anything else. You have to focus, not just on tying, but on the particular step in tying. So there may be a little creative cursing now and then, but you've cleaned a lot of free-floating irritation out of your head while at the vise.

(in reply to PeteM)

Post #: 15

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:01:33 PM

fishmonger

Posts: 137
Joined: 10/10/2005
Status: offline

It is relaxing for me. I sit down, turn on a country music station,(oldies), and before I know it I have a half dozen flies for my box. Sometimes it is a necessity, especially if my two sons accompany me to the tribs. I can't get them to tie, but they don't have any problem with me doing it. I also supply a few of the sons of my co-workers.

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Post #: 16

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/9/2008 9:37:46 PM

mxdad66

Posts: 274
Joined: 10/4/2006
Status: offline

another way to keep the economy flowing,and most of all,having someone walk up to you and ask,"what are you using", show them then reach into your fly box and give them a few,makes it all worth while.

(in reply to fishmonger)

Post #: 17

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/10/2008 10:23:58 AM

anadromous

Posts: 2084
Joined: 11/16/2006
Status: online

One more way to excercise passion for the sport.
I get lost at the vise, I reflect on past experience,look forward to future endeavors and ultimatly settle into the world of fishing and leave the real world behind for a little while. I tie almost everyday...even if it is only one or two flies. If I can't sleep, I tie. If I am waiting for someone or need to kill a few minutes...I tie. My usual routine is to come home, turn on the outdoor network, crack open a cold beer, make a spitter, put in a chew of Copenhagen and commence to "build a better mouse trap" at the vice.

< Message edited by anadromous -- 9/10/2008 12:00:33 PM >

(in reply to mxdad66)

Post #: 18

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/10/2008 4:52:19 PM

flyfishermanPA

Posts: 650
Status: offline

I fly tie because its relaxing. In my opinion you get a more understanding of the water, for instance unstead of running to the local fly store to imitate a fly you saw you could experiment with flies that the shop doesn't have and catch more fish. Besides that, like many of you've said, it's something to do in the Winter.

(in reply to anadromous)

Post #: 19

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/10/2008 7:21:19 PM

flirod4evr

Posts: 207
Joined: 9/27/2007
Status: online

There are a few reasons that I know of and some that I dont. But I do know that when I am in my tying mode which will last for about 2 weeks I have to buy more and more boxes in those 2 weeks. I will just crank em out and that seems to be the reason why I am accululating so many boxes. Everytime I turn around I am adding another full box to the collection, do you all have this "problem"

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Post #: 20

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/12/2008 11:01:46 AM

FredT

Posts: 164
Joined: 11/28/2000
Status: offline

Saving the bugs for people to make chocolate covered candy out of them.

(in reply to NotherOne)

Post #: 21

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/12/2008 5:08:51 PM

dano

Posts: 2359
Joined: 9/21/2000
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Out of necessity. (If I only could get my wife or daughter to do it for me.)

I do most of my tying the night before or the morning before I go fishing.

(in reply to FredT)

Post #: 22

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/12/2008 5:14:45 PM

mossy oak

Posts: 904
Joined: 10/13/2003
Status: offline

Because 71GTO raids my box everytime we go to Erie. I suck and I'm tying for 3. Something wrong with that.

It does sort of keep me in tune with flyfishing. It's my new challenge.

MO

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Post #: 23

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/12/2008 8:09:30 PM

flyfishindave

Posts: 360
Joined: 3/21/2005
Status: offline

I tie because I fish a lot & need a lot of flies & it is relaxing
most of the time

(in reply to mossy oak)

Post #: 24

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/12/2008 9:01:53 PM

avidangler

Posts: 456
Joined: 11/2/2007
Status: offline

In the winter it keeps me from drinking large quantities of alcohol while saving me money all at the same time. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

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Post #: 25

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/13/2008 11:50:43 AM

flyfishermanPA

Posts: 650
Status: offline

right on avidangler.

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Post #: 26

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/13/2008 1:08:39 PM

matsif

Posts: 29
Joined: 1/2/2008
From: Erie, PA
Status: offline

normally I just tie what I need the night before. being in high school limits my time

(in reply to flyfishermanPA)

Post #: 27

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/13/2008 2:24:14 PM

flyfishermanPA

Posts: 650
Status: offline

Same here matsif. I get home around 3:30 and can only tie for maybe 25 minutes if any..

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Post #: 28

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/13/2008 3:57:28 PM

fishenfool46

Posts: 529
Joined: 8/13/2003
From: butler pa
Status: online

the reason i tie is because i am the best at it NOT!!!! I do it because i like to try differant patterns.
and it keeps me close when doing the laundry.And when she likes to watch stupid shows like big brother
it is my time for the tying table.

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Post #: 29

RE: "why do you tie ?" - 9/13/2008 9:24:59 PM

indsguiz

Posts: 2157
Joined: 3/24/2005
Status: offline

I don't tie because I have all the digital dexterity of a water buffalo. But my grandson does try to tie and he's getting pretty good at it. Side note: My son-in-law just looked over my shoulder at this post and then asked my daughter: "Hmmm know what the difference is between your dad and a water buffalo? About 75 pounds! But if we force feed the buffalo he might catch up!" Ouch!
Any how I wish I could tie. What you guys are able to do amazes me sometimes.

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Post #: 30

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