"why do you tie ?"

"why do you tie ?" (Full Version)

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NotherOne -> "why do you tie ?" (9/8/2008 8:48:48 PM)
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!”

mgolf92 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/8/2008 9:34:04 PM)
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

tippy-toe -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/8/2008 9:43:52 PM)
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

Inukshuk -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/8/2008 9:52:58 PM)
"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.

justinl8688 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/8/2008 10:26:26 PM)
I do it because I can't fish everyday.

kyler16 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 4:06:05 AM)
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!

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

pgh_flytier -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:22:49 AM)
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

doubletaper -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:29:32 AM)
its all part of fly fishing.........[:)]

killdeer19 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:41:21 AM)
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

...masterofnone -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:47:56 AM)
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

smallhook -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 10:23:01 AM)
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.

clinchknot -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 5:57:05 PM)
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.[:D] 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.

PeteM -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 6:48:45 PM)
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..."

anchke -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 7:39:42 PM)
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.

fishmonger -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:01:33 PM)
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.

mxdad66 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/9/2008 9:37:46 PM)
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.

anadromous -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/10/2008 10:23:58 AM)
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.

flyfishermanPA -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/10/2008 4:52:19 PM)
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.

flirod4evr -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/10/2008 7:21:19 PM)
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"[:D]

FredT -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/12/2008 11:01:46 AM)
[:-] Saving the bugs for people to make chocolate covered candy out of them.

dano -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/12/2008 5:08:51 PM)
Out of necessity. (If I only could get my wife or daughter to do it for me.)[:D] I do most of my tying the night before or the morning before I go fishing.

mossy oak -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/12/2008 5:14:45 PM)
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

flyfishindave -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/12/2008 8:09:30 PM)
I tie because I fish a lot & need a lot of flies & it is relaxing most of the time

avidangler -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/12/2008 9:01:53 PM)
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.

flyfishermanPA -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/13/2008 11:50:43 AM)
right on avidangler.

matsif -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/13/2008 1:08:39 PM)
normally I just tie what I need the night before. being in high school limits my time

flyfishermanPA -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/13/2008 2:24:14 PM)
Same here matsif. I get home around 3:30 and can only tie for maybe 25 minutes if any..

fishenfool46 -> RE: "why do you tie ?" (9/13/2008 3:57:28 PM)
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.

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