If you're new to the sport you may be frustrated by the cost of flies and the number that you loose to trees and snags as well as breaking off a trip. Eventually you will end up with several fly boxes filled with 200 ~ 400 flies. At $1.95 each retail that's quite a bit of money. Some think that they can actually save money by tying there own but soon find that they have thousands of dollars inversed in materials.
On a good day I've actually come off the river with more flies that I started out with. Sometimes when I get hung up on an overhanging branch I'll carefully check the leaves and have on several occasions pulled more than my own fly from branch.
Now I'm not going to tell you to stop shopping at local fly shops, I will stop in a buy a few of a special pattern that I don't have the time or inclination to tie. But I wouldn't mail order from them, with added shipping cost you'll be paying a small fortune on flies. But when in the neighborhood, do stop in ask about the current conditions and hatches, check out a new rod and buy a 1/2 dozen of the flies they recommend. If you want to do some serious fly box stocking you might want to try some of the internet fly shops that offer decent quality at a very reasonable price.
Here is the short list, feel free to add your favorite site and experiences with them.
#1 Blue Fly Cafe (http://www.blueflycafe.com). OUT OF BUSINESS
Fast Reasonable A+ service Also stock some basic accessories like loon products. I've ordered from them many times and have never had any issues. $0.74 ea. $7.68 doz
#2 Caylor Custom Flies (http://www.caylorcustomflies.com) Local NC home grown tyer A little more expensive but $1.00 ea, $10.00 doz.
#3 Hooked on Flies (http://www.hookedonflies.com/cart/flies?type=grab&name=%) OUT OF BUSINESS
How about the Fall Special 100 flies for $25 !!!!! or $0.59 ea.
Here is a thread with more info... http://www.brfff.com/forum/index.php/topic,645.0.html (http://www.brfff.com/forum/index.php/topic,645.0.html)
Glad to see this board is an Informational Forum. ;D
Blue Fly Cafe is still having their 25% off sale. You can get flies for about 50 cents right now.
http://www.bentonflybox.com/dryps.htm
Over $50.00 and shipping is free
If you have a pattern and they don't tie it. They will
Made in America
Mstash
Damn,
The title was truncated, All I could read in the header was " where can I get high".
Quote from: troutphisher on October 20, 2007, 22:34:32 PM
Damn,
The title was truncated, All I could read in the header was " where can I get high".
Uh - you could try www.Rainbowflycafe.com where their biggest seller is the Hashish Caddis, followed by the Hemp midge...
They are a little more expensive, up to $20 a lid, I mean dozen, but they seem to last along time. Other disadvantage is that you will want to stash snacks in your vest if you use these flys!
TB
riverbum.com. only a buck a piece and just as good (if not better) than any flies your local shop sells. now, will somebody tell me where i can get high?
Most shops are buying their flies from these type sources. Very few patterns tied by local tiers are available from the average fly shop. Umpqua is a popular choice because they are well tied flies with good materials 8) Be careful, some of these off shore flies are really junk. I can't buy the materials for what some of these flies cost.
I would have to say that Caylor Custom Flies is a great place and has excellently tied flies for around here. That is his specialty and that is where I get 90% of my flies. He gets my vote.
Quote from: brownhunter on October 24, 2007, 14:12:43 PM
I would have to say that Caylor Custom Flies is a great place and has excellently tied flies for around here. That is his specialty and that is where I get 90% of my flies. He gets my vote.
I concur with you bh. I've been purchasing the shops trout flies from Roger since '99, over 95% of our stock comes from him. They are some real good flies... tied well, last long... and catch fish!
--walt
Want to support a local guy consider Hugh Hartsell. He ties some local patterns that are unique to the region.
http://smokymountainflyguide.com/
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on October 24, 2007, 18:18:37 PM
Want to support a local guy consider Hugh Hartsell. He ties some local patterns that a unique to the region.
http://smokymountainflyguide.com/
I also agree with this one. He is very innovative and his flies flat out catch FISH!!!! Enough said ;hb
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on October 24, 2007, 13:48:23 PM
Most shops are buying their flies from these type sources. Very few patterns tied by local tiers are available from the average fly shop. Umpqua is a popular choice because they are well tied flies with good materials 8) Be careful, some of these off shore flies are really junk. I can't buy the materials for what some of these flies cost.
Important point that was missed in another discussion I saw. Just because they flies are sold by Ma and Pa's fly shop, doesn't mean they aren't crap. While it gets me a little hard to think of the nubile young chinese slave girl that probably tied my flies, the cheap hooks and hackle many of them use seem to have gotten worse. Made me start tying flies again. They may look like crap, but if something is dumb enough to eat them, at least I know I can stick 'em.
Quote from: troutdawg on October 25, 2007, 06:16:51 AM
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on October 24, 2007, 13:48:23 PM
Most shops are buying their flies from these type sources. Very few patterns tied by local tiers are available from the average fly shop. Umpqua is a popular choice because they are well tied flies with good materials 8) Be careful, some of these off shore flies are really junk. I can't buy the materials for what some of these flies cost.
Important point that was missed in another discussion I saw. Just because they flies are sold by Ma and Pa's fly shop, doesn't mean they aren't crap. While it gets me a little hard to think of the nubile young chinese slave girl that probably tied my flies, the cheap hooks and hackle many of them use seem to have gotten worse. Made me start tying flies again. They may look like crap, but if something is dumb enough to eat them, at least I know I can stick 'em.
Most "Quality" flies in local shops are tied overseas for Umpqua. http://www.umpqua.com/
Blue Fly Cafe works the same way but sells direct to fishermen eliminating the middleman. Not sure if the quality is exactly the same but the value is there. I've not ordered from Caylor Custom Flies, but might the next time I need some...I checked out his online store but was unable to get it to work with firefox...
www.ahflies.com
He's a West Virginny boy. I've ordered twice and gotten very nice flies in usually less than a week.
He's been increasing his portfolio slowly but steadily.
They aren't "cheap" but neither are they expensive. Middle of the road pricing.
Watch it woolly, don't let the mod catch you pimping affordable flies...you might get banned! ;D
There is a place out of Bryson City NC that employees the handicapped to tie flies and have a great price, but their name is escaping me. They have a really good selection.
Quote from: Dukee on October 25, 2007, 22:45:26 PM
There is a place out of Bryson City NC that employees the handicapped to tie flies and have a great price, but their name is escaping me. They have a really good selection.
That really sounds like a win-win. I hope somebody can come up with a name.
TB
Quote from: absales on October 26, 2007, 07:20:11 AM
Store-bought flies, where is the underwear department?
jis wonderinlllllllllllllllllll
Here's a shot from or recent trip to the Jackson. We stopped in at Al's favorite shop so he could pick up a few new flies.....
I don't fish with no damn store bought flies, I was just gettin a wormy burger (night crawler/hamburger mixed) and an RC Cola.
jis straighten things out........................
Quote from: absales on November 03, 2007, 15:56:52 PM
I don't fish with no damn store bought flies, I was just gettin a wormy burger (night crawler/hamburger mixed) and an RC Cola.
jis straighten things out........................
It's hard to refute the photographic evidence above of you picking a fly out of the bin! Looks like a San Juan Worm to me........
i tried to mention some places to buy good cheap flies on the "OTHER" board and my post was deleted in a heart beat. :) :)
yagers
hills discount flies
kbe flyfishing
benton fly box
troutgetter flies
Quote
the nubile young chinese slave girl that probably tied my flies, the
I'm wondering if they could keep the flies and just send the gal who ties them ::)
Flytire -
Not familiar with Benton (mostly use BlueFly Café), but it looks like they tie their own up in Maine. What's the quality like compared to some of the others?
Thanks.
TB
I just purchased about $40 worth of flies from Blue Sky Cafe', as recommended here. Quality looking flies, and great pricing. They forgot two pink SJ's, so I called them. Three days later the two missing flies were in my mailbox!
My buddy is just getting started fly fishing again this year, so I bought him a lanyard, camelbak, and about 30 flies for Christmas.
I got to admit I have neve bought any flies form Blue Sky Cafe. Been to their website a couple of times. But a felllow member of our club does some repping for them. He is a straight shooter and as honest as he can be. He swears by them.
Next time I am in the market that is where I am headed.
9ft4wt
I buy most of my generic type flies there. Good quality and the customer service is always great. I have had the same service as you did when they forget things. I have no vested interest in recommending them, but I tell everyone about the company.
http://www.percysflies.com/
This site has flies that are solid, and @ .54c it is hard to beat them. They hold up fairly well but at this price you can catch 20 fish and tie on a new one and not feel bad. They also have some good deal on name brand fly fishing gear as well.
Quote from: littlecreekfisherman on February 10, 2008, 02:37:51 AM
http://www.percysflies.com/
This site has flies that are solid, and @ .54c it is hard to beat them. They hold up fairly well but at this price you can catch 20 fish and tie on a new one and not feel bad. They also have some good deal on name brand fly fishing gear as well.
I just looked at their site and they have a deal going on now where you buy a new rod from them you get 10 dozen free flies. You even get to pick out what flies you want and what sizes.
Here's a few links for sites that sell them pretty cheap.
http://flyshack.com/ (http://flyshack.com/)
http://www.streamflies.com/ (http://www.streamflies.com/)
http://theflystop.com/ (http://theflystop.com/)
Great info - for this lazy, lousy tier.
And I wanted to reiterate what WB said about supporting the local fly shops. Always buy 6 or so local flies, tippet, a couple leaders - or that shop may not be there next time.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/fishing-flies~d~94/ (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/fishing-flies~d~94/)
With the view count of this thread pushing 10,000 it seems quite a few people are looking to get high quality, low cost flies.
Quote from: troutfanatic on December 31, 2013, 17:34:41 PM
Just a quick note on this. Some friends in NY who knew my gear was stolen got me store credit with flyshack.com for Xmas. I used it and was not happy with what I received. Some of the stuff looked worse than what I tie myself... and that is bad!
Have you ever tried TheFlyStop? I bought quite a few of their trout streamers and have been very happy. They are just as good as any I've seen at a fly shop and hold up very well.
Quote from: troutfanatic on January 02, 2014, 10:11:14 AM
FC,
I'll check em out. Over the years, I have bought from a few of the ones mentioned i n this thread. Like many already said, I always hit the local shop when I am on the road because I believe in doing what I can to keep small business alive.
Here's the streamers I was telling you about. You can judge for yourself. They were at the time $1.50 a piece. I think they are $2.00 now.
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii252/Kev2380/IMG_7368_zps0a8de3cb.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii252/Kev2380/IMG_7373_zps2ce13d79.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii252/Kev2380/IMG_7376_zps89bf4f81.jpg)
http://caylorcustomflies.com/ (http://caylorcustomflies.com/)
Caylor just rebuilt the website, much easier to use now... d:b
Quote from: Woolly Bugger on January 06, 2014, 21:36:26 PM
http://caylorcustomflies.com/ (http://caylorcustomflies.com/)
Caylor just rebuilt the website, much easier to use now... d:b
Just bought some cone headed wooly buggers from this place. You can't beat $6 for a dozen.
i get many flies from theflystop. $3.50 flat rate shipping. first class. gets from san diego to western PA in 3-4 biz days.
quality flies. much improved selection
Funny. On the front page this thread appeared to be titled, ' where can I get high...' I was curious.
<-;:
I did too...
bump
<-;:
Anybody every try this store for flies http://www.perfectflystore.com/
They also happen to have a number of sister sites like this http://www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com/
that have a crazy amount of seemingly up to date information.
Website seems out of date technologically but otherwise in business.
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/_/N-1z0yt4x/pl
Quote from: wildmttrout on June 25, 2015, 09:22:05 AM
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/_/N-1z0yt4x/pl (http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/_/N-1z0yt4x/pl)
When I saw you replied to revfox post, I was laughing before I even opened the thread.
Check it out:
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/25/31c2a8e6fe83c0272a9eca1e0d52504b.jpg)
Quote from: wademaster on June 25, 2015, 09:46:40 AM
Check it out:
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/25/31c2a8e6fe83c0272a9eca1e0d52504b.jpg)
Damn that's hot
AMIRITE BRETT?
Quote from: Big J on June 25, 2015, 09:26:53 AM
Quote from: wildmttrout on June 25, 2015, 09:22:05 AM
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/_/N-1z0yt4x/pl (http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/_/N-1z0yt4x/pl)
When I saw you replied to revfox post, I was laughing before I even opened the thread.
Never miss an opportunity
Quote from: revfox on June 25, 2015, 08:26:22 AM
Anybody every try this store for flies http://www.perfectflystore.com/ (http://www.perfectflystore.com/)
They also happen to have a number of sister sites like this http://www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com/ (http://www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com/)
that have a crazy amount of seemingly up to date information.
Website seems out of date technologically but otherwise in business.
I agree there does seem to be a lot of decent stream info. Might have to try their flys sometime.
I am not a tier and while I will buy some flies at a shop when I'm asking questions on conditions, etc. to pay them for the info., I have to take advantage of online prices or I would go broke. Used to love Blue Sky and was sad to see them bite the dust. Have bought from Caylor and a few others and been satisfied.
TB
Big Y has great pricing, free shipping if order over $35 worth. Quick delivery,
I can't say there flies are super consistent, but real insects aren't either. Quality is great for 55-75 cent regs.
back off im building post count