December 07, 2009> 9:27 AM
cottage industry expansion > fly tying Many years ago, I was a fly tier. I was a fly fisherman. Well, I still am, but then I worked in the industry. I was a tackle manager in a local Orvis fly shop. We sold gifts and clothing too, but the fly shop section was my deal. Counting and ordering flies, tying materials, tackle, etc. It often had that friendly fly shop feel. Regular customers would come by and talk about fishing this or that stream, ask advice about which flies to use, what line weight was best for Trout vs. Smallmouth Bass, and generally just shoot the breeze. We offered fly fishing courses for the newcomer to the sport - also, fly tying classes, which I would teach. I also taught some classes in my home at the time. It's been a while since I've done any of this for money, as a professional. I've thought about it here and there. I'm thinking about it again now, the job situation being as it is. I know one thing I can do well, and I love doing it - tying flies. It's not unlike making rosaries, which I also do. Creative. Detail-oriented. You produce with your own hands a solid, practical, yet beautiful object. You can hold it, look at it and say to yourself, "I made that." Then you can, respectively, tie it onto the end of your tippet and fish with it or hold it in your hand and pray with it.
So, here's the deal - a new wing of cottage industry is being birthed! I'm going to tie and sell selections of flies. My first set will be what you see pictured above - a selection of a dozen of my favorite, general Trout flies for $25.00. The flies, from left to right, are as follows: #8 Olive Wooly Bugger; #14 Mousey Nymph (created locally by two old fishing buddies); #14 Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph; #14 (#15 wide gap hook actually) Elk-Hair Caddis Dry Fly. Here are some individual photos of the flies - click on them to see a larger image.
If you'd like to order a set of the dozen Trout flies, send me an e-mail from this link and I'll get back to you on when they'll be done, shipping, etc. Thanks very much in advance for the orders! Peace and "tight lines" to all fly fishermen. :)
December 07, 2009
> 9:27 AM
Many years ago, I was a fly tier. I was a fly fisherman. Well, I still am, but then I worked in the industry. I was a tackle manager in a local Orvis fly shop. We sold gifts and clothing too, but the fly shop section was my deal. Counting and ordering flies, tying materials, tackle, etc. It often had that friendly fly shop feel. Regular customers would come by and talk about fishing this or that stream, ask advice about which flies to use, what line weight was best for Trout vs. Smallmouth Bass, and generally just shoot the breeze. We offered fly fishing courses for the newcomer to the sport - also, fly tying classes, which I would teach. I also taught some classes in my home at the time. It's been a while since I've done any of this for money, as a professional. I've thought about it here and there. I'm thinking about it again now, the job situation being as it is. I know one thing I can do well, and I love doing it - tying flies. It's not unlike making rosaries, which I also do. Creative. Detail-oriented. You produce with your own hands a solid, practical, yet beautiful object. You can hold it, look at it and say to yourself, "I made that." Then you can, respectively, tie it onto the end of your tippet and fish with it or hold it in your hand and pray with it.
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