home tied flys

[fellamilad 0]

im fed up of the cost of living and was thinking of a few ideas to make a few extra quid. with out blowing my own trumpet im quite good at tying flies and wonderd if there would be a market for it. I would like to do it on a tied to order kind of thing. i havnt yet sussed outhow to put pics up but will do when the girl freind gets a chance. WHAT DO U THINK?

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

ea-bay!

Edited April 27, 2009 by aaronpigeonplucker

[J Darcy 5,871]

i did this when i was a lad.....dont think you will make your fortune matey............the best way is to find lads who will buy them for the quality if you can....

[fellamilad 0]

i know a few bailiffs al give em a box a piece to see what people think cheers for the replies.

[fin and fur 2]

I would be inclined to dip my toe in the water first, if you are running your fly selling activities alongside the day job then fine, but if you are thinking of throwing in the day job to concentrate on selling flies professionally, full time (which may very well happen given the timescales involved in tying flies) then i would see what sort of market there is out there first

start to sell flies as a sideline to friends club members etc, see if any local tackle shops would be interested or at least let you put a card up advertising your services, if you get orders then repeat orders and business increases by word of mouth then start advertising on a wider scale and you may soon be in a position to tie full time and jack in the day job

 

The current UK market is flooded with cheap imported flies, which by and large are lacking both in terms of quality and consistency

 

However surprisingly many UK fishermen, whilst more than prepared to spend a fortune on the latest Loomis or Sage rods will clamp their wallets firmly shut when it comes to parting with the cash for quality flies, which seems strange when you think that the fish sees the fly and not the nice shiny rod, this is an attitude that i have never really understood and may very well mean that you are tying for a niche market of discerning customers

 

I guess thats the catch when you come to tying flies professionally, you need to charge enough to make a reasonable living but will be selling to a small and doubtless very appreciative section of the market place who have the sense to pay for decent flies knowing that their catch rate will increase, which is why i would suggest that you keep your fly tying/selling activities in tandem with the day job for a while to see what sort of customer base develops first

 

all the best

 

let us know how you get on

 

fin and fur

Edited April 29, 2009 by fin and fur

[Rogan 0]

The current UK market is flooded with cheap imported flies, which by and large are lacking both in terms of quality and consistency

 

all the best

 

let us know how you get on

 

fin and fur

Its doubtful a mother of two from Kenya has any idea what an iron blue looks like,but that's the reality of many fly mail companies.

[redeye jedi 39]

i mainly fish for carp and a bit of sea fishing, i spend alot of money on my bait for a good reason. next week im getting fly casting lessons (for free)

i'll be interested in a box of quality flys. could you post some photos please mate.

[fin and fur 2]

The current UK market is flooded with cheap imported flies, which by and large are lacking both in terms of quality and consistency

 

all the best

 

let us know how you get on

 

fin and fur

Its doubtful a mother of two from Kenya has any idea what an iron blue looks like,but that's the reality of many fly mail companies.

 

True enough, however it now seems that the most expensive of the 'cheap' imported flies are tied in Africa with the rest of the also rans being tied in the Far East, as i understand things tiers are sat at a bench with a card of the fly they should be tying pinned up in front of them, and as you say they have doubtless never seen the real insect

[J Darcy 5,871]

The current UK market is flooded with cheap imported flies, which by and large are lacking both in terms of quality and consistency

 

all the best

 

let us know how you get on

 

fin and fur

Its doubtful a mother of two from Kenya has any idea what an iron blue looks like,but that's the reality of many fly mail companies.

 

True enough, however it now seems that the most expensive of the 'cheap' imported flies are tied in Africa with the rest of the also rans being tied in the Far East, as i understand things tiers are sat at a bench with a card of the fly they should be tying pinned up in front of them, and as you say they have doubtless never seen the real insect

 

Too True....... The flies from abroad are cheap crap on cheap hooks...BUT they're cheap and people will buy them.

There used to be a professional fly tyer years ago, but i cannot remember anything about him now, but he made some lovelly flies and i know they sold well. I think the main thing to do is get the whole quality thing going, then your'e in with a fighting chance. People like to see a large well-varnished head on the wets, and a lovelly hackle on the dries.... me personally, i don't tink the trout are too bothered....but its fisherman your trying to catch and not fish......good luck.....JD

[manksie 0]

i tie all the flys for my local tackle shop, i enjoy doing it but the pay is nothing special. a bit of a laibour of love.

[dog fox 16]

the best way is to find lads who will buy them for the quality if you can....

i think quality is right the cheap one,s on ebay dont last long in the fast run,s .10 mins and your down to a hook