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Buying Fly Fishing Flies as a
Gift
by Kris B.
If you know a fly fisherman, and are looking for a gift
for him, fishing flies are a great choice. A fly
fisherman cannot have too many flies, so your gift will
always be appreciated. Flies wear out, and get lost, so
most fishermen carry several of the same fly, in various
sizes. Here are
some suggestions for what to look for if you are going
to buy flies for a fly fisherman as a gift.
First, if you are unfamiliar with fly fishing, or
purchasing flies, go simple. There are several patterns
that every fly fisherman carries in his box, and these
are safe purchases. A few patterns such as the Elk Hair
Caddis, the Hare's Ear Nymph, the Adam's Dry, the
Pheasant Tail Nymph, and the Wooly Bugger are good
options. These are patterns that are effective on most
trout streams, and are a staple in most fly boxes. You
can purchase these patterns in various sizes and help to
keep your fly fisherman's box well stocked.
If you are more familiar with fly fishing, you can
purchase some more area specific flies. Many streams
will have very specific insect life present at various
times of the year. If you know the insects that inhabit
the local streams of your fly fisherman, and you
understand their life cycles, you can buy the various
flies that represent those life cycles. Look for nymph,
caddis or dry fly patterns that mimic these various
stages. Often, there are specific patterns that are
known to be successful on specific streams. For example,
one of the streams that I enjoy fishing is the Elk
River, in the mountains of West Virginia. It is known
for its very small midge hatches. These are mimicked by
a #32 midge pattern, which is hard to see, difficult to
fish, but very successful when done right. If you can
identify a specialty pattern for the streams where your
fisherman fishes, it would make a great gift!
Another option is to purchase terrestrial patterns.
These are patterns that mimic land insects rather than
aquatic insects. These patterns are very successful on
most streams in the late summer months. Grass hoppers,
lady bugs, and beetles are all patterns that are
popular, especially along streams that flow through
grasslands, or pastures. In the warmer summer months,
these types of insects become a staple food for the
fish.
If your fly fisherman prefers to pursue bass, or other
larger predatory fish (such as Muskie, or Pike), then
you can look at deer hair poppers. These are flies that
are made from deer hair, so that they are very buoyant.
They float on the top, and when fished correctly, pop
the water, appearing like a frog, salamander, or wounded
minnow. These types of flies are perfect for fishing
lakes, or ponds. Another option is to look for minnow
imitating flies, such as sculpins, muddler minnows, or
larger wooly buggers. These flies are also great choices
for larger fish on open lakes and ponds.
For the pan fish fisherman, smaller poppers are the best
choice. They are often made of small pieces of cork,
with a feather tail. These types of flies are deadly on
pan fish such as bluegills, red bellies, or crappie.
You can purchase several flies for a reasonable price if
you do a search online. Fly shops provide a large
selection, but are often overpriced (sometimes over $2
per fly). There are several sources online where you
purchase flies for a much more reasonable price. I like
to look on Ebay, as there are many tiers that sell their
wares there, and you can find some great deals
As a fly fisherman, I can say that flies make a great
gift! Most fishermen will try to have a well stocked
box, especially at the beginning of the season, but
flies wear out, get broken off, or stuck in trees. So,
fishermen can always use more flies! You can be sure
that your gift will be accepted with much gratitude.
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