Idaho Anglers Stay Busy During Winter Tying Flies

For many anglers, the end of warm weather marks a shift of consciousness; from trout rising on a balmy evening just as the sun sets, to traditional winter activities; hunting, football, skiing, etc. But for some, winter is the time to ensure those trout have something worth rising for when the sun returns to higher latitudes; a hand-tied fly. Winter is a perfect time to get out the thread, hackles and dubbing that will create imitation bugs and lifetime memories. Trout bums who learned this early in their fishing careers are accustomed to setting up a bench by the fireplace and settling in for a productive winter. Watching a fish rise for that tiny fur-ball at the end of a 6x leader is a thrill in itself, but when the fly is one you tied, there is an elevated sense of achievement. Those who have considered it, but have not yet learned how to tie their own, might feel slightly intimidated by the multitude of materials they see at their favorite shops. Like fly-fishing itself, fly-tying is a craft one can absorb slowly, but successfully. But where do you start? Fly shops around the country are well aware of the opportunity to teach fly-tying during less fished months, and one can find a class virtually anywhere with a quick internet search. The internet is also a great resource for instructional videos that can teach everything from the basics to specialized techniques used to create the perfect imitation. Like fly-fishing, fly-tying comes with an initial investment in equipment and materials, but in this case, the investment can actually reap dividends in the form of money saved on the purchase of store-bought flies. Imagine tying a dozen flies of your own for the price of one from the bin at the fly-shop! Monetary concerns aside, many fly-tiers will agree the most valuable dividend is the satisfaction of making that perfect cast with a fly you created yourself, and watching a fish take it. Rookie fly-tiers should not be too disappointed if their patterns are rejected by fish in some places. One cannot expect to stumble into Harriman State Park or Silver Creek and catch fish without an extremely well tied fly. If you find yourself in one of those places, unable to entice the well-educated fish to strike, your best bet is to find the nearest fly shop, ask what the fish are taking that day, and pay river price.