Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: mr.bean on March 27, 2017, 06:55:09 PM

Title: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: mr.bean on March 27, 2017, 06:55:09 PM
has any of you guys ever bought any flies on line from Amazon ?  the reason I am asking is, they have double sided waterproof fly boxes , including up to 125 different flies and streamers, all for 39.95.-- hard to tell what quality they would be from just looking at the pictures. any experience or opinion ? thanks
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: clarkii on March 28, 2017, 06:24:47 PM
What brand.  If it is Umpqua, shouldn't be a problem.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: mr.bean on March 28, 2017, 07:33:45 PM
the brands are SPJ, Flyafish, Fishing Sir and Outdoor Planet.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: Old Blue on March 28, 2017, 09:05:07 PM
I'd be skeptical of any quality for that price.  Save your money
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: clarkii on March 28, 2017, 10:33:23 PM
the brands are SPJ, Flyafish, Fishing Sir and Outdoor Planet.

I'd avoid those personally, never heard of any of em.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: Tylsie on March 29, 2017, 12:34:03 AM
In my experience, the flies themselves will be fine. The hooks... That is another matter. My guess us they will be dull and rust easy but that is easy to rectify. If a guy has the time to sit down and sharpen 120 hooks (I guess you could do it while watching TV) then why not. Unless you are dry fly fishing or making show flies I think people put way too much emphasis on the exactness of a fly. I caught lots of fish on the flies I tied as a kid with zero training and only a very vague picture book. (I could kiss the man who invented whip finishers after I heard about them). If you can have a say in what they send you ask for mostly chironomids, scuds and streamers. They will work!

Now, before I get torn apart; I am not saying that quality doesn't matter. I am just saying that my buddy gets upset when I say I will take of his seconds as they are not up to his standard and I catch just as many fish as him. I try very hard to make the best quality flies I can, and though I am not a master fly tyer, I am decent and always learning. But come on, have you seen what passed for flies 100 years ago? They still caught fish.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: firstlight on March 29, 2017, 09:54:08 AM
I would make a list of the types of flys you use and then go spend $39.95 at a reputable shop who carries locally tied flys.
Don't support slave labour.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: psd1179 on March 29, 2017, 10:02:55 AM
In my opinion, those flies will not work well in BC lakes. 
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: Knnn on March 29, 2017, 11:03:43 AM
Agree with the last 2-3 posts.  Also you will be buying a lot of flies you will never use, particularly if they are all different.  I typically only use half a dozen different patterns (at most) for each species.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: sbc hris on March 29, 2017, 11:26:00 AM
Hook quality will more than likely be inferior. I've lost some big fish due to bent or broken hooks. It's not a ton of money though, so you could take a gamble. Are there any product reviews for them?
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: RalphH on March 29, 2017, 12:22:01 PM
I had a look at a few. These really aren't a good value. There are some useful patterns and others could be trimmed to work here but most are just nondescript and not even known patterns. I think you'd be better spending $40 or so at a local shop like Berry's or Sea run when they have a sale. It's also more important to have a small # of useful patterns with variety in sizes than many flies in the same size. Fly boxes cost $10 to $15 and often the local shops will offer boxes with a selection chironomids or a interior lake flies for not a lot of $.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: bobby b on March 29, 2017, 04:57:55 PM
Those cheaply tied flies will unravel in no time leaving you with a bunch of cheap hooks .....

The local shops have sales from time to time (I know of one coming up soon )....best to save yer $$ and at least find some good flies (the patterns you want) for a decent  price....ya get what you pay for..
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: psd1179 on March 29, 2017, 06:59:26 PM
Best way to understand fly is by tying yourself
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: mr.bean on March 29, 2017, 07:35:17 PM
thanks guys, for all your input. all your points make sense,  the local tackle store it is.
Title: Re: Quality of fishing flies
Post by: firstlight on March 29, 2017, 08:56:26 PM
I would highly recommend reading Brian Chans Stillwater Strategies.
This will give you some basic knowledge about the different bugs etc.
Then go to the shop and pick up what you need.