Buying fly fishing flies is an expense that can quickly add up especially when you take into account the different types of flies, patterns and variations on patterns you have available.
There are three main factors that influence the price of a fly: the materials used, the kind of fly and the time spent in crafting the fly.
In most cases, the average cost of a fly fishing fly is $2-$3. However, certain flies can cost a lot more. Flies can also be bought for much less. In some cases, simple flies can cost as little as a dollar or less. However, the quality of the materials used in the fly suffers and the hooks tend to rust quicker.
In this article, I will go over the general cost of flies, including the materials used in their tying as well as the cost of production. Lastly, I will outline the overall expense of flies post-production.
Cost of Fly Fishing Fly Materials
The quality of materials used in the tying of flies varies greatly with the quality of the materials reflected in the price of the fly. The quality of the materials used in your flies will not only impact how long your flies last but also how they look and how attractive they are to the fish.
Some of the materials typically used in fly fishing include:
Feathers
Feathers from various types of birds such as pheasant, cocks and hens, turkey, mallard duck, goose, and blue jay to name but a few are all used in fly tying.
Hair
The hair from animals such as deer, elk, rabbits, hare, arctic fox and squirrel can be used to dress a fishing fly.
Some kinds of hair like bucktail are commonly found in pike and saltwater flies and less so in trout flies. You should research what kind of prey your target species of fish to catch on the fly feeds on and what materials you need to tie flies that accurately portray the prey.
Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fibers are increasingly used in fly tying instead of natural materials. This can help to conserve vulnerable and protected species of birds or mammals whose feathers and fur may be used in fly tying.
Common artificial materials include chenille, dubbing, wire, and nylon.
Thread
In fly tying, threads made of nylon or silk are commonly used as tying materials. These different threads allow the fly tier to use various fly tying techniques in the tying of the fly.
Hooks
Hooks are one of the materials used in fly tying where manufacturers can cut corners. Good quality hooks are expensive but they will last a long time. On the other hand, you may or get a few fishing sessions out of flies tied on cheap hooks before the signs of rust begin to appear.
Flies tied on good quality hooks will cost more money. If you are buying a more expensive fly, you should expect it to be tied on a good hook.
How Much Does It Cost to Manufacture Flies?
The cost of flies can be impacted by how much work goes into making the fly. Some fly patterns are easier to tie than others requiring only a few simple steps and use few materials to tie. Others require several steps and are more complicated. As a rule, the easier a fly is to tie and the fewer materials are used in its tying, the cheaper it will be to buy.
To make a fly, manufacturers need to purchase materials such as feathers, threads, beads, dubbing etc. The cost of materials can quickly add up and a fly can cost over $1 in materials to create. Once you include the costs of labor and cost of shipping, a single fly can quickly cost a fly manufacturer over $2 to produce.
Cost of Different Fly Types
Different flies use different materials. While some of the materials used like foam, chenille and tinsel are inexpensive to buy, other materials such as deer hair, seal’s fur and marabou feathers take more skill to learn how to use them effectively.
The best way to accurately price how much flies cost is by knowing which fly patterns you will need for which occasion. Once you know this, you can add up the cost of all the flies you need.
How Much do Dry Flies Cost?
Dry flies are one of the cheapest type of fly fishing fly. These flies are meant to float on the surface of the water and grab the attention of nearby fish fooling them into thinking it is an insect trapped on the surface on the water.
Dry flies are not expensive to make. They are typically tied with a variety of feathers, fur, and synthetic materials such as foam. Wet flies on the other hand, are typically made of natural materials.
Most dry fly patterns will cost around $1 – $3 each.
How Much do Wet Flies and Nymphs Cost?
The price of wet flies and nymphs are very similar, they typically cost $2 – $4 each. Wet flies imitate a variety of different aquatic life from leeches, worms, scuds, water fleas, and damsel nymphs.
Wet flies cost more than dry flies to make as they typically use several different natural materials in the creation of the fly. They often also use gold or silver wire to rib the body of the fly. This helps to make the fly stand out but also adds durability to the fly.
How Much Do Streamers and Lure Flies Cost?
Streamer and lure flies are larger fly patterns designed to imitate minnows and fish fry.
Streamers and lures tend to be more expensive as, due to their size, they use more materials. Streamer and lure flies such as zonkers, cat’s whisker and woolly buggers are larger flies that use expensive materials such as marabou and rabbit strips in their tying.
You can expect to pay $2-$3 on average for a streamer or lure fly.
Conclusion
As a fly angler, you must have flies to fly fish. The price of flies depends on several factors such as the kind of fly, the materials used in the tying of the fly as well as how long it took to tie the fly.
If you are new to fly fishing and do not want to break the bank on buying flies, try to buy several inexpensive flies at around $1. This will allow you to see which flies work best in your area. Befriend fly fishermen in your area. They will be able to tell you which flies catch fish and may even be kind enough to give you some flies to get started.
An average fly will cost you $2-$3 however, if you want to fish with flies using the best materials and have an attractive design, you should expect to spend between $2-$10 per fly.