Not All Flies are Created Equal
At High Country Flies we're particular about the flies we sell...and fish with. We have to be. With a name like ours, people expect it, and rightly so.
Most of the flies we purchase come from two primary sources, local tyers and Umpqua Feather Merchants. Whenever possible we use local tyers. Not only are locally tied flies normally the best available, but it allows us to work closely with the tyer so they are tied just the way we want them. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough such tyers to provide an adequate supply of flies.
The majority of our flies are tied by Umpqua Feather Merchants, the largest, and
arguably one of the best run companies in the fly fishing industry. The quality across
their entire line of flies, which exceeds 1,700 patterns, is unsurpassed. As an added
bonus, all Umpqua flies are tied on top quality, super sharp Tiemco hooks. Furthermore,
Umpqua flies retail for about the same price as many inferior brands.
Another important element separating Umpqua Feather Merchants from virtually all other fly manufacturers is their fly tyer royalty program. Umpqua voluntarily pays the creator of fly patterns they carry a royalty. The tyer then consults with Umpqua to assure their pattern is tied just right. Having been through the process several times myself, I can vouch for the thoroughness of their approach and the results speak for themselves.
Being a fly tyer, I'm sometimes appalled by what I see in the fly bins of otherwise
reputable shops. Many anglers, especially those new to the sport, are unable to
distinguish a well tied fly from a piece of junk. And understandably so. A dry fly tied
with the
wrong type of hackle, for
example, may look fine but not perform very well. If the individual hackle fibers are too
soft, the fly will have trouble floating consistently, if at all. Improperly tied flies
are often much less durable than their properly tied counterparts. Umpqua understands this
and does more than any other company in the industry to address these issues.
Occasionally High Country Flies will buy from other sources, but this is done on a case-by-case basis. A given company may have a tyer who is particularly gifted at tying, say, a Parachute Adams. We will, of course, use such sources as they become available.
Flies...Do They Really Matter?
So just how big of a difference does a well tied fly make? In a word, plenty. A well
tied dry fly will land right-side up, float properly and consistently, and usually remain
in good shape even after catching fish. On the other hand, improperly tied flies will
often land upside down, on their side, or even on their head. Many times I've seen trout
rise to a dead drifted fly only to reject it in the end because it was not floating
correctly. Badly tied dry flies may also have trouble floating after a few casts. They may
be tied with the wrong materials, in the wrong proportions, or, as we often see, may
simply be under hackled.
I sometimes see anglers blame themselves when their dry fly begins sinking. They may
feel they aren't casting or mending well enough. However, it may simply be that their fly
is not performing like it should.
It is easy to overlook the importance of a quality fly. Individually, they're often the least expensive piece of equipment an angler will carry. Anglers will often debate the merits of, say, a Sage fly rod verses a Thomas & Thomas rod. But rarely will you hear them debate the merits of one particular brand of flies verses another. But don't be fooled...a well tied fly can dramatically add to your on stream performance and enjoyment.
Guy Turck
Head Guide -- High Country Flies
Shop For Trout, Bass & Steelhead Flies
