DIRT CHEAP Fly Tying: Start SAVING in your 1st 50 flies! 

As a middle aged father of 2, I keep looking around for tying material on the cheap. I made dubbing brush out of a pen and a little piece of velcro. I work in the parts dept at an auto dealership, and I've scavenged little single use brushes, old copper wire, etc. I've used thick tan bristles instead of elk/deer hair for wings on foam hoppers, little black bristles make good legs for tiny foam ants and spiders, etc. My next door neighbor is a big time hunter, and I've been begging feathers and fur off on him. I am truly low budget when it comes to fly tying!

The most satisfying fly I ever tied was at an alpine lake in Central Colorado that we had hiked five miles up to. I brought a pack rod, and a selection of flies, but the willows along the lake ate all my flies within about an hour, on Saturday afternoon. They had claimed other's leaders, etc. - they were loaded with monofilament - but no flies that I could find and re-use. My grandmother had knit me a bulky green sweater that I packed, and it was wool and pilling a bit - so I took some of those little clumps, some of the monofilament lost from spin-casting rigs in the willows, and with a found hook I tied a sort of woolly green caterpillar. I treated it with some fly dope I brought so it might sort of float, and by that time it was getting later in the afternoon and the fish were rising. I tossed it out, and BANG! a nice brookie. I tossed it out and BANG! another brookie. BANG! BANG! and dinner was ready to be cleaned and fried up. I don't think I was ever as successful again with one of my hand-tied Franken-flies. That was sure fun! Good tips, Grib! -Tom

I did this, and it works great for me. I bought a vice for $30, got some grizzly hackle, peackock hurl, and a few other basics. Black thread, and red thread. I've caught over 1200 fish in the last 8 months using just flies tied with this initial kit. I spent less than $100 total, and i've tied about 150-200 flies with mustad hooks (not so cheap hooks). My favorite tenkara rod was $60. I've been slayin trout in colorado all season on the lowlow. I'd rather spend money on gas, to get out to the river more often -- and keep my kit simple. Also on a side note, i didn't use the whip finish tool in my kit until recently. Whip finishing by hand is arguably easier, and i'm pretty good on a whip finisher. So don't be afraid to whip finish by hand! works really well

Well done, sir! Not only is your video informative, it is also very humorous at times. I used to love my pipe, but I quit for my health. Seeing you smoke your pipe brought back some of the wonderful aromas that I once loved. Enjoy……..😊

To save even more, all those bread wrapper twist ties accumulating in the kitchen drawer can be stripped down to the wire and used in place of the lead wrap for a weighted fly...

Very cool instructional video on fly tieing! I was very impressed! Hope you and your family are healthy and taking advantage of this medical dilemma to hang with each other and enjoy what family is all about!!! Gribs...you are a great Dad!!! John

This is one of my favorite beginners fly tying video yet. Good job. Thanks

Thanks for the no nonsense, back to basics on a budget video. I agree with you; the flies don't usually need to be so specific, and most will catch fish. Good job!

Love your pipe. Wish I’d seen this video before I started tying. I’m going to tie some of those for my fly box. Thanks from Melbourne Australia.

Great video for keeping it simple in tying basic flies that will work without trying to get too creative.

Good video! I got my thompson model A when i was in high school a mere 45 years ago. Still works great.

Thanks for the fun video. I’ve been tying flies since 1970. During that time I’ve tried many patterns to include many complicated designs. I have found over the years, that simple flies can be most effective. I’m sure this video will encourage others to get in the game. Jim Seaman Darby, Montana

Olden dude here. I took a 50 year break from fishing, but now getting back into it. I tied some dry flies back in that day and am about to start at it again. Love your realism and humor. Thanks for the video.

So glad I found your channel. Good stuff and very informative.

Frickin brilliant advice and video. Been wanting to learn how to tie flies for 40 years and always expected it would be too costly and difficult. I've just gone and ordered gear to getting cracking after this vid. Thanks a million Max.

At 74 years old I just took a fly tying beginner course sponsored by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks dept. and taught by members of our local Trout Unlimited. Fascinated by what I have started to learn but also overwhelmed with info. So my sincere thank you for this excellent instructional video. I now know what to purchase as I start out accumulating tools and tying materials. I also know what flies to start tying. I subscribed to your channel and I’m looking forward to watching your other videos.

Good Vid. Very easy to make a whip finishing tool from bent wire, rotating barrel not even necessary, but add if you want. I might even prefer it with out the spinning handle.

Came here after finding a Vintage HERTER'S No. 20 Small Bench Clamp Vise (had to look it up) in my father-in-law's fishing stuff. Hope I find a clamp... might try tying! Thanks for making it look easy!

The worst thing about store bought flies is their amazing ability to fall apart when you start using them. That's what drove me to tying my own. Your spot on about the Thompson Model A vice, but I saw a VHS video on how to whip finish and never needed the tool.

"The Gribbly Adams,"😄 Excellent video, my man. That you're a fellow pipe smoker is a plus. Thank you.

I feel you!! Raised in Colorado and it took my 3 years to figure this out!!! I got lucky!! There are maybe 6-8 simple fly’s that will catch fish all year…PERIOD! Thanks for this video I’m HOOKED!!

I wanted to pop in and say thank you so much for this video. I bought the materials list, both companies shipped correctly/quickly. Your instructions are super great and I gotta say, I am liking these flies. 10/10 video.

Congrats, I'm a saltwater guy brand new to fly tying but subbed your channel because it was educational, entertaining, well shot, and just better than any fly tying video I've seen so far.

Thank you I thought that was a perfect video to see, I'm a new fly tier myself, so again thank you for showing me that it can be done cheaply!

*Excellent selection especially for the newer angler. **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it’s entire assortment looks to be tied well. Looking forward to getting them wet...*

If you can ever find west german sewing scissors they are the best scissors you'll ever buy. I have a pair from the early 60s and never had to sharpen them.

I just started tying and found your video !! You need to share more tying videos plz !!! thank you so much for the good explanation when tying !!

Grib,thank you for this information, I know I can tie the dry flies,but got stuck on they need to be tied a certain way or they would not work,and you are right the cost can be a lot. Thanks for the info.

Amazing video gribs - i used to tie lots of flies when i was in high school - i hope some of those materials we sent you were helpful in making some awesome creations! Northern New Jersey loves you :)

Great video and superb fly selection. Thank you for the entertaining tutorial.

Enjoyed your video. I have tied flies for 60 yrs. Spent oodles upon having Mike Valla as a office mate through the 80s. Money, exceptionally well spent. And a life long pastime. I do draw the line on hackle capes these days.

I'm fortunate enough to work outdoors full time as a guide. today alone I managed to fill a small trash bag with deer fur from a recent kill near a trail, I also find quail and pheasant feathers pretty often too. Now I'm collecting anything dropped by local wildlife (that I can legally) possess and will attempt to tie flies using only what I find naturally occurring. May not be the prettiest flies but I'm curious to see what fish would be interested.

I started with a ThompsonA, as I got more into tying reading books and stuff they convinced me to really tie well I’d need a custom vise. Got a Dyna King and it’s a nice vise but of course won’t make you tie any better. These days I tie my own style of pheasant tails, hares ears, white Mysis shrimp since I live in Summit CO, and dries are my own very simply CDC wing flies. Just bought a big bag of CDC it’s from white to olive colors been using just that on flies for years. Also I never use a whip finish and 5 wraps, I just use a bit of superglue on the thread 1 wrap and 1 half hitch to finish, I never ‘form a head and coat with head cement’ that’s all waste don’t need it.

cool video, ive been fly fishing for a bit and I try to tie cheap. There is a ton of materials around you house that you can find and use for free pretty much, pet fur is one, all sorts of other random stuff. also, for head sement, liquid super glue works great and for me, a beginner tyer who hand whip finishes flies, gives me confidence I wont have a fly fall apart.

Great video Gribs! Thanks for the public service. One extra piece of equipment that some of us may need is a magnifier. Once upon a time I scoffed at such a thing. Those days are behind me. Oh, and by the way, nice rusticated poker.

Great looking flies!

Thank you. I can save my money with all your advices🙏🏻

Love it. Ginger is what you want. “Because fish won’t bite anything else.”. Getting back into fishing after a 25 year pause. I was an amateur then, and still an amateur now. With your help at least I know what color to start with in this sometimes overwhelming hobby.

Love your video!! Im just getting into fly tying and i found Hobby Lobby and Michaels a great place to find cheap silk thread, and feathers and different types of fur!!

Thank you for the tips and other information

Thanks Gribley....great video. I agree entirely with your approach..... Keep it up!

Enjoyed this a lot. Thank you.

I, for one, would love to see more ties made from trash. Things like ruined clothing, old blankets, project leftovers, and roadkill. Thank you for sharing

Love this video .... I will try it for sure .... I am a tenkara newbeeeeeee .

'Had to sub . . . great sense of humor , & the tying is just right , no need to complicate life any more than it already is ! Tip of the day - Springfield Leather Company sells tanned rabbit hides for a mere 5 dollars each . . . enough to make several lifetimes' worth of dubbing !

Great advice for us beginners! One way I've been able to save tons of money on initial supply purchases is by buying white feathers and microbatch dyeing them to suit. I use inexpensive inkjet printer refill dyes which can be combined to make just about any color, dropped into a little water with a bit of vinegar added, in a sandwich bag. Add feathers and swish to immerse, then drape/clip over the rim of a cookpot filled with water and bring to a boil. Let cool, pour contents out into a bowl, fish out the feathers, and rinse/blot/dry them. Keeping an album/journal with sample feathers and recipes enables repeatability of results and precise recharging of weakening dye solutions. A great way to get nonstandard colors too!

Great video. Good info thanks!

OMG, Orlando Outfitters are just down the street from me. Looks like you found your niche. Hope you're planning on making more of these instructive and very enjoyable videos. 👍👍👍

Hi! My name is John R. Lindsay. I am a 60 year old disabled man in California. I just stated fly tying eventhough I've been fishing for years. I just wanted to thank you for your videos and for making it looks doable. B

Nice striped shiner you caught.

I whole heartedly support your philosophy and have done so for many years. I have been tying forover 50yr. I have collected materials for fun and use many flies and styles but basicly fish 2 patterns for warm water creeks. A craft foam yellow spider with rubber legs and a blind squirrel. No tail, orange dubbing, ginger hackle overwrap, squirrel tail wing and usually beadchain eyes to get it down. Some times i add a rubber leg or two angled back. All size 10 and i like eagle claw gold abberdeen when i can find them. Smb and all sunfish love both of them. The squirrel tail is slick so is a little hard to work with. Other wise all simple and cheap. My rubber legs all come from the strings from the inside of old used bungie chords. I do the same for salt flies. Simple, eazy, quick, and cheap is my moto. It takes almost as long to change flies as to tie them. I tie and use other flies just to break up the boredom. There are some good cheap vises that i would recommend other than the A imo. I do enjoy tying hair bugs as well

I appreciate your thriftiness for tying flys Your absolutely correct to recommend to new tiers ways to save money. As I know too well you can drop a brick of money on materials. After you get sucked in you have have everything you see. Some flys do require specialized material. But let me suggest the route I took. I get many animal skin/hides from hunting. Pheasants,,!turkey’s, deer hair, squirrels, rabbits, fox, coyote, and raccoons. I then started running the roads early in the morning for fresh roadkills. I got a hen pheasant, opossum, rabbit and squirrel and deer. I never took roadkill deer carcasses, but a sharp knife and a good pair of side cutters make short work ok collecting deer tails. Then there is all the craft stores that abound in materials if you have an imagination faux hair, bags of Maribor feathers and bags of died chicken and rooster feathers, duck and goose quills. Then there is the foams and markers bargain skeins of wool, pom poms in small size for egg patterns and anything your imagination can find use for. I saved lots of money doing these things. Since I have a farm I also raise chickens and roosters for some of my hackle capes and saddles. ( I have a shed where I hang and tan animal hides and bird skins to dry.). As you can see if your willing to substitute labor for cash the skys the limit. But of course there is that tendency to buy materials I’ve been tying flys for about 50- years. So, I accumulated a lot of stuff. The way I see it, one day when I’m gone, maybe all my junk will go on sale on E-bay. -- now if only I could get an affordable jungle cock cape……

Excellent video keep it up.

i made my bobbin out of part of a wire coat hanger, 2 plastic beads, some thread, a couple drops of superglue, and the straw/stick from a lollypop. i bought my vice from Harbor Freight for $4 on sale. it's a little stand that has 2 alligator clamps and a magnifying glass. they call it a "helping hands" i use a little piece of rubber on either side of the hook inside the clamps to help keep the hook from moving, and if it still moves i wrap a rubber band around the clamp. most of my materials come from the dollar store, well, the $1.25 store now... thread, feathers, yarn/dubbing, foam, pompoms... some times ill hit walmart or hobby lobby if im looking for some more variety like colors or types of feathers, yarn. and ribbons, but the dollad store usually has more than enough to keep me busy. and i buy cheeeap hooks from walmart or ebay. and i got some good sharp titanium scisors from walmart for just under $6. so for $20-30 im set with all my equipment and enough materials to make a couple hundred flies, and i've caught a lot of fish with my super cheap homemade stuff on my cheap Tenkara rod a friend gave me when i was in Hawaii. but a vice that i don't have to fiddle with would be siiiick

GREAT VIDEO...VERY INFORMATIVE

This is the dirty secret of American Fly fishing. years ago I started watching bushcraft youtube vids. I suddenly realized that as a kid growing up in Oregon and far northern California that that is what we did for fun. building forts, starting firese, using less to have more fun. I took that to fly tying. I have a lot of "store bought" materials. I then discovered TenKara and the one fly philosophy. I now collect all kinds of found material and fibers. Last august a flock of Teal spent a couple days at our lake. I was able to collect a lot of beautiful feathers. I have started hand tying kebari style flys without the aid of tools. They are not the greatest looking but if it sorta looks like a bug, a hungry fish will go after it. As for match the hatch: I have found that when there are all these midges flying around a trout will go after a hopper pattern since its more food for less effort. thanks for your posts.

Thank you! Do you plan on making more fly tying content?

Had a Thompson vice, lasted 30 years, Brilliant. Ernie Schwiebert used one. Hope they’re still as good. Got a fancy top-dollar vice now, ok but there’s a lot of stuff getting in the way of my left hand. The little packets of fancy dubbing are just a racket to convince newbies they have to spend money. If you’re going to buy them, might as well just buy the bloody fly. I should support dealers in fly-tying materials, I guess, but … er … maybe it would be better if most of them got proper jobs.

Learn to whip finish by hand. Not only does it save you from buying a tool, it's super easy to do and you don't need a bigger whip finisher for bigger flies or complicated flies. Great video. People get carried away with flies. They think that fish will judge your flies and bite of they look nicer or something. For the most part it's all in the technique and how and when you use the flies more than anything else.

This vid earned you a sub. Great video mate.

Nice. What gets me is I hate buying a saddle or half saddle when I only want to tie a few flies of a certain pattern.

well done video i enjoyed it others could learn from you

Great vid ,Kudos

Cool video. For all the beginners out there remember to use good stream etiquette. Pick up your trash, this includes all your rats nests of line and beer cans. When I first started I bought an entry level fly tying kit $35. Hooks in bulk $0.009 cents each. Tungsten beads average $0.08 each. Thread is free, if you visit a garage sale or two. Other materials can be acquired for free. I get my UV in 200 gram bottles for under $20. I tied 1,500 euro flies for $133.00 in material. It took about a month. I binge watched Breaking Bad and Dexter for about the 4th time. Those flies netted me $2,525.00 Not bad for a part time hobby. Don't tell the IRS.

Finally someone told the truth. I have caught fish with the weirdest looking flies you can imagine

I was thinking about getting back into fly tying... Your approach is very familiar to me and makes my return nice n'easy (and inexpensive!). Thank you!

BOOM! Insta-sub. The number of fish I have caught on dollar store materials is ridiculous. My whip finish tool is a wire hanger with beads for a handle.

Solid information. Thanks lol

For me it was about I have harder time finding my favorite lures and baits because they are everyone elses favorite too so I will create and copy my own by fly tying

Did you try the dollar store and Craft Store for fly tying materials?? you can make like the mop flies!

Man this is great

You can even use dryer lint Ford dubbing

Was this the only video in the "Dirt Cheap" series? I would like to see more if possible...

I've been wanting to get into tying but the price point can be intimidating since I don't know if I will like it. Thanks for the vid. Scored a Thompson for 30.00. You have a new sub.

Roadkill supplies all the feathers'nfurs you need - crow, woodpigeon, pheasant, grouse, hare, deer, rabbit etc.

I justify my fly tying materials as compared to friends who walk in a casino and spend $200--or xxxxx 😫and leave with ZIP. I tie a successful fly and bingo I’ve hit the Jack Pot,! !! Why Hell Yea👍

How do I find that other video mentioned, "Dirt Cheap Fly Fishing"? Thank you!

Awesome fly tying. I at one point thought I would spend an entire winter in my basement workshop tying flies,,, that never happened because I can buy them on AMAZON where I get X amount of flies for X amount of dollars. I sub to a channel called MadRiver Outfitters that discusses mainly fly fishing but it also talks mainly about the higher end gear but they do give out good common sense fly fishing info. Thanks for the tutorial I am very impressed with your skill level.

'Just halfway through the video , & I can't help myself , but to chime in on the 'BUDGET' aspect of tying . . . 2 years ago I started throwing money at the 'tying monster' - mostly on materials that were 'bargains'. I made a 'vise' with wood . . . 'looks like a hangman's apparatus (without the rope) ;p the hanging arm is made of 2 thin blocks of wood that are held together with a screw . . . the 'VICE' is just a hemostat that fits between the 2 wood blocks. I clamped the wood blocks together with the CLOSED hemostat sandwiched in between . . . 'tightened it in a bench vise to imprint the hemostat's handles into them. . . 1/4 turn of the screw clamps the hemostats TIGHTLY . . . Angles can be changed by lever / screw mechanism on the mast . No rotary function (YET) . . . COST : wood was free , 10 hemostats (5 straight & 5 curved ones ; 7.99 delivered to my mailbox ;) 'Got several pairs of smallish scissors laying around , & I have a background as a machinist / engineer . . . so by looking at the scissors' geometry , I ground them into very tight 'tip snippers ' . cost : ZERO * I've bought several items from the local 'dollar store' , including chinesium scissors , various craft materials , nail hardeners / polishes . . . with excellent results ! I've made my own bobbin holders from free materials . . . old pen barrels , small plastic tubing , wire coat hangers & some lathe turned pieces for aesthetics / 'customization . ROADKILL ! ! ! < best source for 'exotic' hair & fur ! Coon , possum, *whatever is still FRESH ! Squirrels are plentiful here in southwest Missouri . . . along with TONS of flying wildlife ! I met some 'people , after striking up a conversation , 'showed them some of my flies - *we were talking about fishing - & I mentioned that I was looking for some DUCK & TURKEY feathers . . . They told me their children were raising 'all of the above', & that I was welcome to visit their farm & help myself to shed feathers ;) FREE is NICE ! ! ! Conversely , there are NO SHORTAGES of roosters as FREEBIES, but they tend to be younger birds with shorter feathers - BUT , full grown birds can be had for 5 to 10 dollars apiece . < cheap enough ? you bet ! *stew the meat , & relish the carcasses . . . scrape off the fat , salt them down & dry them ( after a thorough washing , of course ) Sorry to go ON & ON (not really ) . . .. it's educational ! I've got quite an assembly of fly tying materials , mostly from watching sales on EBAY .. . 'picked up a Whiting Farms PRO grade saddle for a mere 2 dollar bid ! *right place at the right time - the seller was clueless to the VALUE ! I could list several sellers that have incredible bargains - but I've written ENOUGH already ! * Back to the video ! ;)

Love u bro thank you

I knew a ho-bag from Missoula once.. That was a wild time indeed.

To save money by tying your own flies all you have to do is: believe that a few styles of flies in a few sizes will catch enough fish, ignore advertisements and other fishermen and fly shop people and article writers and RU-vidrs and bloggers who imply they've got better stuff, have no imagination or artistic taste, ......... I met a guy who says he ties and fishes nothing but Griffith's Gnats, but he only fishes for trout. I liked the video. 👍👍. I may have to get something(s) to make the fly.

I tie because it is just fun. 20,000 dollars later LOL I still love to tie flies.

I love this video and I agree that tiring flies does not have to be expensive in materials or even tools I make a lot of my own tools that mite be rou🎉ghost looking but they do the job and after all is said and done I spent maybe 25 dollars for tools. I find it fun to make the tools that I need from odds and ends like a dubbing twister for instance I use a spring type of wire to make the twister part of the tool and a piece of chopstick for the handle same with my whip finisher and dubbing needle and the biggest part of my thread bobbins. I have found a way to save money on materials also and hit a lot of the hobbies shops for materials my major problem the is finding a decent but cheap ( inexpensive ) vise and have resorted to using things like hemostats on wooden dowels ,ect. Would love to get a real vise the. Do you know where I can purchase one?

Definitely the fly doesn’t matter. I’ve been tying flys for a long time with next to nothing. Any random materials work on any hook, with any thread in the sewing kit. My vice is locking pliers held in my hand an the

Hey, thanks for the video. Can I use 0.3mm wire for the ribbing?

Excellent video. Subscribed.

Catching fish on a 22? Rifle or cartridge??

Fabulous. Sub'd!

If your skimping on glue assuming your whip finishers will hold, is a practical assumption. However, if you insist on glue , remember sally Hanson is inexpensive. Actually dollar store clear finish top coat. Does the same thing and only costs a buck. Think outside the box always. You can substitute many things from a craft store. I like cheap, but I still recognize quality. Tip: for substitution of expensive floss consider embroidery flosses and threat. They come in more colors than tying thread and can be purchased for under a buck. They make excellent bodies for wet flies, some drys and nymphs. ( I have a shadow box with several wet flys using this material. They look great and they fish great too!

A fool and his money are easily parted.Tying at 12 years old using sewing thread,wool from the floor of Pringle of Scotland hosiery mill,tinsel from the Xmas tree and caught fish. Tight lines 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

so the rod is just a pointing stick, the reel just stores the line and the fly really doesnt matter ... damn, if you're gonna say it comes down to my skill 1 - I'm gonna starve and 2 - I'm gonna take up bowls or something. great video Grib !

I was way ahead tying my own flies with a $30 kit and craft fur from the craft store. They sell the streamers we use here in Hawaii for $11 to $15 per. So way ahead right? Until I started watching YT'ers tying fancy flies because then I had to upgrade everything. Now I'm in a deep hole and not catching any more fish than I used to. What's missing is that there's much satisfaction catching a fish on a fly you tied yourself.

Excellent, Excellent Video.

I tied my flies with thread from Amazon, a fly vice from eBay for 12 dollars and feathers from my birds cage. Sometimes some foam from a mattress pad with wax on it. I tie flys on hooks from Walmart. Been doing it for years and catch FAT steelhead, FAT browns and fat small mouth on these flies. Fish will bite anything that looks like a bug. Certain hatches can complicate it such as a mayfly hatch. I have seen rainbows only go for mayflies on the surface. Nothing else would work other than tiny fry flies. But. Most the time. I get 25inch steelhead on crappy .10c flies.

It's kinda like handloading. Takes a while to recoup the initial investment.

Fantastic job!!! Less is more. It's about the journey not the destination. Have fun! Try some new things and new colors. Go for a walk and see what you can find laying around. Have fun and keep it real !!!!!

\R Harrington "Hooked on Junk" roadside fur and feathers are free. come in all colors, everyone throws out foam, plate packing foam is great for surface indicators. Pluck the fur or feathers you need. Don't keep the whole bird or raccoon.

The most important thing is .... What's in the Pipe ?

did you ever hear of yarn make your own dubbin with a coffee grinder