Why I Tie
By: George Simmons
I was first introduced to fly fishing at age 12 by the father of a close friend of mine. Back then I just wanted to fish as much as possible with fly fishing simply being another way to go out and fish. After a day full of snags and tangled nymph rigs I somehow managed to catch two trout on the Yuba River in Northern California. At the time I enjoyed the catches but in no way was I hooked on fly fishing.
In the following five or six years I slowly became more interested in fly fishing as I got more experience on occasional trips to local rivers as well as places like Alaska and Belize. These experiences expanded my interest in fly fishing but I still would have preferred a day of bass fishing at the local lake. However, more recently, things have changed and I have become deeply obsessed with all things fly fishing.
I discovered my true passion for fly fishing in the spring of 2020 soon after the coronavirus had forced my senior year of high school to be virtual. I was stuck inside, bored and missing time spent outside with friends. To relieve my boredom I turned to fishing, a hobby that I usually practiced alone making it a safe option for entertainment. Unfortunately early April in Northern California can still be cold with many small creeks too cold or blown out and larger lakes and reservoirs were closed off because of the virus. Still seeking a way to spend the days I turned to fly tying. I had gotten a fly tying kit a few years earlier containing the materials to tie ten or so basic patterns like hare's ears, san juan worms and wooly buggers. I quickly got hooked and within a week or two I had tied through all of the hooks and materials in the kit. Once I had replenished my materials I continued to tie almost every day, making my way from nymphs to dry flies and then to streamers. As I learned new patterns and became familiar with new materials and techniques, my desire to learn grew. After learning to tie streamers my world eyes were opened to so many new types of flies to tie. From flats flies imitating crabs and shrimp to poppers, articulated flies and game changers that mimic various types of baitfish there are endless amounts of fly patterns and with numerous variations on every pattern.
For some, fly tying is a way to save money on flies and for others fly tying allows for a level of customization and imitativeness impossible with mass produced flies. Personally I tie flies for a few different reasons. Originally I started trying as a way to prepare for future trips and to avoid having to visit a fly shop before every outing. As I have journeyed further in the world of fly tying I have come to love the process of learning to tie a new pattern or type of fly. This process has led to an evolution in my tying to where I now see tying flies as a creative outlet as much as I see it as a fishing related activity. Obviously I am creating something with the intent of it being used to fish but often I tie flies that I don't have much realistic use for. Recently I began a personal project of learning to tie roosterfish flies. Roosterfish are one of my favorite species of fish as it has been ever since I encountered one on a trip to Baja as a kid. Although I have no current plans to fish for Roosterfish I have a dream of doing it someday and being able to work towards that experience is super fun for me. Tying flies has become a big part of my life in that I no longer tie just to refill my boxes but in fact most of my tying is done for fun. There are nights where I tie a size 22 midge followed by a popper or anything else that comes to mind. I try to find time to tie almost every day and it is a great way to unwind after a busy day of classes or work. I find when I am tying I am fully focused on the fly but in the back of my head I can reflect on the things that are going on in my head.
Overall I think learning to tie flies is an invaluable skill for any angler to learn. Tying your own flies enhances the fishing experience and there is nothing like catching a fish on a fly that you have tied. Beyond that you may find a deeper level of meaning to tying flies. For some that might be tying flies to relax and unwind, for others it might be a way to connect with friends and family. Personally I often have FaceTime tying sessions with friends from my Fish for Change trip where we spend hours catching up and sharing tips and tricks with each other. I am so grateful that tying flies has become a part of my life. Beyond entertainment it brought me fulfillment and a way to connect with other fly fishermen that I have met. I encourage each and every person that reads this to give tying flies a chance, the worst thing that could happen is you end up with a few new flies in your box.
George Simmons, 19, California.
George is currently studying Marine Biology at University of California Santa Barbara. He has grown up doing all things outdoors and more recently has gotten into fly fishing and fly tying. George hopes to combine his passion for fly fishing and wildlife into a career in conservation.
In the following five or six years I slowly became more interested in fly fishing as I got more experience on occasional trips to local rivers as well as places like Alaska and Belize. These experiences expanded my interest in fly fishing but I still would have preferred a day of bass fishing at the local lake. However, more recently, things have changed and I have become deeply obsessed with all things fly fishing.
I discovered my true passion for fly fishing in the spring of 2020 soon after the coronavirus had forced my senior year of high school to be virtual. I was stuck inside, bored and missing time spent outside with friends. To relieve my boredom I turned to fishing, a hobby that I usually practiced alone making it a safe option for entertainment. Unfortunately early April in Northern California can still be cold with many small creeks too cold or blown out and larger lakes and reservoirs were closed off because of the virus. Still seeking a way to spend the days I turned to fly tying. I had gotten a fly tying kit a few years earlier containing the materials to tie ten or so basic patterns like hare's ears, san juan worms and wooly buggers. I quickly got hooked and within a week or two I had tied through all of the hooks and materials in the kit. Once I had replenished my materials I continued to tie almost every day, making my way from nymphs to dry flies and then to streamers. As I learned new patterns and became familiar with new materials and techniques, my desire to learn grew. After learning to tie streamers my world eyes were opened to so many new types of flies to tie. From flats flies imitating crabs and shrimp to poppers, articulated flies and game changers that mimic various types of baitfish there are endless amounts of fly patterns and with numerous variations on every pattern.
For some, fly tying is a way to save money on flies and for others fly tying allows for a level of customization and imitativeness impossible with mass produced flies. Personally I tie flies for a few different reasons. Originally I started trying as a way to prepare for future trips and to avoid having to visit a fly shop before every outing. As I have journeyed further in the world of fly tying I have come to love the process of learning to tie a new pattern or type of fly. This process has led to an evolution in my tying to where I now see tying flies as a creative outlet as much as I see it as a fishing related activity. Obviously I am creating something with the intent of it being used to fish but often I tie flies that I don't have much realistic use for. Recently I began a personal project of learning to tie roosterfish flies. Roosterfish are one of my favorite species of fish as it has been ever since I encountered one on a trip to Baja as a kid. Although I have no current plans to fish for Roosterfish I have a dream of doing it someday and being able to work towards that experience is super fun for me. Tying flies has become a big part of my life in that I no longer tie just to refill my boxes but in fact most of my tying is done for fun. There are nights where I tie a size 22 midge followed by a popper or anything else that comes to mind. I try to find time to tie almost every day and it is a great way to unwind after a busy day of classes or work. I find when I am tying I am fully focused on the fly but in the back of my head I can reflect on the things that are going on in my head.
Overall I think learning to tie flies is an invaluable skill for any angler to learn. Tying your own flies enhances the fishing experience and there is nothing like catching a fish on a fly that you have tied. Beyond that you may find a deeper level of meaning to tying flies. For some that might be tying flies to relax and unwind, for others it might be a way to connect with friends and family. Personally I often have FaceTime tying sessions with friends from my Fish for Change trip where we spend hours catching up and sharing tips and tricks with each other. I am so grateful that tying flies has become a part of my life. Beyond entertainment it brought me fulfillment and a way to connect with other fly fishermen that I have met. I encourage each and every person that reads this to give tying flies a chance, the worst thing that could happen is you end up with a few new flies in your box.
George Simmons, 19, California.
George is currently studying Marine Biology at University of California Santa Barbara. He has grown up doing all things outdoors and more recently has gotten into fly fishing and fly tying. George hopes to combine his passion for fly fishing and wildlife into a career in conservation.