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Comment by Mark Stine on December 10, 2013 at 7:47am

Interesting bugs Dave, they will surely catch fish!  I like the fact that you are using house hold items other than traditional fly tying materials.  I like exploring uses of household stuff for flies too.  I even make sporadic visits to the Dollar Tree just to look for materials. I agree with Tooty on durability issues and use a lot of super glue (Dollar tree) to give materials a little better hold. Check out the book "Fly Tying with Common Household Materials" by Fullum.  I love craft foam as mentioned in the book and have caught more gills on the foam cernobyl ant than you can shake a stick at.  What a bargain bait for hardly more than the cost of the hook.  Also I like to use scrap wood to shape popper bodies I especially like cedar and tupelo gum.   I make lots of popping bugs but usually end up bartering rather than selling guess I psyched myself out about the tax issues. Tooty has some great patterns that aren't that hard to tie but are very effective fish catchers too. I have saved some of his flies for templates. Since I am really into heavy cover I tend to lose a lot of flies  its not unusual to lose 10 in an outing. So some easy patterns will help keep the box stocked!

 

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 10, 2013 at 7:31am

I don't know that first thing about tying flies/jigs/bugs....notice how I lump them all together in the same category, as proof of this........but I am somewhat familiar with making a living doing something that you're good at, and marketing one's own skills.

In my opinion, when you're ready to take that first big step, you need to get your product into the hands of those folks who can do something with it....guys who fish a lot. I would pass out a few of my bugs to the locals, see how they fare with it. Use the feedback they provide to tweak and improve. Then, when you're satisfied with the final product,  shoot for the big time...try and get some to folks involved in some aspect of the fishing/outdoor industry.

Never put all your eggs into one basket...or your flies/jigs/bugs either. Success is not counted on one venue, but on multiple ones. Spread out. Send your product EVERYWHERE there lives a fish, and those who pursue them. I would expect to make a lot of bugs for free initially, just to make sure you are getting a good cross section of your creation's effectiveness , (or ineffectiveness.....it happens)...well before deciding you're ready to make money doing it.

Like I stated a few weeks ago. If a racecar builder only tests his cars at a track that runs downhill, then they're all going to appear fast.....try multiple tracks before deciding the combination is a winner, or at least better than most everything else.

 

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on December 10, 2013 at 7:07am

DAVID if ya make a DEDICATED BRIM FLY and it works , trust me the guys will find ya !!!!!!! Business cards are an essential asset for getting the bugs out to the public also. Drop a few here and there at shops . Most guys pick em up and then put them away and never call. But once in a while they do and when they start catching fish on your bugs they are HOOKED so to speak..........

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on December 10, 2013 at 6:29am

Ya know David you have a really interesting discussion going here and really enjoying every ones input on this subject. What you said about the fly tying industry as a whole probably applies every where except the west because of the trout out there, and the upper east also. Having been a trout fisherman for a while I was amazed even 25 years ago at the amount of money folks would drop in those dedicated shops !

  The old adage of build a better mouse trap applies to bluegills too, well all fishes for that matter. I"ve always believed in one thing , if something works don't change it just to be changing it . This simple fact can be born out by Jeff Abney's idea of a bigger hook because of the way he uses the bugs I make. He likes a stouter hook and larger , MUCH LARGER, than I"ve ever made before. He also catches multiple species because of his favorite Grass Shrimp, which seemingly attracts everything except Orca's and Great Whites .

  I've shown probably 6 guys how to make my bugs and to date none of em still do it. The reason being it is tedious and time consuming. When I had nothing better to do I made many flies during the winters and sometimes all summer long also, when I ran out. It always paid for my hobby of chasing fish and never wanted any more out of it than that, till I joined this site. Now I have a place to show the stuff and get opinions , either favorable or not , which really makes no difference to me . All critiques are welcome by me and input always appreciated.
   You are right in the fact it probably won't pay a mortgage , however every little bit helps in todays economy and that's all I was interested in doing .

    In my quest to do that I was successful , HOWEVER IT TOOK THE FUN AWAY FROM MY HOBBY AND BECAME A FULL TIME JOB ALMOST. It can do that to ya , if ya let it.

    Now I'll become what I always wanted , just a tinkerer of patterns and methods. You mentioned the " BARNEY SHUFFLE" last night in the chat we had going and that is a simple and effective method to be sure. Master Jacob Hill will do another better video of it himself again come spring, HE ASSURES ME !!!!!!!!! Like Jeffrey he is an outstanding young fisherman , even though he is only 16 years old. He is the best young guy I've ever seen and it was a pleasure to fish with his Dad and Him last spring.

  When I make a bug , as I've said before, FALL RATE , is the most important aspect to me , all other things come secondary. Durability after the colors and materials are selected is also just as important and often overlooked by fellas. Doesn't do much good to make a great bug that catches fish if it falls apart after a few fish . Guys don't like that and neither did I when I was using store bought stuff. Durability is achieved after lots of bugs made and creating em in a way that makes em durable . That can only be done one of two ways, either lots of half hitches , or a unique way of attaching materials. I incorporate both in my bugs to achieve durability. It takes a little longer , but in the long run is worth the effort.
  Mr. Angelucci mentioned small flies and a road less traveled , this has merit too. My problem with the really tiny flies is a small eye, hard to get 4-6 lb. line through. They are ok for small tippets but in the real world of spin fishing these bugs may be impractical .
   I wish you well in your quest and Bluto too for that matter buddy.............

 

 

Comment by Leo Nguyen on December 9, 2013 at 11:07pm

Deadly! Time to go crazy!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 9, 2013 at 10:50pm

Thanks Joe - I can always count on you!

Comment by Joe Angelucci on December 9, 2013 at 10:25pm

David

Don't forget fixed line fishing. After all, you can Dap a fly as easy as a baited hook using a telescopic pole. Fishing a 1/80  jig is no different then fishing a weighted nymph. Another area would be micro flies size 20 - 32. Just saying, maybe the road less traveled.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 9, 2013 at 10:04pm

 - - along those lines, there is probably ZERO interest here in fly fishing. This is essentially the Deep South, after all. Some interest might be found among bluegill men, but most of those are not fly anglers. They go for gills in the spawning times and then after something else once it gets tough. I know a lot of people who fish and can count just a FEW that have ever lifted a fly rod - and they don't do it now.

But "Brim Flies" might make a showing locally. I have a notion along those lines, but best not to jinx it just yet...

Usually a fly shop has to have trout or something like it nearby to make a showing. No trout to be seen within 150 miles of here and then damn few. The hard part is to create an awareness of fly fishing's effectiveness and enjoyment. Its a tough road when faced with pontoon boats and rocket powered bass machines on every corner.

SO Im gonna let that stew and work on my technique, and making the best detailed work I can turn out. That is what I REALLY like to do. Small, intricate and precise flies. Even the simple ones must be spot on, or I strip them and start over. I've got some in my Box that are the third or fourth ones on the same hook!

I also like to us nontraditional materials to produce working flies. These nymphs are a good example - almost nothing on them but the hook and thread is "official" fly tying material.

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on December 9, 2013 at 9:56pm

HEY JIM ,

  THAT'S THE SAME STORY everywhere about stores going under. Last year was the best year I ever had . Ya wanna know why? Folk I met on here namely Jeffrey Abney and others . Never had time to do anything else and didn't really want to , he kept me busy.

  The reason trout and fly shops go under is because of the price of gas and everything else associated with traveling to trout spots . Also no one basically fishes with fly's with spinning gear like we do and are uneducated about it's simplicity and benefits.......

Comment by jim cosgrove on December 9, 2013 at 9:52pm

david another problem is less people fish in raw numbers,the percentage of the population that fishes is even lower..i see less and less younger people fishing.we have a lot of fishing shows in the winter here and i see the same thing lots of old dudes.i have 4 kids and 3 step kids.1 fishes and hunts all the time.the rest of em fish 1 or 2 times a year..i am interested in your plan so let us know without hurting your plans if you can

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