It seems to me that Rodbuilding was the second hobby for most after learning how to tie flies. Also will anyone speak to the quote i have heard several times on the internet(not this forum as far as i know) that if you can tie a simple fly you can build a great rod????

I've been tieing for sixty years and building for six. I believe that developing the skills for either craft enhances ones ability at the other.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

Been building rods for near 25 years and tied flies shortly somewhere in the middle of that time for about 3 years. I sure agree with Stan's statement; they do complement each other.

Putter
Williston, ND

I have tied flies for 8 or 9 years. Built rods for 4 yrs or so. I'm sure I wouldn't have started building if I hadn't started tieing.....and I only did that because my brother bought me a kit for Christmas. When I received the fly tieing kit I had to start fly fishing...then it is a logical step to building your own rods.

It is all his fault!

Keith

I tied some before I got into building. But, now I am so addicted to building that I basically gave up tying and buy them for $5 a dozen on @#$%&. That way I get to spend all my free time building or fishing. I should give up building so I can spend ALL my free time fishing, but the addiction has got me good.

I started fly fishing about 40 years ago, tying some 20 years ago, building my own leaders about the same time and rod building about 5 or so years ago. imo, it all adds to my enjoyment of the culminating moment of catching a nice fish caught on a fly I tied specifically for the stream/water conditions, etc, attached with a leader designed to "optimize" the presentation (and land the fish), and all cast and controlled by a rod I built to be the prime component in the "system" all coming together. The time spent in the shop leading up to the moment and the thrill of the moment itself can't get much better in my opinion.

i have found that i can only do justice to one obsession at a time.

when I tie flys I use many colour combos, I can figure out what colour would look good on a rod, as well as creating a new fly.It's lots of fun. T

I tie flys for myself and my friends, and have been doing so for most of my 62 years of life. I tie flies for the same reason that I build rods: 1) I enjoy it, 2) I take more care than volume tiers/builders, 3) I can experiment to my heart's content, and 4) I believe that what I produce is really superior to what is available on the mass market.. My friends and customers believe so also.

I started back to fly fishing about nine years ago and started tying my own flies almost immediately. I finally got into building rods about five years ago. I find tying more relaxing but I enjoy both tremendously.

Jim Smith

I started building rods first, then learned how to tie flies. My Trout Unlimited chapter sells flies for a buck a piece...expert ties too, so they were always affordable but a new rod, well...Anyway, I don't tie everything, mostly bass bugs, streamers and the like, I still buy most of my dries 'cause those TU guys are just so good and the price is just so right.

Tim

I started tying rods and wrapping flies about 37 years ago. I cannot recall what came first the chicken or the egg and I myself really don't care because I have enjoyed both these oh so many years. About 5 years ago I passed these hobbies onto my son who is now 18. I am thrilled every so often to come home and find him tying flies instead of school, friends, fishing, GIRLS, sleeping,eating, or just being a teenager ( the order varies widely depending upon the phase of the moon, or weather he got out of the left or right side of the bed ). He still askes his dad to wrap his rods for him even though he can do it himself I will never say no, but when it comes to cutting his meat and hook and handing, ( both of which stopped by the time he turned six and started out fishing and out eating me) I have to draw the line somewhere.

Happy Holidays

Scott

Learned to tie early on, then started building after a couple of years. Like to fish my own rods and flies. I don't see a lot of cross-over skills, though. Don

I've been doing both for a long time but starting building rods first. And now I've been learning to build surf plugs. Will it ever end!