Reject Flies

**Hairstacker** · 03-04-2005, 03:58 PM

Thom and I were having a brief discourse in the fly swap update thread about "reject" flies -- you know, the ones we feel aren't up to standard. I usually toss mine into "the bluegill box." Yet, I'm always reminded (and I'm sure others have had this experience) of the number of times when I've fished a dry fly until it was a lop-sided, chewed-up, fluffed-up ball of feathered trout spit and continued to catch trout. Or other times, when I've fished the same deerhair Tap's Bug all day for bass and found no reason to change to a new one, despite the one I'm using starting to look pretty darn ragged-looking, because it continued to get hits unabated. Now, you've probably detected, I worry as much (or more) about what other people think of my flies as the next guy, ha. But, in the end, sometimes I think we give fish more credit than they deserve. Just thought I'd throw that out there. . . . Anyone else experience good catching with "reject" flies?

SullyTM · 03-04-2005, 04:10 PM

Hairstacker...I tied a couple of Prince Nymph's a couple of weeks ago on David's suggestion and they didn't turn out well...my opinion. But, I kept them and caught a Sacramento Sucker on one of them. Out posts remind me of this quote by Gladys Taber: "The curious thing about fishing is you never want to go home. If you catch anything, you can't stop. If you don't catch anything, you hate to leave in case something might bite." So keep those reject flies! You never know...

**Darian** · 03-04-2005, 04:11 PM

Hi Mike,..... I suspect that the reason that most fly boxes are loaded with neatly tied flies is because we haven't yet figured out how to tie a fly like the one that was completely destroyed by fish.

My personal methopd of honoring a fish getter is to retire it, maybe on a tree at the location or in a special bopx I have at home.

**Jgoding** · 03-04-2005, 04:25 PM

I usually fish them until the flies is completely destroyed and nothing will hit it anymore but more often then not, I plant it in a tree before that happens and have to change anyways. On the slim chance that any fly survives, it either goes into the box to be fished another day or I give it away to someone not catching fish as I leave.

I keep all my flies and will fish the "best" ones first but I find they all catch fish as I lose the good ones.

Jeff

**Hairstacker** · 03-04-2005, 04:58 PM

Darian, whether it's about red fox dubbing or material for testing barbless hooks, I KNOW I can alway count on you to provide a refreshing view that never occurred to me.

**David Lee** · 03-04-2005, 05:09 PM

Just about all of mine are lost on rocks , trees , or given away to people I meet . Working flies , that is ..... I still have LOADS sitting around that I don't use anymore (a bunch of different reasons ...) .
I think out of every 10 I tye , I keep 2 and dump the rest on people on the river/lake/stream .
Guess I'm funny that way

.... David

**Hairstacker** · 03-04-2005, 05:23 PM

David, I can attest to you giving flies away. . . . I'll never forget when we first met, you sent me a box of GORGEOUS flies you had tied for bass and stripers, knowing I was keenly interested in these fish. . . . And these were beautiful, advanced ties that I KNOW took a LOT of time to tie. Just the way you are I guess.

You know, I look at those from time to time and am always humbled by the state of your art -- you should be giving lessons on a regular basis. Anyone want to know how to tie a fly with material you haven't used before? -- check with David first, he has likely mastered it.

**Hairstacker** · 03-04-2005, 05:30 PM

Thom, that is SOOO true regarding "the curious thing about fishing." I almost always feel that way, ha. I mean, how many of us have fished for 6 hours straight, through gale force winds and rain, without so much as a nibble 'cause, you never know, "the bite just might turn on and I don't want to miss it!"

Or, likewise, you're catching fish so you CAN'T quit, ha.

**Jay Murakoshi** · 03-04-2005, 05:38 PM

I think this is a field that fits me. Usually every year, I can fill a gallon size mayonise jar with reject flies or flies that I've tied and never used.
I use to throw away all the flies in the garbage but with the price of high quality hooks, I now look for someone who is in need of flies. I just sent out two shoe boxes full of different flies from saltwater, striper and bass flies to a youngster in Texas. At least I think he was a youngster. His dad emailed me in regards to purchasing some of my rejects for his son to use. So I found a resource that can hopefully use them. Hope I don't see them on Ebay.

If anyone is interested in rejects, I'll start saving them

Jay