Reason 1 - Understanding The Fish
Fly tying is a valuable resource in the hands of the proficient angler, and can allow a greater understanding of why trout act the way that they do, when they do. After all, the 24/7 antics of the fish that so many anglers become obsessed with are driven by the food sources in their environment. The food controls the trout, and if the angler wants to catch fish, he or she must control the food source. When an angler takes the time and applies the effort to learn about the construction of the flies he or she is fishing, he or she will also gain a greater understanding of the fish, and how to fool them. For example, in most tight line patterns, weight is a large driving factor of design. Slotted tungsten beads make a frequent appearance in the euro fly scene, and for good reason. Because we know that trout hold and feed near the bottom of a river most of the time, we can incorporate that knowledge into our flies, designing patterns that fall quickly and stay in the desired feeding lanes, allowing the driven angler to catch more fish. Understanding the weight in the fly pattern is simply part of understanding the holding and feeding patterns of trout, and vice versa. This is simply one example of a way that fly tying can advance the angler into a greater understanding of his or her craft.