Pretty much always tied my own flies since I was 10 or 12. You can invest plenty money in materials and tools. What I do notice is when I'm fishing I'll throw my fly into places most guys wont. They're scared of loosing their expensive store boughts. I've lost half a dozen or more flies before I finally get it under that branch just right, under that log jam, drift it to pass under that sweeper or right into that overhanging willow bush to that shady eddy where I know a fish is going to take it if I can get it on the water. If I'm not loosing flies left right and center I'm not fishing right. I got tons of material to replace them. As far as I'm concerned your going to miss the best fish unless your willing to lose a few flies. That's when tying pays for itself.
I liken fly tying to reloading, it's not worth the investment if your only shooting a box of shells a year.
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