American Independent Fly Tyers Guild (AIFTG)

*** UNDER CONSTRUCTION ***

AIFTG is dedicated to the independent American fly tyer - the artist that brings his or her practical experience and knowledge gathered in the field back to all of us in the creation and tying of a fly. The true fly tyer understands both predator and prey including the relationship between the gamefish of choice and the plethora of insects, crustaceans and baitfish upon which they feed. The true tyer then builds that practical knowledge into the fly.

In the 1980's the fly fishing industry began a new trend of importing trout flies from warehouse manufacturing companies from foreign lands (Sri Lanka, China, Africa, etc). As a result, fly tyers here in America have suffered a continual decline in both the demand and the price of their flies. In essence, artistic American talent and creativity in researching, testing and fishing the fly were displaced by warehouse labor - fly tyers that have no creative talent or experience in fishing for American trout, tarpon, bass, panfish, steelhead or salmon.

As an example, a salt water fly fisherman and tyer in Florida may tie a fly to imitate a particular baitfish found in the flats where tarpon pursue their prey. The independent American tyer has opportunity to study the behavior of the various baitfish and the tarpon as they relate to one another. How does that baitfish become available to the tarpon? What is the baitfish's feeding and escape behaviour and, if appropriate, what is it's migration behaviour? If the baitfish darts or flashes in a particular manner, what materials may be used or how might those materials be implemented in a different way to simulate the baitfish? Where do the tarpon and baitfish meet in the ecology of those flats in Florida? Scales tend to reflect color. Does the bait fish have various shades of color based on habitat? If so, how might the fly be modified to create a better presentation based on the various colors of the baitfish in various locations or changing light conditions?

A black ant pattern from China may look like a blank ant tied in America. It has wings, it has legs, it has two lumps for a body. However, the American tyer may have noticed that the ant of concern has wings and legs with a brownish cast in the natural light of the sun as it lies on the surface of the water. Such observation is not available to the tyer in foreign lands. The American tyer might also note that the winged queen carpenter ant of the western states is very large - one of the largest insects available to mountain trout.

Such characteristics are lost to the foreign laborer. Today, the fly fisherman is provided with mass marketed fly patterns (ie, "one size fits all"). And because the American fly tyer is displaced, the fly fishers of America lose a "gene pool" of creativity, art and science in the advancement and evolution of the artificial fly. In essence, the economics and primary interest of corporate endeavors suppresses the science and art of our sport. And like many ailments that go unrecognized until too late, the sport of fly fishing suffers the consequences. Fly fishing becomes something less than what it once was.

In addition, the American fly tyer has complained of unethical business practices on behalf of the foreign fly industry. The common complaint is where a pattern developed by an American tyer is copied by the corporate entities and their foreign warehouse labor - many times making small changes to the material, renaming the fly and giving credit of its creation to another tyer or fishing guide who has a business relationship with the corporation. While the majority of guides and tyers in America are ethical, such onerous business practice by the few is an insult to all who truly love the sport.

Similar analogies can be demonstrated with warmwater bass and panfish, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon (both salt and freshwater river), and the many other gamefish that give meaning to our sport. Each species represents a unique fishery and professional tyers here in America are necessary to maintain and advance the sport for each of those gamefish species.

Foreign tied flies are here to stay. In some cases, they are well tied flies in their own right and marketed by many fly shops as professionally crafted. Indeed, they may be presented as the fly of choice by reputable fly shops. And while that may be true, such sales do not support the local tyers and the next generation of flies necessary to entice the ever more sophisticated and selective gamefish. Other foreign manufacturers use substandard materials or are poorly tied in an effort to reduce cost. Such flies may be dressed to appear pleasing to the fly fishermen in the store, but their performance on the water is likewise substandard.

Foreign flies have a market in the novice and amateur fly fishing industry. The flies are cheap and the novice (as well as the professional) can afford to lose a few flies. In some cases, foreign flies also provide a beneficial role in keeping prices down in America. But there is a fine balance to be reached there and it is our belief that this balance has been weighted too heavily and too long on behalf of the fly shops and companies that give precedence to economics at the expense of the American tyer and the advancement of our knowledge, creativity, and sport of fly fishing.

The American Independent Fly Tyers Guild (AIFTG) is an effort to recognize the few remaining independent fly tyers here in America that continue the tradition in support of our art and heritage of fly fishing. That art and that heritage begins with the study and observation of the gamefish, the prey upon which they feed, and the creation of a fly.

Please join us in recognition of the independent American fly tyer. The future integrity of our sport is defined by your purchasing decisions today.

If you would like to become a member tyer, please contact us via email.

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