Hooks and materials
All flies are tied on barbed hooks unless you request otherwise. Some materials may be substituted with an equivalent of the same quality when a supply is unavailable.
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Custom fly tying
Your pattern. Our bench.
Send us a link, a photo, a physical sample or a video. We tie your fly your way — for your water, your species and your season, in the quantity your season needs.
3Flies per hook size
4Ways to send a pattern
BestMaterials only
Your wayTied to order
The idea
What “custom” really means
A custom-tied fly is tied to your needs and specifications. Our work at Johnflies Fly Factory Ltd has always been to tie flies “your way”.
If you are looking for mass-produced flies tied to your own specification, you have landed in the right place: we are a commercial tying bench that produces to order, not a catalogue reseller.
So what does custom mean when it is applied to fly tying? Tying flies in a particular way, for a specific type of fly fishing, for a particular person. You will see many example flies on this website for style — but what you order is your version of a pattern, built the way it should be.
Poorly tied flies made from inferior material are not an option here. We use only the best materials, because you deserve it. Our flies are designed to help you consistently catch more fish.
How it works
Four ways to send us a pattern
Pick whichever is easiest. A clear photo or a short video usually saves a round of questions, but we will work with whatever you have.
01
Send a link
A link to the fly on any website — a shop, a forum, a pattern database. We can work from the picture.
02
Send an image
A photo from your computer, a catalogue page or a screenshot. Several angles help us match proportions.
03
Post a sample
Send the physical fly and we will match it material for material, including the way it is dressed.
04
Send a video
A short clip of the pattern — useful when movement, flash or a particular material matters.
Details
Specs, minimums and pricing
Everything below applies to every custom order. If something is not covered, ask before you order — it is easier than fixing it afterwards.
Minimum quantity
The minimum order is 3 flies of each hook size. Larger and commercial quantities are welcome — we tie for shops and guides as well as individual anglers.
Pricing
Our custom prices are competitive and often the same as our standard patterns. The price is based on the tying time the fly needs and the materials it uses.
Your hooks, your materials
You are welcome to send us your own hooks and materials and we will tie with them. All flies are tied on order, from the date we receive the order, so timing starts when your parcel reaches us.
Questions
Before you send a pattern
What information do you need with a photo?
Hook size if you know it, the target species and water, and the quantity you need. If you have a preferred dressing — ribbing, hackle, weighting — tell us and we will follow it.
Can you copy a fly I already own?
Yes. Post us the sample and we will match it as closely as the materials allow. Some materials may be substituted when an exact match is not available.
How long does a custom order take?
All flies are tied on order from the date we receive it. Tying time and shipping time both apply — tell us your deadline and we will confirm before you commit.
Do you tie for shops and guides?
Yes. We tie commercial quantities to specification, and the minimum of 3 flies per hook size applies to each pattern.
You design it. We tie it.
Send us the link, photo, sample or video and tell us the quantity. We will come back with the price, the hook options and a realistic date.
We can produce most custom fly patterns, perfect for your local waters. You design it, we tie it.