I Wish Tying Flies Outside was More Manageable

Fly tying is a passion of mine. I’ve been tying flies for over 20 years now, and I actually love it more than when I started. I love it so much that most of the flies I tie anymore are for other folks!  I even opened an online fly shop so I could continue to tie flies even when my fly boxes are full.  To me, it is the strange combination of being productive while still being able to take a break from work as well as other stressors in life. Like fly fishing, it requires your 100% focus and if you give any less than that, then the end product is going to suffer. As much as I love fly tying, there is one serious drawback that is problematic for me. Fly time is almost exclusively and indoor activity.

Most of my interests involve the outdoors. Fishing is my biggest passion, but I also enjoy hunting and camping as well. The common thread in all of my hobbies is being outdoors. Multiple obstacles arise though when one attempts to tie flies outdoors. First of all, most of the materials that are used to tie flies are light and wispy. The slightest gust of air will send most of them into the air with unknown destinations. Second, it is beneficial to have a fly that you are working on to be completely still, and not twitching about. If you have spent any time in Missouri, you know that even on a day that has good weather, there’s gonna be at least some wind. Even the slightest breeze makes fly, tying outside, almost impossible.

With that being said, I’ve recently found a spot where I can actually tie flies while being unencumbered. The back patio at my house actually offers a pretty good wind block most of the time. I have found that tying flies such as game changers, which typically incorporate heavier, less flexible materials, can be tied in the spot.  I won't be tying with marabou, laser dub, or hackle out there anytime soon, but this is a decent compromise.  This allows me to not only high quality flies, but also spend time with my wife, keep Waylon occupied, and at least be outdoors, where I prefer to be.  Heck I can even have movies or series on in the background if that's what my wife wants to do!  So my question to the readers of this post is: does anyone else tie flies outdoors?  I would love to read your thoughts in the comment section.