A couple of years ago (yes, that time when we were stuck at home in our Covid bubbles) I decided that making my own flies might be a good idea. I ordered a basic tying kit online, some materials, and a plastic tub with compartments in which to keep everything.

But there was a problem; I wasn’t tying many flies.

The palaver of getting stuff out, arranging it and finding a spot to clamp the vice seemed just so damned inconvenient. I looked at a few ready-made options online, but considering what I was spending for so little return at the time, it wasn’t advisable. “How much do you think each fish is worth now?” was an increasingly common family phrase as I purchased the next piece of essential equipment.

So the DIY option it was.

I enjoy a small project, but the results often don’t match the vision in my head. The biggest worry with a station was neatly building the base box itself. No matter – I dived under the house for any materials that might suit.

And there it was – a drawer from the original kitchen in our house – resplendent in typical 1950s salmon pink. No longer just a “do it yourself” project, but also an upcycling one. As a bonus, it was crafted from Rimu (a sought-after finely grained native timber, for readers not New Zealand natives of the human-kind). A couple of lengths of similar timber were also discovered, and the project began.

I won’t go through each step. Simply put, I cut the front off the drawer, added some timber on top, and voila! Here are a few things to consider before making a similar fly tying station yourself.

1. Look online. Note the layout of similar projects, and imagine how you would like things laid out. Some of them are truly spectacular!
2. Many examples have inset circles to hold various receptacles and glues, and foam or magnets to hold tied flies. I kept it simple, but you can be as fancy and technical as you like.
3. Use what you have. For example, I used offcuts as blocks to support the arms to the drawer.
4. Working with old, dry timber can be tricky as it has a tendency to split, so pre-drilling before screwing is a must.
5. Make sure you overhang the arms enough to hold your vice!
6. I got lucky with size in that it fits perfectly in a cupboard, completely ready to go as soon as it is “drawn” onto a table. Maybe it is better to measure your storage spot first 😉
   

The rain hit again this morning, and I’ve been watching the river flow online as it spikes beyond fishable levels – with wading needed to get to my favourite spots. Tying a few flies is the perfect way to get a fishing fix in anticipation of the next break in the weather.

Brilliant.