Mike Schmidt of Anglers Choice Flies

You can’t tie commercially because you have to. You have to want to.

I have a lot of respect for commercial fly tyers. To be successful, they must have some special attributes that go beyond being able to tie pretty flies. Tying flies in bulk for others takes a certain mental toughness that few posses. Most commercial tyers fade away. Even most of the ones who know they won’t get rich going into it, quickly give it up. Those who have been doing it for a while and have figured out a way to establish themselves are a special breed.

There is one of those rare tyers from central Ohio, Mike Schmidt. Mike’s Dynaking vise is the factory better known as Angler’s Choice Flies. His fly tying business has found itself a nook for producing quality, custom flies for it’s customers. One of the things that has always impressed me about Mike is his ability to tie everything from tightly packed spun deer hair bass bugs, to elegantly tied classic wet flies- and to tie them well.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mike and ask him a few questions.

What got you to into fly fishing and fly tying?

I grew up fishing in Michigan but did not actually start fly fishing until I was in Ohio for school. I went a few times with a buddy in Dayton and then once I graduated went full bore- fly fishing every chance I got. I didn’t really tie flies until that point either, so it has been just over 10 years since I started tying for a few hours every night.

The incentive to start tying was really two pronged; first I thought it was too expensive to buy flies and figured I’d save a buck (I know…hilarious to think back on that notion now) and second I was in a city where I really did not know many people and did not want to leave work to just sit on my couch all night. Fly tying was a way for me to tie in my love of the outdoors and my art background.

How did you learn to tie flies?

I started by just diving in and mangling some materials. I did not know any better so I ordered a kit from Cabelas and some materials, then the moment they arrived at the house I sat down in the living room and tried to make flies look like some pictures I had printed. It took about a week for me to realize that I would need some help so I went up to the local fly shop and started taking classes, then just continued to tie all I could and read everything I could get my hands on. To this day I am an information junky. I can not get enough to read or watch when it comes to tying flies.

What led to your decision to tie commercially?

At the same time I put my mind to fly tying, I decided to get more involved in the local fishing community. In all honesty I probably did so to get the low down on local fishing spots as much as anything else, but found the people I was meeting to be very fun and supportive, as well as knowledgeable. Through talking and joking around with them after I started tying, they just started to ask me to tie stuff up for them from time to time, and that was the humble beginnings. When it started to become apparent to me that this could make me a few bucks I made it legit, only about a year in to tying, and it continued to grow. I now do mostly custom orders through word of mouth and tie some local patterns for a couple shops when they are in need of some help.

Do you get the same sense of satisfaction from tying flies for others as you do for yourself?

There is no difference to me when I am at the vise, I put every bit the effort in to each fly

whether for large commercial orders, small custom orders, or my own personal boxes. I want the people that use my flies to experience the same level of success that I achieve with my flies. I don’t ever want to feel as though a person had a bad day on the water because they had bad bugs. I try to picture each person using my flies with the same ecstatic look on their face that I get for every fish, and I suppose that is what is satisfying to me. Now for casting and knowledge they are on their own.

What would you say to those who say there is no money tying flies commercially?

For the most part I would agree, I can not think of any commercial tiers with any sort of money that exclusively tie. Even guys like AK Best that are at the very top of their game in both talent and marketing resort to other ventures to make the money needed to live comfortably. With the rapid growth of cheap flies on the internet there are just not enough dollars to go around to really make a comfortable living only tying flies; even if that is the goal then other things like guiding, teaching, speaking, and writing are usually employed as well. Even with the amount I tie I like to say that it is a self sustaining hobby for me. By that I mean that the couple modest trips I drive around the country on each year and the fly materials I use for myself are bought and paid for by my commercial orders…but I am certainly not paying the mortgage with them.

L-R-Dave Whitlock, Mike Schmidt, Emily Whitlock

How do you like tying at fly fishing shows?

I love to tie at shows. I find that it really keeps me on my game and always thinking about what I am doing because if you are tying at a show you never know what questions you are going to be asked. I love sitting there doing something I have done thousands of times without thinking about it only to look up and realize that the person sitting across from me just learned something that will help them with their tying. Of course it is always nice to have a large show that is always busy and you can make a few bucks in the process, but helping others learn is really the only reason I tie at shows.

What shows do you normally attend?

This year I have tied or will tie at Mason MI, Indianapolis IN, Louisville KY, Chicago IL, Dearborn MI. I usually also tie at Cleveland OH and Cincinnati OH but those shows overlapped others this year. I would love to make it to the Somerset and Livingston shows in the upcoming years if I can get my toe in the door.

When tying at a show, what do you want people who walk away from your table to remember about you?

That I really listened to them when a question was asked, and was helpful. I want every person that comes to my table to leave knowing more than before they got there. I try to talk to each person as they come up, and if they mention their name then I make a mental note and thank them by name for stopping as they are leaving.

Mike’s Foxee Bastard

Have you invented any “new” fly patterns?

This is always a tricky question because something I tie up has likely been tied before…just not seen by me. That being said I suppose you could say that I have a few patterns that are to my knowledge unique and battle tested. A couple favorites of mine are the Foxee Bastard and the Lunkergetter. The Foxee Bastard is basically a woolly bugger tied with a red fox tail, soft-hackle wraps on the body, and a red fox tail collar. I have fished them from a size 16 to a size 6 and similar to a bugger have caught everything from gills and trout, to salmon and bass on them. The Lunkergetter is a big meaty streamer that I tie in pursuit of the big fish whether it is winter streamer fishing for browns, spring time bass, or dog days pike and musky. It has large lead eyes tied in so it rides hook up, a body consisting of EP Sparkle Braid, magnum rabbit, and wool.

When you’re not tying flies, what kind of fish do you like to pursue? Any favorite destinations?

I am pretty much a fishing junky….whatever I am fishing for at the time is my favorite, and wherever I am at is the best place to be. That being said, if I had to sit back and separate it out I think my two favorite fish are brown trout and smallmouth. I just find both species to be so diverse in the way they look from watershed to watershed and are such fierce fighters. As for destinations, there are just so many, but I think my two favorite are likely northwestern Michigan and central Colorado. Somehow I have made it this far without having actually fished the Yellowstone region, since I fear that once I get there I may never leave, so I suppose you would have to add that to the list despite never being there in person.

Has anyone influenced your tying or the way you tie?

I suppose the first real influence on my tying would be Brian Flechsig of Mad River Outfitters since he really got me on track with the classes I took when I was getting going. I have never met AK Best in person but think that his books and videos have likely influenced my work as much as anyone else by giving me a direction and thought process for tying. Finally I think that the amazing collection of talented tyers at flytyingforum.com and talkflyfishing.com have helped shape my tying the last few years both through their criticism and praise.

Where can people see examples of your work?

Since most of my orders are custom orders now, I’m afraid that I have allowed my website(www.anglerschoiceflies.com) to become a little out of date- but it is still up, and has some patterns there. I intend to remedy the site over the next few months to get it more in line with the quality, and types of flies, I tie more of now. Most of my work I also post at flytyingforum.com under my screen name Redwings1. (Click Here to see Mike’s “Fly Patterns” page at the fly tying forum.