Tied in Texas.
Released in batches.
Instead of on-demand fly orders, I’m switching to drops. Join the email list to get notified about drops and free local tying nights at my workshop, check out the fly patterns I’ve designed here on the website, and let me know what you want to see in future drops!
Why Drops?
No Lead Times. Exact Inventory. Unique Batches.
Tied with care
Every fly in these drops comes directly from my vise. I tie every fly, choose every color-way, and I can streamline through batch tying.
Unique patterns
Each pattern usually spends months or even years undergoing revisions and on-the-water testing. I don’t use my customers as test subjects, but I do value feedback and make changes based on what I hear back.
Limited batches
Releases are random and just based on my tying schedule. Each batch is one-of-a-kind and limited, if you’re on the email list you will get to sneak preview each batch and have early access. Whatever doesn’t sell will probably end up traveling with me to the fly shows while I prep for the next batch.
How this works
A few times a year, when a batch is tied and photographed. There’s not really a fixed schedule, it just depends on what I tie and how often I’m able to tie. Joining the email list will let you see when the drops are happening, as well as my local hosted tying days if you want to come tie flies in my workshop in person with a great group of local tyers.
Join the drop list. You’ll get a tease email a week before, a reminder the day before, and the launch email the minute it opens. I’ll announce on social media as well but the email list gets first dibs.
Trying to keep stock on hand with a variety of colors and sizes and patterns has been an exercise in futility, but tying in batches allows me to streamline and reduce lead times. My schedule is all over the place and I really dislike having to make customers wait for flies based on my changing schedule or unexpected circumstances. Drops will reduce uncertainty and allow me to have exact inventory and shipping times.
Not in the usual sense. Each batch is unique and temporary — when they sell out, that exact batch is gone. My staple patterns will probably return in future drops but in different colors or sizes etc. based on what I’m enjoying tying at the time.
For custom orders reach out through the Contact page or email me at fishchaseflies@yahoo.com – I may or may not be able to take custom orders but it doesn’t hurt to check.
Flies ship from the Texas Hill Country. If you are placing an order for overseas shipping, it may require tariffs or higher costs. Sometimes orders do get lost or delayed with overseas shipping and I have very little control over that. I’m more than happy to solve any issues caused on my end, just reach out to me and we will come up with a solution! Ask around and you’ll find out quickly that I reliably take care of my customers; I want you to have as much fun using my flies as I do!
Catches and more
Caught something on my flies? Send it to me! I get so much satisfaction from seeing what you catch on the flies I make!
On the Water
My name is Chase Smith and I live in the Texas Hill Country with my wife, Nikki, and my two kids.
I enjoy catching fish, but most of all I like to catch fish the way I want to catch fish. I’ll throw a topwater all day rather than tie on a clouser, even if it means getting skunked. I created some of my more controversial patterns like the Spiral Spook based on conventional lures and wanting to translate those actions to the flyfishing game: after releasing that pattern, believe me I have heard every opinion about what is and isn’t a fly!
I make carp patterns for the clear Texas rivers, saltwater flies for Texas coast, I can tie a solid GameChanger (I’ve tied hundreds and hundreds of them), and my topwater patterns are pretty unique in my opinion.
Every year my friends and I make multiple runs to the Texas coast and usually a couple of DIY trips somewhere further. The patterns in my repertoire come out of those trips and a lot of time on local water.
“I don’t use my customers as test subjects. I test them myself and sell after I’ve made improvements.”
“If you have any problems at all with flies you purchase from me, please reach out and I will make it right.”
— Chase
Keep an eye out for the next drop!
Drop-list members get the first chance to buy.