I do most of my own fly-tying, either for personal use, to re-stock my boxes after family "helps themselves", or to barter with other tyers. It's not difficult once you know what you're doing (and you've discovered what materials and tools suit your style). I mostly fish the high country anymore: I've caught enough big fish on small tippets to satisfy my ego, and would just as soon avoid the crowds at the hog factories anyway. I probably use a handful of patterns each from Gary LaFontaine, Shane Stalcup, Ed Engle, and Rim Chung for most of my fishing, and won't use a complex pattern 'cuz then I focus more on not losing the fly rather than presenting it properly.

For those who *do* tye their own, consider the LaFontaine emergent sparkle pupa in addition (or even in place of) an elk hair caddis: it take a little bit longer to tye, but seems to pull the fish better.

Bryan...got some "good" places to wet a line, too...