I'm Freddy Block and have lived in northern NJ all my life. At 9 years old, the river we lived near would call my name (quite a bit too) and fishing became a major part of my life. Fly tying opened a venue for me to work with my hands, tools, and materials, but also gave me an opportunity to "fish" with the flies I tie as well as photographing them (all passions)!
How You Got Started
I started fly tying and fly fishing around mid-2015 and did these only occasionally until 2018. My tying took a serious upward turn with my first Instagram post at the very end of December 2018. The amount of inspiration that I was getting from Instagram prior to that truly pushed me to dive in deep with the following goal in mind: "To stay inspired with hopes to one day inspire others!"
Favorite Pattern To Tie:
I cannot say I have a “favorite” fly I tie but will share that I enjoy tying (and fishing) soft hackles, wrapping turkey biots, stripped peacock herl, and wrapping pheasant tail fibers quite a bit. Then there’s deer and elk hair, and many others so one can say if I’m at my vise, it’s all good!
Favorite Species & Waters
Target Species: Trout and warm water river species (over summer)
Favorite Waters to Fish: The Catskills and local rivers
Fly Tying Style & Specialties
Patterns, techniques, or styles you’re known for (e.g., trout flies, saltwater patterns, euro nymphs, streamers, guides flies, etc.).
If you visit my Instagram feed, you’ll see mostly trout flies because they cover the species I typically fish for. This includes many styles of patterns from wets to dries, and a few streamers sprinkled in. Some of what I tie are for purely for fun, for challenging myself, and for the photography side. For the streamers, I especially like to tie the Matuka style while hair and feather wings are all fun too.
Why You Trust Firehole:
When I got serious about fly tying and decided to tie and fish barbless hooks, I asked some tiers what hooks I was seeing in their fly images. After learning they were Firehole Sticks I immediately purchased some. I’ve was so happy with them, it was a done deal and I’ve been passionate about the brand ever since.
Social Media & Links
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freddysflyz
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Website / Shop: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreddysFlyz
Gear & Bench Setup
My gear choices are a Regal Revolution vise (stainless steel jaws) with mounted on their “The Pocket Platform” base, Firehole Sticks are the chassis for most (95%) of my tying, and for tools, in no particular order: C&F Design, Smhaen, Dr. Slick, Renomed, Stonfo, and SwissCDC, Hairline, and Loon Outdoors. For materials, it’s the typical fare in the US: Hareline, Wapsi, Whiting Farms, Sideling Hill Hackle, Nature’s Spirit, and many others including “legal” natural materials harvested by myself and my son, and some local hunter friends. I also enjoy woodworking and built a few iterations of a tool caddy I always have to my right and it’s loaded and ready at all times!
Fun Fact
With the cRaZy amount of time I spend at my vise tying cRaZy amounts of flies for myself and others, my largest trout (PB) on a fly took a Walt’s Worm (Firehole Sticks 516, a Firehole Stone (silver tungsten slotted bead) and hare’s ear. Simple and super deadly! I’d get bored tying just those but they work…and well! My first trout on a fly was fooled by a Zug Bug and the second, the same day, took a Frenchie (Shrimp Pink dubbing). Every fish is special to catch, from my personal smallest to my largest. If it eats my fly, I’m a happy guy!
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