The Story Behind 33 Flies

My name is Jordon Westlake, and I tie every single fly you see in this shop by hand. 33 Flies isn't a factory — it's a workbench, a vice, and a genuine obsession with getting predator flies right.

How It Started

It was a bit of a weird one, honestly. Back in 2016, I was looking into making my own lures — having never fly fished a day in my life — when a video by Niklaus Bauer popped up on YouTube. It showed a beautiful pike fly, and something about it just stopped me in my tracks. I watched the entire thing, despite never having touched a vice or even held a fly rod.

By the end of that evening, I'd already spent a small fortune on everything I needed to start tying flies. And that was it — that's where the journey began.

The Craft

Every fly is tied to order. That means when you place an order, I sit down at the vice and tie your flies specifically for you. There are no boxes of pre-tied stock sitting on a shelf.

I am extremely meticulous when it comes to my fly tying. Every stack of fibres is cut to exact lengths, and weighed on a milligram scale. Every strand of flash counted out. The positioning of the eyes has to be perfect, as well as the UV resin heads, to maintain absolute consistency, and make sure that every single fly swims as intended.

This approach takes time — But it means every fly leaves here in perfect condition, tied with care and attention to detail.

I use premium hooks and materials throughout — including Ahrex and Sakuma Hooks, As well as materials from Hedron, Hareline, Sybai, Semperfli to name but a few, because the hook and materials are the foundation of everything.

Quality materials aren't optional to me; They're part of what allow me to tie some of the best predator flies available on the market. This isn't just my opinion. Whilst trying to remain humble, I am confident that any of my customers will tell you the same!

Custom Colours

One of the things I enjoy most is working with customers on custom colour combinations. If you have a specific colour in mind — something that matches your local water, a baitfish pattern you've been chasing, or just a hunch — get in touch. I'm happy to tie up custom colour combos to order.

Why Predator Flies?

Predator fishing on the fly is still a relatively niche pursuit, and that's part of what draws me to it. There's something deeply satisfying about fooling a big pike or perch on a fly you've tied yourself. I want the flies I make to give every angler that same feeling — whether they tie their own or not.

Get in Touch

If you have questions about an order, want to discuss a custom colour, or just want to talk flies, don't hesitate to reach out via the Contact page. I read and reply to every message personally.

— Jordon