The Essential Fly Reviews

4.8 Rating 2,192 Reviews

97 %

of reviewers recommend The Essential Fly

4.8

Based on 2,192 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Postal Service
Average Delivery Time	Within 5 Days
On-time Delivery	Greater than 90%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	98%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour
Customer Service	4.9 out of 5

About The Essential Fly:

Specialists in Fly Fishing with salmon, trout flies, and flies for lots of other species. We sell Fly Fishing Tackle and gear and a huge range of Fly Tying Materials and Tools - The Essential Fly is a leading supplier of gear for fly fishermen, rainbow & brown trout flies, salmon flies and flies for every species from our massive selection. Fly tying materials and tools to satisfy every fly tyers needs. With tackle from Greys to Wychwood, from fly rods to waders, luggage and all of the accessories you will need.

We have won awards for customer service and believe in value and quality. Check our reviews from thousands of customers all around the world. Having delivered to over 50 countries from homes to fishing lodges for that last minute requirement.

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The Essential Fly 5 star review on 16th February 2025

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 4 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“good quality flies quick delivery”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I’ve used this company for a few years now, they’re service is excellent.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“The service was good and the hooks are just what I was looking for. Light, but good strength, good holding power. The hooks could do with larger eyes from 20 onwards just for us old uns Tight lines”

The Essential Fly 4 star review on 1st February 2018

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Posted 7 years ago

“After wrong picking of item's first time,they send me the right item's second time,whiteout Any extra cost's for me”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Customer service is very good. Always fast and helpful responses to queries whether by phone or email. Normally stock levels are good which means orders arrive reasonably speedily. The range of options for fly tying materials is good. I like the briefing emails on fishing techniques and rigs which I think is a differentiator from Essential Fly's competitors. One area where there could be an improvement is the search function on the website. You often get irrelevant choices and you can't narrow the options down. This can be very frustrating when you know what you want but have to trawl through loads of stuff yo get to the item(s) you want. Overall very satisfied which is why I'm a long time repeat customer.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Received my order very quickly and to my complete satisfaction, will buy from this company again.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Good service”

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Posted 7 years ago

“TEF usually have what I need for Fly tying, I ordered an item in their sale that was advent email, turns out the supplier did not have the item in stock. I’ve been trying for some time to get said item, when they told me they couldn’t get it I was disappointed to say the least. Not TEF’s fault, but maybe should not have been advertised for sale?.”

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Posted 7 years ago

Hello and thank you for your recent order and your review. We do appreciate all feedback. We are sorry that we were not able to get the grade 1 saddle for you. We work with specialist suppliers for special order items and usually all is well. When your order was placed, as a special order item, we genuinely did our best to get it for you and our suppliers did too. Supplies of saddles, especially at grade 1, can vary throughout the year and we work with and rely on our partners hence why the materials are shown on the site. We will always do our best for you and hope that we will be able to look after your fly tying needs in the future. With all good wishes Ann and team at The Essential Fly

Posted 7 years ago

“Good service, but waited a long time for my goods . But will use again thank you”

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Posted 7 years ago

“The products purchased were exactly what I required. Fine tinsel and GPS threads. What stopped me giving 5 stars was the company were short of one item that I ordered and failed to inform me resulting in me having to contact them to find out what was going on. This aside I have no problem in recommending Essential Fly for the products and the price they charge for a very good service. You need to inform customers of delay on orders no matter how simple the problem may be. Customers will appreciate contact to let them know the current situation!!”

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Posted 7 years ago

“As ever a quick and reliable service, I like their fly patterns, they are not over dressed and from experience neither do they come apart when fishing like some other suppliers flies. The only down side on this occasion, they substituted one of the flies without telling me, either that or the image in the on-line catalogue is not correct.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“The cape was a one off dye job, when it arrived it was a little damp. Not a problem to me an hour on the radiator and it was fully dry. It might have been a problem for a beginner though.”

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Posted 7 years ago

Hi and thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear the cape was a little damp. Having dyed this bespokely for you, a service that we don't normally offer that we did especially for you, we hope the colour was to your liking. So because this was a special service, it shouldn't be a problem ongoing as mentioned. If there is anything we can do to help at all please do let us know. Thank you and best wishes from your friends at The Essential Fly

Posted 7 years ago

“Quick communication with a great selection of fly fishing items difficult to locate locally. Processed and shipped quickly! Good place to buy from.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Great service selection and prices. Live in Canada and purchase and shipping us great. However, given I live in Canada tracking information (tracking # and carrier) should be available for parcels as to better track shipments from the customers end.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“quality product, delivery could be faster”

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Posted 7 years ago

“If it is in stock very prompt. If it isn’t not waiting too long on delivery. Packaging very good and postal charges are reasonable.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“"SORRY FOR THE MOMENT THE ITEMS ARE ON THE POSTOFICESE IN VENNESLA...I BRING IT HOME TO MOROW BUT THANK YOU"”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Order delivered quickly and good range of products.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“they usually provde a prompt and efficient service with quality goods”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Product as expected”

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Posted 7 years ago

The Essential Fly is rated 4.8 based on 2,192 reviews