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Category 3 Fly Company | All banner

Category 3 Fly Company | All

The wild rivers of New Zealand provide some of the spookiest fish and the clearest waters on the planet! That's why Category 3 Fly Company knows that pin point accuracy and the right choice of fly can be the difference between landing a big one and going home empty handed.

Those of you that have been fortunate enough to fish the wilderness rivers of New Zealand know just how technical it can be. Category 3 Fly Company, a small stream independent fly company based in Taupo, New Zealand, have been creating performance flies for over 15 years.

Thankfully for us, they understand their sister country Australia, and know what works here too! Developing patterns and tweaking old ones, you can be sure you'll be using flies of the highest performance and durability.

When it comes to luring a big one, trust a brand that's reliable and proudly endorsed by us here at Tom's Outdoors.

Click here to read more...

IS CATEGORY 3 FLY COMPANY A GOOD BRAND?

Category 3 Fly Company is known for its innovative approach to fly fishing and its commitment to producing high-quality flies. Based in New Zealand, the company has quickly built a reputation among anglers for its dedication to craftsmanship, attention to detail, and use of premium materials. Category 3's focus on creating durable and effective flies has made it a popular choice among fly fishing enthusiasts who appreciate both performance and value.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO THEY MAKE?

Category 3 Fly Company specializes in producing a wide range of flies for various fishing environments and target species. Their collection includes dry flies, nymphs, streamers, and saltwater patterns, all meticulously designed to meet the needs of serious anglers. Each fly is crafted with a focus on quality, innovation, and effectiveness, ensuring that anglers have the right fly for every situation.

HISTORY OF THE COMPANY

Category 3 Fly Company was founded by a group of passionate fly anglers who wanted to create a brand that reflected their love for the sport and their commitment to quality. The company was established with the goal of providing fly fishers with flies that combine durability, effectiveness, and innovation. Though relatively new, Category 3 has quickly gained a loyal following of anglers who appreciate the brand's dedication to enhancing the fly fishing experience.

THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME

The name "Category 3" was inspired during a fishing trip in New Zealand, where the founders were discussing different levels of fun. They identified three categories: Category 1 (not fun to do, not fun to remember), Category 2 (not fun to do, but fun to remember), and Category 3 (fun to do, fun to remember). While navigating an impassable gorge and swimming across with their gear, one of the founders exclaimed "Category 3! Category 3!" to describe the experience. The phrase captured the spirit of adventure and enjoyment that defines the company, leading to the name "Category 3 Fly Company."

Category 3 Hare & Copper Orange Tungsten Bead

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Drop the Bomb Slice through heavy current and get down to those big lake runners with this weapon of mass destruction from Cat-3. 

Category 3 Gummers Carpet Caddis - Pink Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Get up in a trout's gums with a Gummers A Jig hook, CdC, UV hot-spot and the right tungsten bead to fish at the depth you want all add up to one t...

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Category 3 Cheeky Fella Olive - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Get this fly up in front of fish with a good presentation and there is a pretty good chance they will eat it Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong c...

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Category 3 Gummers Carpet Caddis - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Get up in a trout's gums with a Gummers A Jig hook, CdC, UV hot-spot and the right tungsten bead to fish at the depth you want all add up to one th...

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Category 3 Churnobyl UV - Black

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Chur Bro, ya know Churnobyl?  There's no nuclear in New Zealand but there is a nuclear option when it comes to trout flies. This Chubby Chernobyl A...

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Category 3 Churnobyl UV - Orange

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Chur Bro, ya know Churnobyl?  There's no nuclear in New Zealand but there is a nuclear option when it comes to trout flies. This Chubby Chernobyl A...

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Category 3 Churnobyl UV - Olive

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Chur Bro, ya know Churnobyl?  There's no nuclear in New Zealand but there is a nuclear option when it comes to trout flies. This Chubby Chernobyl A...

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Category 3 Churnobyl UV - Tan

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Chur Bro, ya know Churnobyl?  There's no nuclear in New Zealand but there is a nuclear option when it comes to trout flies. This Chubby Chernobyl A...

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Category 3 Woomfah - Olive

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

For those who have been fortunate enough to get into some good cicada fishing you will know how crucial it is to have a good pattern. The key to t...

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Category 3 Woomfah - Black

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

For those who have been fortunate enough to get into some good cicada fishing you will know how crucial it is to have a good pattern. The key to t...

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Category 3 Habanero - Gold Tungsten Bead Nymph - Lavender

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A Spicy snack for any big trout Half-Grubby, half-nymphy, half-caddisy add up to all the way delicious. If you're after the right profile for a sli...

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Category 3 Habanero - Gold Tungsten Bead Nymph - Olive

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A Spicy snack for any big trout Half-Grubby, half-nymphy, half-caddisy add up to all the way delicious. If you're after the right profile for a sli...

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Category 3 Habanero - Gold Tungsten Bead Nymph - Tan

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A Spicy snack for any big trout Half-Grubby, half-nymphy, half-caddisy add up to all the way delicious. If you're after the right profile for a sli...

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Category 3 Pheasant Tail Southside - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Fill a box full of these, and you can't go wrong. When the mayflies go off, reach for the Category 3 Pheasant Tail Southside BTB for your next fly ...

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Category 3 Pheasant Tail Northside - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The classic pheasant tail nymph revamped and just as deadly. The Category 3 Pheasant Tail Northside BTB is a variation on the tried and tested phea...

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Category 3 Flashback Pheasant Tail - Copper Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Originally conceived and tied by Frank Sawyer, an English River Keeper, the Pheasant Tail Nymph is one of the oldest of modern nymphs. A classic pa...

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Category 3 Gummers Ultra Tactical PTN - Copper Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Your tactical, but are you ultra tactical? there's near enough, close enough then there's exactly what you need. If you deal in precision, microns...

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Category 3 Gummers Generic Crusher - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Being Generic isn't a bad thing when you're Crushing it This Nymph is a jack of all trades, it'll represent most bugs that swim, crawl or case up,...

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Category 3 Hare & Copper UV - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

This is the Black tungsten beaded variation of the classic New Zealand Hare & Copper. Hares fur blended with a small amount of UV flash.  Tied ...

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Category 3 Hare & Copper - Red Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

This is the Red tungsten beaded variation of the classic New Zealand Hare & Copper. Hares fur blended with a small amount of copper flash.  Ti...

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Category 3 York - Gold Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Another Pheasant tail variant with ice blue dubbing in the thorax This is the gold tungsten bead version. A firm favourite with trout worldwide. T...

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Category 3 York - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Another Pheasant tail variant with ice blue dubbing in the thorax This is the black tungsten bead version.A firm favourite with trout worldwide....

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Category 3 Prince of UV - Black Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Most of us are familiar with the power of the Prince nymphs. This is a purple bodied variant with a high Ultra violet content Works exceptionally...

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Category 3 Pole Position - Red Tungsten Bead Nymph

Category 3 Fly Company
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

For some unknown reason brown trout in particular seem to love this fly. It also works particularly well in really slow water when fish have a long...

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