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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.

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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 Magic May - 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

Small dark mayflies are abundant in New Zealand and this generic imitation does its job. Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook wi...

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Category 3 Hoover - 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

Named Hoover, because it sucks up every fish in the stream Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape...

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Category 3 Hoover - 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

Named Hoover, because it sucks up every fish in the stream Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape...

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Category 3 Hoover - 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

Named Hoover, because it sucks up every fish in the stream Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape...

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Category 3 Hare & Copper - 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

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

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Category 3 Hare & Copper - 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 copper flash....

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Category 3 Flashback Pheasant Tail 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

You can never have enough Pheasant Tail variants. This one has an Ultra Violet flashback with an epoxy coating. For some reason, at times trout ...

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Category 3 Red Flashback Pheasant Tail - 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

You cant have enough Pheasant Tail variants. This one has a Red flashback with an epoxy coating. For some reason trout love flies with a bit of ...

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Category 3 Crucial Ant - 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

On occasions fish like something bright with a high Ultra Violet content, so here we have the sinking version of the Crucial Ant Tied on a Tiem...

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Category 3 Code Red - 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 only fly you can rely on in 'Code Red' situations Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape hook...

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Category 3 Cheeky Fella Black - 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 Big T 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

This generic Green Caddis pattern has earnt its place in the flybox The Big T, named after the Mighty Tongariro River on the Cenrtal Plateau of t...

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Category 3 All Black - 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

Turn over any rock on most rivers and there will be lots of small black stuff crawling around. Black flies are a critical component in any fly box....

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Category 3 101 - 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

Sometimes you need a large heavy searching stonefly pattern. 101 covers all the bases with its heavy tungsten bead and rubber legs. Hook: Tiemco 2...

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Category 3 Trailer Trash - Dry Fly

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

Usually trailed behind another dry as it is very hard to see on the water. When fished in tandem with a dry search pattern it's phenomenal how oft...

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Category 3 Roger That - Dry Fly

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

Pretty effective dry fly in its own right but with the added feature of a foam underwing it can float a size 12 or smaller tungsten bead nymph if ...

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Category 3 Moondance - Dry Fly

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 pearl body with a high Ultra Violet content Pretty effective dry fly in its own right but with the added feature of a foam underwing it can flo...

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Category 3 Consultant UV 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

Occasionally fish like something bright with a high Ultra Violet content. This fly can be very effective on a Tailwater fishery especially in low ...

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Category 3 Consultant UV Pink - 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

Occasionally fish like something bright with a high Ultra Violet content. This fly can be very effective in a Tailwater fishery, especially in low...

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Category 3 Blowfly - Dry Fly

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

Trout Love Blowflies! Lots of foam high floating and easy to see on the water. Tied on a  Tiemco 2488 wide gape fine wire hook.

Category 3 York - 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

Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape hooks give you a better hook set. Another Pheasant tail v...

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Category 3 Tricky Situation - Dry Fly

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

You have to have a few parachute flies in your box, this colour is a good twist on an old favourite Tied on a Tiemco 9300 1 X Heavy Gauge Dry Fly ...

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Category 3 Orange Crush - Dry Fly

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

You have to have a few parachute flies in your box, this colour is a good twist on an old favourite Tied on a Tiemco 9300 1 X Heavy Gauge Dry Fly ...

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Category 3 Hare & Copper - 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

Tied on a Tiemco 2457 super strong curved nymph hook with a wide gape. Curved wide gape hooks give you a better hook set. This is the copper tung...

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