Just Tying Flies

These are my original patterns: This and That (top) and The Thint (bottom).

Blue Wing Olive

Tying Flies Is A Good Thing

Fly Tying: "Share Everything You Can Put Your Hands On"

By Marshall Cutchin on January 28, 2009 7:24 AM, found on www.MidCurrent.com.

It's no secret that fly tying is emerging as the craft that may keep the fly fishing business afloat in 2009. If you've attended any of the recent shows in California, Colorado or New Jersey, you saw tying demonstrations that were packed to the gills, while the destination and high-end product booths were (with some exceptions) unusually quiet. Is it only about affordability? Or, as Jay Buchner says at the end of this Nick Cunkelman profile, is there something in the art of fly tying that, by bringing folks together, makes it one of the richest parts of the sport?

Off To Charlotte, North Carolina.

My friend, Peggy Brenner (right), and I are off to Charlotte, North Carolina this weekend to tye flies at The Fly Fishing Show. Weekend number three on the road.

Shouting Out To Vince Wilcox

Vince Wilcox, tyer of fine flies, gets serious at The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ. Check out his online store at http://www.wileysflies.com/.

Live From Somerset, NJ

Late breaking news from The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ. Just down the way on fly tyers' row, I found Glenn and Andrea Van Benschoten. Glenn is sporting the latest in fly tying eye wear. He is wearing his regular glasses and then reading glasses over them. Can't tell from the picture, but I'm sure this fashion will be all the rage in the fly tying world. Glenn, it may be time to get new glasses.

Got Shrimp?

The Fly Fishing Show, Somerset, NJ

Tomorrow I am off to tye flies at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ. Hope to see you there.

Tying Materials on eBay, Part 2

Rumor has it that there are materials on eBay that are not being legally sold. It seems that parrots from Africa are being exploited with their feathers being sold by unlicensed and unsavory dealers. Do you really need feathers that were harvested from a rare, exotic, protected species that was killed? Buyer beware. Buy responsibly.

Dick Talleur Receives Award From UFT

Pictured here are Dave Kolesar (left) Chairman of the United Fly Tyers Book Review Committee and Harris Krinsky, President of UFT, looking on as Dick Talleur signs copies of his book. Dick is the 2008 winner of the United Fly Tyers Book Award for Trout Flies For The 21st Century: 200 Essential Patterns That Catch Fish Anywhere, Any Time (June 2008, Lyons Press).

Report From The Fly Fishing Show

The Fly Fishing Show in Marlboro, MA saw very brisk business. Despite the poor economic news, sales were solid according to vendors and guides. The show seemed to be scaled back in size, but the crowds were strong. Sunday's attendance was low due to a hefty snow fall. My Bonefish Destination Selections are running low as are my supply of Polish Worms. If you need any of those please order ahead to ensure timely delivery. Tight Wraps.

Roger Plourde

Roger Plourde, tyer of classic salmon flies, was actually captured on film tying a fly today at The Fly Fishing Show in Marlboro, MA. A rare opportunity to see Roger at work at the vise.

Vince Wilcox Flies

Tyer Vince Wilcox shared some of his deadly fly patterns with me. Check them out.

Dick Talleur Wins United Fly Tyers Book Award

Dick Talleur is the winner of the United Fly Tyers Book Award for 2008. His book, Trout Flies For The 21st Century: Over 200 Essential Patterns That Catch Fish Anywhere, Any Time, June 2008, Lyons Press. Enough said, the title says it all about this fine book.

The Fly Fishing Show

Hope to see you all at The Fly Fishing Show. I will have a tying table set up. As usual I will have flies on hand and will be taking orders for your winter and spring trips. Stop by and check out some tricks of the trade. The show will be in Marlboro, MA January 16-18, Somerset, NJ January 23-25 and Charlotte, NC January 30 & 31. Check out their website at http://www.flyfishingshow.com/ for details and directions.

Depression In The Industry?

I have heard very mixed results about how the fly fishing retailers are doing. Some are singing songs of doom with cutbacks in production and marketing with slumping sales. Some companies have cut staff hours and are beginning layoffs. The same is happening with some magazines. Others say business is strong. Who knows exactly what is going on? My impression is that customers are buying less expensive items and foregoing the $900 reel or the high end rod.

Tying Flies For Chile

I have been working on the selection of flies that I will be taking to Chile in March. The Condor, a dragon fly, is a pattern I came across in a mag. Hats off to Jim Hickey for coming up with this cool fly.

Fly Tying Stuff On eBay

OK, I must admit that I spend time surfing the web. Lately, I have been scouring eBay for anything fly tying. Tools, vises, hooks, materials...you name it. Believe me, I need more stuff like I need a hole in my head. Where are all the bargains I hear about? I see a lot of what I would call marginal stuff, often at not very marginal prices. There are some decent items, but frequently not decent prices. There are tools out there, some nice and some rather junky. Often after shipping costs are added, you are paying more than, what I see as, normal. True, shopping on line is easier and often more practical than finding and going to a fly shop. You, most of the time, can find the basics. I see some reasonably-priced beginners kits. That's a good thing.

Federation of Fly Fishers, Northeast Council

The Northeast Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has a super-sized booth at the Fly Fishing Show in Marlboro, MA January 16-18, 2009. Thanks to the generosity of Chuck Furimsky, Show Director, the FFF has moved to a big booth inside the show and expanded.

At this expanded encampment we will be hosting First Fly, First Cast. What is this you ask? It is a chance for anyone to come to the booth, sit down with one of our talented volunteer tyer/instructors, and learn to tye a fly. If you have little or no experience with tying stop by and give it a try.

The First Cast side of this will offer you the opportunity to work with a masterful casting instructor on the basics of casting. Bring a friend, child, or companion to the show and introduce them to the world of fly fishing and fly tying. Details about the show can be found at http://www.flyfishingshow.com/. First Fly, First Cast will also be at the Somerset, NJ Fly Fishing Show the following weekend 1/23-1/25/09.

A Fly

Enough with all these announcements. Here's a fly for your viewing pleasure.

United Fly Tyers

United Fly Tyers will meet this Thursday, January 8, 2009. Special guest speaker will be expert Fred Kretchman who will discuss bamboo fly rods.

Meeting Location:

Holiday Inn Select
15 Middlesex Canal Park Rd.
Woburn, MA 01801
tel: 781-935-8760
www.holidayinnselect.com/Woburn

Directions:
Take Exit 35 off 128, Continue on Circle to Main St/Rt 38S towards Woburn Center. After approximately 0.1 miles turn right at the first traffic light onto Middlesex Canal Park, Holiday Inn Select is the first business on the right, less than 1/4 mile off the highway, easy on easy off.

The Fly Fishing Show

The Fly Fishing Show will be in Marlboro, MA January 16-18, 2009 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center. Details are available at http://www.flyfishingshow.com/.

Yours truly will have a table and will be tying up some hot flies. Please stop by and say hello.

Back At The Vise

It is great to be back tying. I missed about 10 days while away at Christmas. Today I am taking time to work on some new dragonfly nymph patterns. The creations will be out soon.

Students often ask what they can do to become good tyers. First, you should try to tye every day. Tying even one fly a day will keep you focused, fresh and keep your hands nimble and learning the moves. Second, when you select patterns to learn, tye at least a dozen. The first ones may be crude, but after 12 you will like the results. Get good at a pattern. Become an expert on that pattern and then expand your repertoire to tying different flies. Third, experiment with different materials in order to get the feel of how the materials behave when tyed on the hook.

Preston Jennings

Preston Jennings (1893-1962) author of A Book of Trout Flies (1935) provided one of the first organized classifications of American angling entomology. In his book he provided a series of fly patterns which imitated the natural insect. At the 1940 New York World's Fair, Jennings exhibited the art of fly-tying and his research on insects and the art of deceiving fish. He studied how the effects of color and light effected the way trout see insects. Above pictured flies are Prism Stone #1, #2, #3. Flies are currently for sale on Art of Angling Website. Photo by Art of Angling.

Plans For 2009

Happy New Year to all.

I am back at my tying desk, having arrived home from Christmas vacation out West. On my trip I had a chance to visit several fly shops and had some time to "talk shop" about materials and fly design. This, plus the cold Mountain air and time with family, has left me energized and ready to begin a new fly tying and fishing year.

2009 brings new plans and new goals for http://www.ityeflies.com/. I will be working with my web mistress to make some general changes that will enhance the visual appeal of the website. I will be adding more photos and introducing some new Destination Fly Selections and other boxed sets of flies. This year I also plan to expand my website to make for streamlined ordering and payment. Watch for these and other changes in the first half of the new year.