It's funny how things can come full circle. Over 20 years ago I tied flies commercially. I was a tying machine. Dozens and dozens of trout flies spewed forth from my young hands and into the bins of fly shops and sporting goods stores. It pretty much cured me of ever wanting to tie trout flies in any quantity again. But what it did do was teach me how to quickly tie a quality fly.
As the years went on, I started becoming more immersed in salmon fly tying. I loved the challenge of creating miniature works of art. I cringed if someone might accidentally touch one of them at a fly tying show, or drop an uncased fly on the table, shaking the carefully placed feathers out of order. But, over time, this type of tying became less fun for me. It became sterile and ridged. An exacting science of counting thread wraps and measuring body segments. Not exactly my idea of a fun time. I found myself tying salmon flies less and less, since it had become stressful.
As the years went on, I started becoming more immersed in salmon fly tying. I loved the challenge of creating miniature works of art. I cringed if someone might accidentally touch one of them at a fly tying show, or drop an uncased fly on the table, shaking the carefully placed feathers out of order. But, over time, this type of tying became less fun for me. It became sterile and ridged. An exacting science of counting thread wraps and measuring body segments. Not exactly my idea of a fun time. I found myself tying salmon flies less and less, since it had become stressful.
Full dress flies, ready to fish.
A few years back, I met Adrian Cortes. He was tying full dress salmon flies in hand. He was tying them to fish with. We instantly hit it off, and I was inspired to tie some salmon flies to fish with. When I started fishing these flies, I was able to appreciate what the original creators of the flies were thinking as they designed them. Toppings were no longer ridged feathers, they came alive with sparkle in the water when the current caught them. Yellows turned olive and some feathers changed colors under water. It was a fascinating experience.
So, now I find myself with fly boxes filled to the brim with full dress salmon flies. You really don't lose too many of them while fishing. What is a guy to do if he still enjoys tying them? Well, this guy is going to offer some for sale. I would love others to enjoy the excitement of hooking up on a pattern that is over 100 years old. I would love for people to marvel at the strength of a gut eye connection as the salmon makes run after spirited run trying to shake it.
I have always admired the flies of Malloch, Boyd, Martinez and the Hardy tiers. They are still beautiful, but built for the rigors of luring a fish. That's what I've attempted to do with my flies. They all have multiple toppings in the tails (that's the first glimmering feather the fish sees in front of it!), Wool butts for durability (instead of fragile ostrich), and feathers placed for proper swimming of the fly, instead of just looks (although I still find them attractive). They are quite simply.....Bred to kill.
(You kind find them for sale here.)
So, now I find myself with fly boxes filled to the brim with full dress salmon flies. You really don't lose too many of them while fishing. What is a guy to do if he still enjoys tying them? Well, this guy is going to offer some for sale. I would love others to enjoy the excitement of hooking up on a pattern that is over 100 years old. I would love for people to marvel at the strength of a gut eye connection as the salmon makes run after spirited run trying to shake it.
I have always admired the flies of Malloch, Boyd, Martinez and the Hardy tiers. They are still beautiful, but built for the rigors of luring a fish. That's what I've attempted to do with my flies. They all have multiple toppings in the tails (that's the first glimmering feather the fish sees in front of it!), Wool butts for durability (instead of fragile ostrich), and feathers placed for proper swimming of the fly, instead of just looks (although I still find them attractive). They are quite simply.....Bred to kill.
(You kind find them for sale here.)
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