Looking Forward to Tying Time

  The days are getting shorter as the top half of the planet heads into fall and winter. Many anglers start thinking about taking up the craft (it is a craft – not an art) of fly tying this time of year. I’d like to give them some encouragement and some advice.

  If you do decide to start tying you’ll be joining a group of craftsmen that can trace their lineage back some 17 centuries. The first mention of a fly comes in the writings of a Roman Historian from the 4th Century, Marcus Aurelian, who described the curious practice of creating an imitation of an aquatic insect using fur and feathers tied on a hook. He attributes it to the Macedonians and notes that they used the technique to catch a spotted fish that swam in their rivers.

  There’s no mention of any form of commercial exchange of the Macedonian flies so “the world’s oldest profession” remains unchallenged but tyers can lay claim to impressive historical credentials nonetheless. We’ve got jet fighter pilots and whole host of other folks that think they’re hot stuff beat all to smash.

Some anglers are motivated to take up tying for economic reasons. In fact the cost of the flies that I lost vegetation, river bottoms and the occasional fish first turned my thoughts in that direction. That was well over a quarter-century ago. Little did I realize then that I’d swallowed that bait hook, line, and leader. I fully expect to recoup my investment in materials, tools and books sometime in the next decade.

Of course the first fish that took a fly that I’d tied went a long way toward helping me be patient while I wait to break even.
That’s the real reason for tying. It says that you are willing to master yet one more skill for the satisfaction of fully participating in the sport.

Some folks are intimidated by the assumption that tyers have exceptional manual dexterity. If you can eat with a knife and fork and tie your own shoes you probably won’t have any trouble carrying out the manipulations required to tie a fly. They do require precision and discipline but those are virtues worthy of pursuit and capable of attainment by most people.

There’s one other good reason to consider tying. One of these days you’ll visit your favorite shop to pick up a few replacements for the fly that worked so well on your last trip to the river.
You’ve lost the last one in your box and the hatch should still be in full swing on your next trip. The bin will be empty. If you’re buying but not tying you’re just out of luck.

That’s the pep talk. We’ll do the advice next week.