Presentation Flies

[willowhead]

GREAT THREAD.....you guys have summed it up very well.

[Silver Doctor]

Something no one has mentioned as yet is the concept of pride of "craftsmanship". Years ago there was not only pride in crafting but also people in any craft took a lot more time to produce a given thing with much more training and skill. Tiers we look up to where trained by tiers before them. Nowadays it's instant gratification that seems to be important. They see a pictures and video that makes it look easy. I learned to tie from my Dad, Grandpa and an old Scottish gentleman (actually he also taught me the charms of Scotch). They all passed along skills the same way. Sit down and tie 50 tails and strip them off the hook, tie 50 wings and trip them off the hook etc. I learned to tie not just a pattern but the ins and outs of tying. My Dad often said if you haven't done a pattern before tie 5 flies to get to know the pattern, strip them, another 5 to get to know the materials strip them, then start the pattern. It sure taught me to tie, and keep notes about various patterns.

I teach the odd tying course, my students are horrified when they follow along and I ask them to strip down what they had done and repeat the same step several times. But they all appreciate the progress they make. Often we see beautiful work but don't realize the time that goes into it. Earlier this year I did demo tying at the local Fly fishing show, tying Fan Wing Royal Coachmen. I was asked, "how long did it take you to tie that fly"? I answered truthfully 55 years.

[letumgo]

*chuckle* Good answer!

[hankaye]

Silver Doctor, Howdy;

Jim,

It could be that they were a product of their time. Last weekend I ran into a cane rod maker with 39 years experience as a maker. No matter what taper, length or line weight you wanted, all of his rods were the same price. He only made one kind of rod, each one was the very best rod he could make. Jim and Pete were probably very much like that. Each fly was the very best fly they could make, no matter what they thought it might be used for.

REE

I had always though of them, from the tone of their writing as a couple fishers that, through dedicated time on the water and an eye for the most intimate detail, were able to take what is really a very generalist design and morph it into a specific imitation with features not easily seen by most first even second impressions.

Both of the above posts may not have used the word "craftsmanship", however when I read them, that is how I understood what was being said.
I read of many of our members stating how they weren't pleased with how a fly didn't 'come-out'. I'm just starting out myself and am finding it difficult to unclamp a fly that dosen't look like what I think it should. I've razorbladed quite a few ... makes the hooks last longer (chuckle...), not materials

I don't think that there is a lack of "craftsmanship" here. More likely the oppisite is true.

hank

[dennis]

Jim.

Great question and allot of great opiniones.

A fly that has caught a few trout and becomes raggedy still catches trout.

A fly tyed with utmost care will catch just as many trout as the raggedy looking one...because you have more confidence in the fly.

No, confidence and presentation is more important.

dennis