Re: Yorkshire Spider (John Shaner's Collection)
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:04 pm
Hello,
When I look at a fly, especially a salmon fly, it's the colors that strike me as well as the parts of the fly i.e. the tail, tag, butt, wings etc. With many trout flies what strikes me is the simplicity of the fly such as the Usual or the Orange & Partridge. Once I have digested the elegance, it is all about the fly's effectiveness and that is what has had the biggest impact on my tying. Looking at the elegance of some of the flies that many of you have produced as compared to my fishing flies, I would be embarrassed to show my flies and I am not being overly modest.
My flies are tied to catch trout so I tend not to be concerned they may look rather crude at times. In addition, since the trout and I are the only ones to see them I am not very fussy as to how they look as long as they catch trout. If I knew I had to show people my flies or had to sell them then I'm sure I would be more careful. However, the only one I have to sell on my fly is the trout. Like many of you, I love trout fishing, it is the one place in the world I am truly at peace as I wade along a little stream hunting for trout. This is what the trout gives to me and I in return let him swim away after saying hello. My rather crude flies provide me a tool to make this happen but if their lack of finesse significantly impacted my ability to enjoy the peace I spoke of then I would use more care in making them.
For now, I truly enjoy seeing what a gifted tyer can do with a bit of thread, hair, feathers and hook. Seeing what many of you create with your patience and abilities has to have a positive impact even on my tying. I refer to the flies I make as fishing flies, not really meant to be seen, yet for all their imperfections they seem to work or at least good enough for me.
This is a topic I hadn't given much thought to until now. In some part of my tying is an attempt to imitate the fly that John has showed us as well as what I see on here daily. That alone should help improve the quality of my tying, I hope, but the defining aspect will always remain the fly's effectiveness.
When I look at a fly, especially a salmon fly, it's the colors that strike me as well as the parts of the fly i.e. the tail, tag, butt, wings etc. With many trout flies what strikes me is the simplicity of the fly such as the Usual or the Orange & Partridge. Once I have digested the elegance, it is all about the fly's effectiveness and that is what has had the biggest impact on my tying. Looking at the elegance of some of the flies that many of you have produced as compared to my fishing flies, I would be embarrassed to show my flies and I am not being overly modest.
My flies are tied to catch trout so I tend not to be concerned they may look rather crude at times. In addition, since the trout and I are the only ones to see them I am not very fussy as to how they look as long as they catch trout. If I knew I had to show people my flies or had to sell them then I'm sure I would be more careful. However, the only one I have to sell on my fly is the trout. Like many of you, I love trout fishing, it is the one place in the world I am truly at peace as I wade along a little stream hunting for trout. This is what the trout gives to me and I in return let him swim away after saying hello. My rather crude flies provide me a tool to make this happen but if their lack of finesse significantly impacted my ability to enjoy the peace I spoke of then I would use more care in making them.
For now, I truly enjoy seeing what a gifted tyer can do with a bit of thread, hair, feathers and hook. Seeing what many of you create with your patience and abilities has to have a positive impact even on my tying. I refer to the flies I make as fishing flies, not really meant to be seen, yet for all their imperfections they seem to work or at least good enough for me.
This is a topic I hadn't given much thought to until now. In some part of my tying is an attempt to imitate the fly that John has showed us as well as what I see on here daily. That alone should help improve the quality of my tying, I hope, but the defining aspect will always remain the fly's effectiveness.