ClassicAndCustomFlyShop.com
Title
Classic & Custom Web Site
Description
year of tying flies of which 37 years have been spent tying commercially. In the early formative years I tied for ORVIS, Kaufman’s Streamborn Flies, Fly fisherman's Bookcase, North Country Angler, and for both of Eric Leiser’s shops [Fireside Anglers & The River Gate]. Like most commercial tiers of that era, I was producing flies following strict patterns. However, in the back of my mind I always wondered if the flies could be improved by making changes to the materials used in their construction. The people I tied for and my peers were of two camps back then- "the old master tiers knew best" and the "only natural materials could be used" . The old masters would never use the new materials now coming to us on the market. I spent the next ten years researching the old masters, not so much as to how they tied, but rather why they used what they used. This research could itself be a book, but I won’t bore you with all the details.
My approach to fly construction took a turn to the left in the mid 70’s. At that point I was, and still am, heavily influenced by two men- both almost unknown to the modern tier. I feel they truly understood the application of fly material to the hook and what its' effect on the final product would be. The two men are Mr. Charles De Feo [1891-1978] and Mr. Preston Jennings [1893-1962]. Both men studied art under Mr. Frank Du Mond of the Arts Students League. It was here that both men expanded their understanding of light reflection and refraction and their impressionistic art experience and applied what they had learned to fly construction. If you ever get a chance to read anything written by them or about them please read it. Another book you may find interesting is Sunshine and the Dry Fly by J.W. Dunne published by Adam and Charles Black in 1924.
Most of our flies have been modified from standard patterns or are my original interpretations or have been created by a small group of dedicated tiers that know Farmington River hatches. You will also note some of the flies are tied to standard-as some things just can’ t be improved upon...yet.
Contact
- classic & custom fly shop
-
- New Hartford CT
- United States 06057
-
