The past few months ,I have been going to fly tying shows. It has been interesting to say the least. There are a number of things that go on at fly shows. Tiers sit back and sling their wears. You see and meet all types at these shows.It brings out the cabin fever weary angler. They are kind of like ground hogs on ground hogs day.They come out into the light of day but really would rather not be there. Nervous little creatures they are. They want to see new materials and different flies. Some people have been sipping spirits which livens up the party.( Some even touch your girlfriends ass with a death wish! ) Now the tiers on the floor range in every type of human known to man. You have to be a bit of a strange bird to tie flies. I should know I do it. Some guys are famous and others want to be famous. Others are just tiers that are amazing. It is those tiers that I most gravitate to. I have a very discerning eye when it comes to flies. I know good flies when I see them ,I also know hack flies when I see them . Dont be surprised if some of the people on that mighty floor have no idea what they are doing or maybe teaching you something wrong. Flies have a creative side to them where you can get away with certain things. True masters of the fly however follow a strict code when it comes to making great flies. This doesnt happen over night mind you. Master fly tiers are perfectionist and have an eye for detail like no other. Weather this comes with great practice or just as a skill ,these great fly tiers are few and far between. Last year we lost one of the Greats in my opinion his name was Dick Talluer. In one manner he was my mentor as a fly tier and teacher his books have taken me very far as a tier.
Since I returned to the mighty NJ as luck would have it I have been introduced to a few tiers here that are just incredible! I will be talking a bit about a few of them in my blog this year. New Jersey is an odd hub for fly tiers ,we seem to produce them like jersey city rats !We are an odd lot we jersey folk ! I mean we are like the jersey shore crew but tie flies. Well not really, North Jersey fly fishermen and tiers are more like dirty scoundrels from a rough landscape of concrete and woods. This area has tons of history in fly fishing and tying.
One of these scoundrels I know well his name is John Kavanaugh I happened upon this fellow when he invited me to come fishing on the upper Delaware. John has been fishing there since his teens. I was very fortunate to run into this scallywag of a fly tier. He knows these waters well and he knows the bug life on this river system as only a few do ! John is a very modest man as he doesn't sit there and talk out loud about his flies or how great they are. He would rather talk out loud with the guys having a round of drinks then boast about his flies. I have to say his flies are amazing and very well thought out.I have sat with John at a few of these shows and picked his brain about the flies he ties. His flies are time tested and have little tricks to them you would never be able to see with out asking him about his flies. John isn't seeking fame or fortune tying flies he does it because he likes to catch trout !
I got the pleasure of fishing with him last year at the infamous bug week and had a blast! He is one joke after the next and they seem to roll off his tongue like the devil telling lies ! His flies catch fish and I thought it was high time some of you got a chance to see a few.Im not showing all of his flies as some are somewhat secret but here are some of his wears . If you get lucky you might find John teaching classes as that is what he would love to be doing to help others learn .
As of this moment Im still working on a blog fighting communism in the fly fishing industry and my country ,be on the look out for that up coming post as the buzzard picks the eyes out of the country and the fly fishing world
