Doug: I just read your interesting and honest post where you describe the level of "perfection" you are striving for in your fly tying. I thought you made some valid points, and I appreciated all that you said, except for one thing: I don't think that you, or I, (or anyone else) needs to apologize for your/their flies. Some tiers seem to bring a high degree of skill and feel for proportion and ease of overcoming stumbling blocks that we encounter in our learning. Others appear to never quite get this or that concept quite right. I have told my students many times that "no one was blessed with all the gifts" (abililty and ease of learning). Your strengths might be in certain area or style of fly pattern. Mine might be in a different area. Someone else may do this other thing really well. For all the rest of it, we will have to pay the price. I was very flattered when Joyce Westphal looked at some of my Adams patterns, and told me that I had a good eye for proportion. What a compliment! From Joyce! Here's the whole point about the "perfection" which we all strive toward when we tie: we are probably our own worst critics, and if your fly will catch fish, perhaps that is the perfection we hope for. I think that the most important part of the whole process is the striving. What a garbled web I just wove. Forgive the philosophical journey.
Larry Johnson Big J >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/15/02 07:33AM >>> Let me see if I can explain what I am looking for more clearly. The very first fly I learned to tie was an Adams. I bought one of those packaged kits that has enough material for three or four flies and began tying. Through the years, I have accumulated material, tools, books, etc. I have been content to tie flies that were good enough to catch a fish or two in the Gunnison, the White River in AR, the wilderness of Maine, and off the Atlantic Coast. However, I do not have the confidence that my flies are worth swapping. I am SURE that the patterns I tie could be improved. You would agree with that. Here's the problem: without something to compare my flies to (other than my own ego or a two dimensional picture) I have no way of judging progress or critiquing myself. Hence the need for a "benchmark" fly. Not one suitable for framing or one to simply collect; just a good working model of a certain pattern. A picture does not allow me to feel the stiffness of a hackle; a view from different angles; to float the fly in a glass of water and see how it rests in the surface film. Suppose I went to the nearest fly shop, closed my eyes, dipped my hand into the Adams drawer and withdrew a fly. Would this fly be a good representation of what a well-tied Adams should look like? I simply do not know. Someone was kind enough to suggest that I eneter lots of swaps and host a few. I will take their advice - and apologize for my flies and solicit critique along the way. Thanks for letting me be part of this list! I am learning with every day - and am in the company of some really great fly folks! Doug
