Let me try that link again. www.fedflyfishers.org/FlyTying/SALFLYER/vol_4/summer/more.htm
Bill -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Deborah Duran Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 10:47 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [VFB] Atlantic Salmon Flies? Bill I've heard similar things said about Kelsons book. Well I've looked at the book I've haven't picked up a copy of it yet. One of my teachers had a very negative opinion of his instructions and illustrations. It is impossible to tie a fly and have it resemble an illustration in his book. After he walked me through a few pages of the book I could see his point. He had a gentleman try to commission him to tie all the patterns in Kelsons book and he turned him down for this reason. I did pick up the Pryce Tannatt book recently and I am really enjoying that. Deb ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Bailey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 12:07 AM Subject: RE: [VFB] Atlantic Salmon Flies? > It is my understanding that it had to do with job security. Selling > flies was a competitive business then as it is now. If you could produce > flies that no one else knew how to make, then you had a monopoly on > them. I've read that that's why Blacker's instructions were so obscure. > It's virtually impossible to tie some of his flies in the way that he > describes. In those days women's hats were frequently loaded with an > unbelievable amount of feathers. As the story goes, a fly tyer named Pat > McKay walked into one of these hat stores in 1810 during a visit to > Ballyshannon and discovered a wealth of exotic feathers. In order to > have something different to sell, he began incorporating them into his > flies. Thus began the history of the gaudy fly which peaked around the > turn of the last century with the inky boy fiasco when people became > aware that such exotic, complex creations weren't really necessary to > catch salmon. > I have become especially interested in the earlier, plainer flies. > I've learned to use natural dyes and have sought out the old materials > like hog's wool, mohair and fine yarns. There is also a lot of > interesting reading from those days about flies and fishing > > Bill
