Re: [VFB] "Swapping"

[Joyce's crafts and flies]

Eric, when a swap is announced, the swapmeister (host) tells what the type of fly or material is, then how many he hopes will join the swap. Say for instance, 25 flies. Then when 25 people have emailed that they wish to "join" the swap, the swapmeister "closes" the sign up and those who joined begin tying 25 flies, one for each of the people in the swap. The swapmeister sets a deadline, which is when the flies must be in his/her hands.  Each swapper sends all his/her 25 flies, appropriately labeled, plus often one more as a thank you gift for the swapmeister (nice but not required) to the address that the swapmeister provides for them, plus money or a return stamp (if in the same country) for that swapmeister to return flies to them.     The swapmeister than divides the flies so each of the 25 participants gets one of each of the flies, and sends this box of 25 different flies back to each of the participants, using for the postage the money sent with their original flies. That way, each person in the swap gets his own fly plus one from each of the other swappers. It's a great way to get flies that others have tied and which work well for them..broadens our horizons as it were. Don't worry if you are not the very best fier in the whole world..we all differ in our ability to tie. Each fly is unique and special because of who tied it and the ideas and work it represents. My swap flies are never fished..put in pattern boxes and used by me to tie some like them to try in our waters. Some work wonderfully..others the trout seem not to care for right now, but often, in a year or so, that fly will work.  Good luck..join the swaps and have a great time. Joyce